Pre-SIHH 2015: Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 “Squelette”

By Arthur Touchot January 2, 2015

Party time is over! It’s early January, which can only mean one thing: we are ready to shift our attention to all of the new releases which will be made official at the end of the month, at SIHH in Geneva. And Parmigiani Fleurier will be kicking off 2015, like most of us, by shedding some weight.

The young brand, which we visited in London not too long ago, will be presenting the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 “Squelette,” an ultra-thin and open worked version of its very popular Tonda line.

The new design reveals the highly complex automatic calibre PF705 and its beautiful micro-rotor, which went unseen in previous models. The new engine, a skeletonized version of caliber PF 701 is well worth a look.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 “Squelette,” does in fact feature a dial. However, because it is made from sapphire, it is almost invisible to the eye. It appears in hints, visible only because of its metaled finish around the rim.

On the wrist. the new Tonda “Squelette,” looks very sharp, although there’s no need to worry about cuts and grazes. The timepiece is very comfortable, thanks to the brand’s now iconic lugs, as well as the black or tan Hermès strap that accompany the watch.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 “Squelette” is available in a 39 mm x 7.8 mm white gold or rose gold case, while a women’s version will also be presented, with a choice of stone-set white gold, or in rose gold with a red or “ficelle” Hermès strap.

The two models have distinct looks however, because the women’s model features a slightly frosted dial, with a translucent finish, instead of a perfectly polished and transparent dial. The result is more subtle, and adds a bit of softness to the sharp angles of the PF705 calibre movement. Of course, we will be bringing you a review of that watch as soon as we get our hands-on that model.