Parmigiani Fleurier first joined forces with the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2007, building an alliance between the worlds of watchmaking and music. A decade has since passed, and Parmigiani Fleurier is now more firmly committed to the values it shares with the Montreux Jazz Festival than ever before: a spirit of curiosity and openness to the cultures of the world; a dedication to craftsmanship, and a quest for harmony; the desire to continue the work of their founders, who wanted above all to share their passion with as many people as possible, beyond all borders.
As a Global Partner to the event, Parmigiani Fleurier will welcome its customers, partners and friends to its newly redecorated space for sixteen days of unforgettable concerts.
The movement is the in-house created Parmigiani PF701 that works at 3Hz (21,600bph) using a power reserve of 42 hours. Along with getting pristine detailing on the dial, motion, and case, did I mention that the instance is in ceramic? It looks like steel but is lighter and can be not as prevalent in a dress watch and you would be forgiven for thinking that the case was steel, because of how nicely Parmigiani polishes it. Getting titanium to look like this is tough. I am not even sure Grand Seiko would have the patience to get this fluid (they are better at challenging lines).While I saw this watch personally, from the images we have it on another team member’s wrist. I’m taken aback at how equally straightforward and also refined the Tonda 1950 presentation is, while being a high-end watch without pretension. This can be Swiss discretion at its best, so discreet it requires to actually be pointed out. I’m not convinced that I have sufficient reason to put on a Tonda 1950 often enough to consider getting one just yet, though models such as this make me wonder just how much I would enjoy showing it off to only the ideal people. Though, I would have to say that the black meteorite dial is right for me (same titanium instance) and I am more of a dark dial dress watch rather guy (unless the dial is golden). Price for your Parmigiani Hemispheres Tonda 1950 Meteorite watch is $19,500. Broadly speaking, Parmigiani has always booked the Toric title for its complicated pieces, like the Toric Quaestor Labyrinthe or the Toric Resonance 3. In 2017 however, we’re getting a different type of Toric timepiece. One which is more subdued, naturally less complicated and altogether delightful. Meet the new Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronomètre, a modern interpretation of the first watch designed by Michel Parmigiani, which shows date and time only. Obviously, there are a couple of added embellishments which make this view more than simply your standard three-hander using a date. Keep reading to learn more.
On the occasion, the manufacture unveils an MJF Special Edition watch which echoes the black and white theme of the 2017 poster. This year, the MJF has called on the extraordinary talents of French graphic designer Malika Favre, who has created a bold monochrome representation of women dancing. Hiding between the energetic lines of their bodies are six musical instruments, which start to emerge upon closer inspection. Parmigiani Kalpa Xl has chosen to play with this contrast on its new Tonda Métrographe, which features a white date window against a black dial, and a black strap with white topstitching. The back of each watch in this limited edition of 20 numbered pieces is engraved with “Montreux Jazz Festival”. These pieces will be presented at the end of the concerts, in line with tradition, to both established artists and rising stars of the music scene.
Every year since the advent of the partnership with the Montreux Jazz Festival, Parmigiani Fleurier has created an MJF special edition watch with a dial which reflects the theme of that year. The principle consists of selecting the most striking element from the Festival poster, whether this is a central theme, a musical symbol or a motif, then reproducing it on a unique dial, calling on the technical expertise of the master dialmakers working at the manufacture’s watchmaking centre.
Often, the technique used to showcase this motif is “épargnage”. It consists of placing a custom-made protective piece, the “épargne”, featuring the chosen motif, on the dial before a decorative treatment is applied. It is then removed, and the poster’s theme is revealed by the contrasting surfaces and the play of textures and light.
In 2016, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Montreux Jazz Festival, Parmigiani Ovale Price unveiled a Special Edition with a snailed dial, evoking the grooves of a 33 rpm vinyl record. This timepiece paid tribute to music, in the format available to listeners 50 years ago, and underscored the longevity of the festival and the genius of its founder Claude Nobs, a huge collector of 33s.
