Parmigiani Fleurier watches have both a unique story and style. Many honorable, long standing luxury watch manufacturers who survived the devastating effects of the quartz crisis during the 1960s and 70s can consider themselves remarkably lucky. If a company survived this crushing landmark within horological history, it remains a testament to its perseverance and dedication. Parmigiani Fleurier, however, has a different story to tell. Its beginnings span back to the quartz crisis itself. Michel Parmigiani, founder of the company and specialized watch restorer decided to set his business up during this turbulent period in a daring leap of faith. He was restoring clocks from the Collection Edouard and Maurice Sandoz when he began carrying out work for the Sandoz Family Foundation in 1980. The independent business officially launched in Beau Rivage Palace, Lausanne in 1996.
It would be a further 12 months before Michel Parmigiani released his first wristwatch. With distinctive gadroons and knurling on its design, these features became notable hallmarks of the Toric QP Retrograde watch. They would also echo throughout Parmigiani Fleurier’s future catalogue of watches. The volume and case shape of the company’s first watch mirrored a tonneau shape, which at the time, offered collectors an unusual alternative to the classic rounded watch. Parmigiani Fleurier became vertically integrated in the year 2000, owning Les Artisans Boitier, just one hub of expert craftsmanship among many others. This facilities in particular enabled Parmigiani Fleurier to go from strength to strength, developing its own highly complex cases for its range of expertly precise movements.
Atokalpa was then opened in 2002, the company’s watchmaking centre which enabled Parmigiani Fleurier to expand its knowledge and expertise in the area of in house pinions, micro gears and trains for its meticulous movements. The company researched how to develop the regulating organ of a watch, along with accompanying parts such as the balance and balance spring, the escapement wheel and the pallet fork. Precision bar turning specialist, Elkin then joined forces with Parmigiani Fleurier, sharing the secrets to its production and collaborating to create pinions, balance staffs, wheels and screws. Consolidating these strengths has become part of the appeal behind many a watch from Parmigiani Fleurier. Collectors far and wide can appreciate the complexity behind these luxury watches not only for their external design but for the science and artisanal craftsmanship behind the dial of each meticulously developed timepiece.
Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, which was created in 2003, further added to the specialist approach of every Parmigiani Fleurier watch, enabling the company to offer collectors a decorated and hand finished movement to view in working motion. A range of reliable calibres promised accuracy and longevity, strengthened of course, by the company’s exacting standards. The Bugatti Type 370 watch was released a year later in collaboration with the car manufacturer. Its striking design was inspired by the construction of a car engine, encouraging Parmigiani to partner up with Bovey Fleurier and Chopard not long afterwards. The Fleurier Quality Foundation launched soon after and certified the process responsible for watchmaking standards to which a plethora of high-end manufacturers continue to adhere.
Dial engraving, decoration, guilloche work and galvanoplasty became the focus for Parmigiani Fleurier in 2005 when it completed the creation of Quadrance et Habillage. The facilities specialised in manufacturing high end dials. The Tonda Hémisphères watch was unveiled in 2007, equipped with a dual time function. Each zone was adjustable to the nearest minute. The Tonda 42 Tourbillon, equipped with a 30-second tourbillon followed a year later, along with the Bugatti Super Sport watch the year after that. This watch in particular remains a shining example of the fully verticalized watchmaking centre.
In 2014, Parmigiani Fleurier released the Ovale Pantograph watch boasting a distinct pair of telescopic hands. Following this was the Tonda 1950 Tourbillon watch which launched in 2015, offering the watch collecting universe a unique flying tourbillon, which at the time was the world’s thinnest. In 2017 Parmigiani Fleurier released the Bugatti Type 390 with a unique dial and set of patents. The fully fledged independent watchmaker continues to offer its audience a long line of wristwatches that unite a love for car manufacture and intricate horological design.
