The Ovale Tourbillon is part of the Ovale Pantographe line (inspired by an antique piece) of which we have already showcased the new model unveiled at the SIHH earlier this year.
Which brings us to the dial, where the sharp white gold applied indices contrast well against the midnight blue dial. In fact, the whole watch uses a straightforward white golden color scheme that makes what might be a hectic dial superbly legible. In lieu of the strong lume-filled hour and second hands of the first, Parmigiani Fleurier opted for skeletonized hands in order not to detract from the dial — something that I want the Tonda 1950 Galaxy Place did. My only complaint is that the date window which spans a 3 day date-span — something that I think should have been a bigger, single-day window to stay away from the “tennis-y” sense that it gives it. The watch will include a blue alligator leather strap or a blue cloth strap.Parmigiani Fleurier is less than 25 years old, and they’ve accomplished an impressive quantity of watchmaking in that brief time period. In general, these are two strong offerings from Parmigiani Fleurier. The strong rose gold bracelet provides a bit more heft to the Tonda 1950 model, and the addition of a ladies’ version of the “Galaxy” dial gives an alternative that I feel was overdue for its Métropolitaine collection. The newest Tonda 1950 Galaxy Gold Bracelet model is $39,900 while the Tonda Métropolitaine Galaxy Selene is $12,000. When it comes to models like the rare Ovale XL Tourbillon, Parmigiani does not really have to concentrate on limited editions. Rather, this individually serialized watch simply gets dial and material updates from time to time as the Parmigiani Fleurier Ovale XL Tourbillon household releases ever-changing models. This specific mention PFH750-1000600-HA3141 adds a new style of dial up and was released by Parmigiani Fleurier at 2017.
The oval is not a fixed shape. Its outline changes to suit its purpose. In both modern architecture and that of the past, the oval is both strong and unusual, subtle yet assertive. In watchmaking, the construction of Parmigiani Fleurier’s timepieces is based on the simple geometry of creating tangents from two intersecting curves. The piece is harmonious, both in terms of its proportions and its gender balance, as the shape of the oval moves away from the more feminine ellipse.
With a rose gold case in three sections and a stepped bezel, the Ovale Tourbillon boasts a truly dynamic design. Curved surfaces are broken up. Straight lines replace rounded ones. And beams of light bounce off the myriad angles this creates. The signature Parmigiani horns are no exception. A graduated chamfer tapers out towards the end, lending further tension. On this timepiece, the oval adopts a new stance, an overtly masculine one with a style of its own and its 45 × 37.3 mm size.
Ovale Tourbillon © Parmigiani
The dial combines the ever-classic “Côtes de Genève” design with Parmigiani Fleurier’s own Abyss Blue, a colour it keeps a closely-guarded secret. It is now standard practice for the Manufacture to offer a new model each year in this intense blue which is obtained by galvanoplasty.
The Ovale Tourbillon is driven by the PF500 hand-wound movement designed by Michel Parmigiani. This 30-second tourbillon movement with power reserve indicator (one week) is finished with “Côtes de Genève” design and hand-bevelled bridges. The watch s complemented with a Hermès alligator strap, secured with an ardillon buckle.
