Unpredictable beauty: A brief review of the Parmigiani rose gold Tonda 1950 watch

        Unpolished, irregular, fragmented textures — This is the characteristic of meteorites. Yet, it is precisely this fascinating stone that becomesParmigiani Fleurierthe dial of the new rose gold Tonda 1950 watch. This material was first seen in a limited-edition watch featuring a titanium case released at the 2015 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH). The newly introduced deep blue meteorite dial is paired with a rose gold case. The beauty of the texture presented by the meteorite dial lies in the fact that this beauty is unpredictable; indeed, it is mysterious as it does not come entirely from this world of ours.

          Because meteorites undergo rapid temperature changes when entering the atmosphere, their surfaces are imprinted with an indelible crystal structure. Even so, their appearance remains remarkably natural and harmonious. Meteorites must undergo a series of acid bath treatments to gradually reveal the magnificent patterns generated by this natural impact.

        Every meteorite processing procedure is extremely complex. Due to its hardness being higher than ordinary rock, it is difficult to work with; its mineral structure is unpredictable and highly variable, rendering traditional techniques unusable. Therefore, it requires the profound experience and time-tested exquisite craftsmanship of Parmigiani's dial masters to execute a perfect cut and present this deep blue hue. This galvanic plating technology is a world first and equally a breathtaking achievement. Perfectly set off by the rose gold case, the blue meteorite appears even more deep and alluring.

Parmigiani ultra-thin movement

          The ultra-thin dimensions of the PF 701 movement are thanks to the off-centre platinum micro-rotor located within the movement. This feat of watchmaking measures a mere 2.6 mm, ensuring this collection holds a proud place among ultra-thin timepiece creations.

          The Tonda 1950 movement features the most exquisite haute horlogerie finishing imaginable for a Parmigiani timepiece, with virtually no other brand bestowing such finishings upon a movement. The nickel-silver mainplate undergoes sandblasting and perlage, followed by rhodium plating. The bridges are sandblasted, patterned or decorated with Côtes de Genève, then hand-bevelled, and finally rhodium-plated. Meanwhile, each gear is bevelled, grooved, and double-perlaged before cutting, then gold-plated, ultimately creating a striking visual finish.

          The high level of finishing on each component is crafted in accordance with the shared philosophy of the technical centres within the Parmigiani manufacture. The Tonda 1950 movement is painstakingly and meticulously crafted in-house from the inside out, ensuring every movement brilliantly showcases Parmigiani's first-class expertise.