Parmigiani Fleurier TONDA PF GMT Rattrapante Verzasca

Parmigiani Fleurier operates within a sphere of watchmaking defined by quiet confidence and technical prowess. Founded relatively recently in the grand scheme of Swiss horology, the brand, under the guidance of its namesake Michel Parmigiani, carved a niche centered on restoration expertise and a deep respect for classical watchmaking principles, translated into distinctly modern creations. The TONDA PF collection embodies this philosophy, and within it, the GMT Rattrapante function stands as a testament to innovative thinking. The latest iteration, the TONDA PF GMT Rattrapante Verzasca, adds a compelling layer of natural inspiration to this technically advanced timepiece.



The story of Parmigiani Fleurier begins with Michel Parmigiani, a master watchmaker and restorer who established his own workshop, Mesure et Art du Temps, in 1976. His reputation for meticulously restoring complex historical timepieces, particularly for the Sandoz Family Foundation's extensive collection, laid the groundwork for the brand's launch in 1996. This foundation in restoration instilled a profound understanding of mechanical ingenuity and aesthetic harmony, principles that continue to guide the manufacture's development of new calibers and designs. Unlike brands built solely on modern production, Parmigiani Fleurier carries a unique DNA infused with the knowledge gleaned from centuries of watchmaking history.



This unique heritage informs the brand's approach to creating new watches. There's an inherent respect for traditional craftsmanship, evident in the hand-finishing techniques applied to movements and dials, combined with a willingness to innovate mechanically. Parmigiani Fleurier is a true manufacture, meaning it possesses the capability to design, develop, and produce its movements and components in-house, a significant achievement that allows for complete creative control and ensures a high degree of quality and exclusivity across its collections.



Launched to critical acclaim, the TONDA PF collection marked a refinement of Parmigiani Fleurier's aesthetic direction. It presented a vision of understated luxury, focusing on subtle details, tactile finishes, and integrated design. The collection is characterized by its teardrop-shaped lugs flowing seamlessly into integrated bracelets, finely knurled bezels, minimalist dials often featuring intricate guilloché patterns, and the discreet "PF" logo. It’s a design language that speaks softly but confidently, prioritizing wearer comfort and sophisticated visual appeal over overt branding or flashy elements.



In 2022, Parmigiani Fleurier introduced a significant complication within the TONDA PF family: the GMT Rattrapante. This was not merely another dual-time watch; it was hailed as a world-first mechanism. The term "rattrapante," typically associated with split-second chronographs, was ingeniously repurposed here for a GMT function. It offered an exceptionally intuitive way for travelers to manage two time zones, aligning with the collection's ethos of functional refinement and user-centric design. This innovation quickly became a hallmark of the brand's contemporary technical capabilities.



The core brilliance of the GMT Rattrapante lies in its operational simplicity. The watch features two superimposed hour hands: a main, rhodium-plated hand for local time, and a secondary, rose gold hand for home time. When the wearer is at home, the rose gold hand remains hidden beneath the local time hand. Upon traveling, pressing a dedicated pusher (typically located at the 8 o’clock position) causes the upper (local time) hand to jump forward in one-hour increments, revealing the rose gold home time hand beneath. To return the local time hand to synchronicity with the home time hand upon returning, a separate pusher, cleverly integrated into the crown, makes the rhodium-plated hand instantly fly back – or ‘catch up’ (rattraper in French) – to its position above the rose gold hand.



Building on this innovative foundation, the TONDA PF GMT Rattrapante Verzasca introduces a specific aesthetic identity centered around its dial color. Named after the Verzasca Valley in Switzerland, a place renowned for its pristine, emerald-green river flowing through dramatic rock formations, the watch aims to capture the spirit and visual energy of this natural landscape. This connection to nature provides a thematic counterpoint to the watch's function, which is inherently tied to the motion and complexities of modern travel.



The Verzasca Green dial is the defining feature of this reference. It's a deep, vibrant shade of green, described by the brand as capturing the mineral-rich, crystal-clear waters of the Val Verzasca. Color is a significant consideration for Parmigiani Fleurier, often drawing inspiration from diverse sources, including the architectural color keyboards of Le Corbusier. This particular green is intended to evoke a sense of serenity and natural beauty, a visual anchor reminiscent of a place where "time appears to stand still," offering a moment of reflection amidst the demands of a life lived across time zones.



Enhancing the unique color is the intricate dial finishing. The surface features Parmigiani Fleurier's signature "Grain d'Orge" or barleycorn hand-guilloché pattern. This traditional decorative technique involves engraving fine, intersecting lines into the dial base, creating a textured surface that plays dynamically with light. The pattern radiates from the center, adding depth and visual interest to the Verzasca Green backdrop. This meticulous handwork underscores the brand’s commitment to artisanal craft, elevating the dial beyond mere color application.



Legibility is maintained through carefully considered elements. The hour markers are applied indices, crafted from 18ct gold and rhodium-plated for a bright, contrasting finish against the green dial. They are faceted to catch the light, aiding readability. The primary hour and minute hands follow the TONDA PF's characteristic Delta shape, skeletonized to maintain a sense of lightness and partially reveal the guilloché below. These hands are also rhodium-plated. The second hour hand, indicating home time, is crafted in contrasting rose gold, ensuring clear differentiation when the GMT function is activated. The small, applied "PF" logo sits discreetly below the 12 o'clock marker, maintaining the dial's clean aesthetic.



The watch's case measures 40mm in diameter, a versatile size suitable for a wide range of wrists. Crafted from stainless steel, it features the fluid lines characteristic of the TONDA PF collection, with integrated lugs that transition smoothly into the bracelet. The case surfaces exhibit a sophisticated interplay of finishes, primarily satin-brushed with polished chamfers and accents, highlighting the case architecture and adding a touch of refinement. This combination of finishes enhances the tactile and visual quality of the timepiece.



A defining visual signature of the TONDA PF line is the bezel. On the Verzasca model, as with others in the collection, it is crafted from 950 Platinum, a noble metal distinct from the stainless steel case. Its surface features a fine, precise knurling pattern. This texture contrasts subtly with the smooth, brushed, and polished surfaces of the case and bracelet, adding a distinctive tactile and visual element. The platinum material adds a touch of understated preciousness, consistent with the brand's philosophy of quiet luxury.



Despite housing a complex movement, the case maintains a relatively slim profile, measuring 10.7mm in thickness. This dimension contributes significantly to the watch's wearability, allowing it to slide comfortably under a cuff while still possessing enough presence on the wrist. The balance between the 40mm diameter and the 10.7mm thickness results in proportions that feel contemporary yet grounded in classic watch design principles.



Complementing the case is the integrated stainless steel bracelet. Designed specifically for the TONDA PF, it flows organically from the lugs, creating a cohesive and unified look. The bracelet links articulate smoothly, ensuring comfort on the wrist. Like the case, the bracelet features a combination of satin-brushed surfaces and polished accents, mirroring the case finishing and contributing to the watch's overall sophisticated appearance. The integration reinforces the idea of the watch as a single, harmonious object.



Interaction with the watch's functions is facilitated by the crown and pushers. The crown, located at the traditional 3 o'clock position, is used for winding the movement and setting the time. It incorporates an integrated pusher for the GMT rattrapante function – specifically, for making the local time hand "catch up" to the home time hand. A separate pusher, located at 8 o'clock and distinguished by its rose gold material matching the home time hand, is used to advance the local time hand forward in one-hour increments when setting the second time zone.



Driving the TONDA PF GMT Rattrapante Verzasca is the Calibre PF051. This is an automatic winding manufacture movement, developed and produced entirely in-house by Parmigiani Fleurier. Its creation represents a significant technical achievement, particularly in integrating the novel split GMT function into a cohesive and reliable mechanism. The movement showcases the brand's capabilities in micro-mechanical engineering.



The architecture of the PF051 is designed for both performance and aesthetics, while accommodating the unique complication within a remarkably slim profile. The movement itself measures only 4.97mm in thickness, achieved partly through the use of a micro-rotor for automatic winding. It is constructed from 215 individual components, a testament to the complexity involved, especially concerning the rattrapante mechanism adapted for the GMT function. The movement operates with 31 jewels to minimize friction and enhance longevity.



Visible through the sapphire crystal case back is the 22ct rose gold micro-rotor. Unlike a full-sized rotor that covers half the movement, a micro-rotor is smaller and integrated into the movement's main plate level, allowing for a thinner overall construction without sacrificing winding efficiency. Parmigiani Fleurier adorns this oscillating weight with a hand-applied Grain d’Orge guilloché pattern, mirroring the dial's decoration and showcasing the brand's attention to finishing detail even on functional components. The surrounding bridges are typically finished with Côtes de Genève stripes and polished anglage, consistent with high watchmaking standards.



In terms of performance, the Calibre PF051 operates at a frequency of 3 Hz, equivalent to 21,600 vibrations per hour (A/h). This beat rate offers a good balance between accuracy and durability. When fully wound, the movement provides a power reserve of approximately 48 hours, meaning it will continue running for about two days off the wrist before needing to be wound again, either manually via the crown or automatically through the motion of the wearer's wrist activating the micro-rotor.



Protecting the intricate dial is a sapphire crystal treated with an "ARunic" anti-reflective coating. This coating minimizes glare and reflections, ensuring optimal clarity and legibility from various angles. The case back also features a sapphire crystal, allowing an unobstructed view of the meticulously finished Calibre PF051 movement within. The watch is rated for a water resistance of 60 meters, sufficient for everyday wear and protecting it against splashes or brief immersion, though not intended for serious diving.



The TONDA PF GMT Rattrapante Verzasca is conceived for individuals who frequently navigate different time zones – the modern traveler. The intuitive GMT function simplifies the process of tracking home and local time, removing the cognitive load often associated with traditional GMT displays. The Verzasca Green dial adds an emotional dimension, offering a connection to nature and a sense of calm, acting as a counterpoint to the dynamism of travel. It embodies Parmigiani Fleurier's idea of creating timepieces that bridge not just geographical distances but also provide a point of personal connection and reflection.



The Parmigiani Fleurier TONDA PF GMT Rattrapante Verzasca, carrying the reference number PFC905-1020002-100182, represents a unique blend of mechanical innovation and aesthetic inspiration. It is positioned within the luxury sports watch category, appealing to those who appreciate sophisticated mechanics, refined design, and high-quality craftsmanship. The watch is priced at CHF 28,700.



Case: Stainless steel case with a 950 Platinum knurled bezel. Diameter Ø 40.0 mm, thickness 10.7 mm. Features ARunic anti-reflective sapphire crystal, sapphire crystal case back, and 60 meters water resistance.

Movement: Calibre PF051 automatic winding manufacture movement. Features a 22ct rose gold micro-rotor with Grain d’Orge guilloché, split GMT Rattrapante function. Thickness 4.97 mm, diameter Ø 30.0 mm, 215 components, 31 jewels, 48-hour power reserve, frequency 3 Hz (21,600 A/h).

Dial: Verzasca Green color with "Grain d'Orge" hand-guilloché finishing. Indices are 18ct gold rhodium-plated appliques. Features rhodium-plated Delta-shaped hour and minute hands and a rose gold GMT hand.

Strap: Integrated stainless steel bracelet with polished and satin finishes.

Price: CHF 28,700

Reference Number: PFC905-1020002-100182

Notes: Houses the world-first split GMT Rattrapante complication introduced in 2022. The unique Verzasca Green dial color is inspired by the crystal-clear waters of Switzerland's Verzasca Valley.