Jewellery & Watch News
Parmigiani Fleurier goes far beyond timekeeping by honouring cultural diversity with its Arabic clock – the Hijri Calendar – now part of the brand’s sports-driven Tonda PF watch collection
Parmigiani Fleurier strongly believes that watchmaking should be about looking into the window of the history, culture and philosophy of the people who wear and enjoy its watches. As a pioneer of calendar complications, the new Tonda PF Hijri Calendar is yet another exceptional achievement for the brand. Devoted Parmigiani Fleurier enthusiasts have already had the pleasure of enjoying the Chinese Xiali calendar, and the annual Gregorian calendar on the wrist. Now, it’s time for something equally as complex and intriguing. Parmigiani Fleurier’s CEO Guido Terreni and the brand’s master restorer, Michel Parmigiani explain;
“We, at Parmigiani Fleurier, embrace a vision that transcends mere timekeeping and touches upon the very essence of our world’s cultural and historical diversity. This vision shapes every creation of the brand, bearing witness to our deep commitment to understanding and respecting the multifaceted nature of time across epochs and civilizations.”
What Is the Hijri Calendar?
This new watch is a horological expression of the Tabular Islamic calendar, which was developed by Muslim scholars and astronomers during the 8th century. Through this innovation, it is possible to convert Islamic dates to Gregorian dates. The Hijri Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and makes up a 30-year cycle. Each year consists of 12 months that are either 29 or 30 days long. Each 30-year cycle also comprises 19 common years that consist of 354 days and 11 years consisting of 355 days. On the dial of this new Hijri Calendar watch by Parmigiani Fleurier, these separate indications can be seen clearly. The 12 o’clock location shows the 30-year cycle with abundant years in a beige colour, while the white details show the common years. Then, at 3 o’clock you can access the numbered months of the year. The 9 o’clock sub-dial shows the days of the month with an aperture indicating whether the month is a 30-day month (beige) or a 29-day month (white). Then, at 6 o’clock, there is a moonphase display that shows the positioning of the moon from both Northern and southern hemispheres, beautifully crafted from aventurine.
These calendrical features are displayed across a “Viridian Green” dial, which forms a palpable backdrop to a set of rectangular markers around the hour scale and a set of hollowed-out central hour and minute hands. The deep green hues of the dial are a perfect contrasting shade for the Parmigiani Fleurier logo positioned at 1:30. All of these features are presented underneath an ARunic sapphire crystal glass front that has been treated with anti-reflective technology.
The New Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda OF Hijri Calendar Watch
The new Parmigiani Fleurier release wowed watch specialists and spectators at the annual Watches and Wonders showcase in Geneva last week. While it comes as no surprise that the brand’s capabilities extend beyond the already-impressive calendar watches we have seen it launch in the past, it seems that the material choice and dial colour of this particular timepiece play an integral role in the captivating character of this intricately crafted instrument. The model measures a diameter of 42mm and has been crafted from stainless steel but features a fluted 950 platinum bezel, which we’ve seen in other Tonda PF designs from the collection. In addition to this, the model has a water-resistant capability of 100 meters and a sapphire crystal glass exhibition caseback. This feature shows the complexity of the automatic movement as it performs at a rate of 28,800 oscillations per hour. Thanks to its autonomy of 48 hours, the Calibre PF009 can be removed from the wrist and trusted to keep accurate time while away from the natural motion of the wearer’s wrist.
Beyond the Hijri Calendar Functions
The special features of this intricate timepiece are not limited solely to the complexity of the movement and the capabilities of this ultra-precise Hijri calendar, however. The new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Hijri Calendar boasts a stunning Guilloché Grain d'orge effect across its rich green surface. The Viridian Green colour of the dial is a unique shade that has never been used by Parmigiani Fleurier before. It pairs beautifully with the 18ct gold-plated hour markers and Delta hands, achieving an opulent and highly refined finish.
The Background
To gain a full appreciation for the style of this new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Hijri Calendar watch, a little background on the origins of the design is required. The first Hijri Calendar by the Val-de-Travers brand was released back in 2019. It delivered a miniature version of the clock in the form of a 44.5mm case crafted from platinum. Rich in mechanical ingenuity, it was able to display its many indications via a very palatable dial. It even won the Innovation Prize at the Grand Prix d’Hologerie de Genève (GPHG) the following year. Then, in 2021, the Tonda PF arrived. Several models were released in different materials including steel, platinum and 18ct rose gold. The Tonda PF epitomises the sports watch appeal with a degree of elegance, subscribing to a set of key features. The various designs from the collection include micro rotors, chronographs and annual calendars. These were warmly received by collectors and by 2023, the brand had enlarged the Tonda PF to accommodate the Chinese Xiali Calendar, combining both the solar and lunar calendars. The new Hijri Calendar now combines all the features of the previous model with the sporty aesthetics of the Tonda PF watch and is sure to appeal to collectors both new to the brand and experienced.
Pre-Order the New Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Hijri Calendar Watch Today at C W Sellors
You can view the rest of Parmigiani Fleurier’s calendar watches and sports watches by exploring the brand in more detail here online at C W Sellors. But if you’d like to order the new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Hijri Calendar yourself, you can call and speak to a member of our sales team today on 01335 216004 or drop us an email at sales@cwsellors.com.
