Parmigiani Fleurier is expanding the sporty Tonda GT line with two new bicolor “Panda” Tondagraph GT editions.
In 2020 Parmigiani Fleurier introduced the sporty Tonda GT collection for the “everyday wear for the modern gentleman” and has now released two new editions, both hailing from the Tondagraph GT sub-family and offering a subtly different series of useful functions, technical capabilities, and aesthetic charms.
Appealing to today’s connoisseur of sophisticated sporty luxury, the bicolor dial duo is available in either Steel Silver Black or Rose Gold Silver with a trio of black subdials.
The Tondagraph GT Steel Silver Black
The Tondagraph GT Steel Silver Black features a 42-mm case forged in polished and satin-brushed stainless steel. Featuring a silver-and-black dial with clou triangulaire texture and rhodium-plated indexes treated with black luminescent coating, the steel case houses the automatic Caliber PF043 and enables the rare horological pairing of a chronograph with an annual calendar.
The familiar Delta-shaped hands with black luminescent coating display the time while the date appears prominently at 12 o’clock. Subdials at 9 and 6 o’clock display the chronograph readouts, and the 3 o’clock subdial serves the dual functions of a running seconds indicator and a display of the month.
As in all annual calendars, this indicator requires adjustment only once per year, from February to March.
The automatic movement that drives all these functions is on display behind a sapphire case back that beautifully displays the 22k gold rotor, providing a power reserve of 45 hours and showcasing a host of decorative finishes, including the circular côtes de Genève pattern on the bridges.
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tondagraph GT Steel Silver Black edition features another small change: the orange numerals and details that appeared on its black-dialed predecessor have been replaced with higher-contrast elements in white.
“With this new model we wanted to exalt the contrast between the counters and the silver dial,” says Parmigiani Fleurier CEO Guido Terreni. “Taking out the orange indicators of the first edition helped us obtain a pure and long-lasting aesthetic.”
The Tondagraph GT Rose Gold Silver Black
Following on from last year’s Tondagraph GT Rose Gold Blue, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tondagraph GT Rose Gold Silver Black is housed in an 18k rose gold case and is offered in two editions – with a black rubber strap or an 18K rose gold bracelet.
Giving the Tondagraph GT Rose Gold Silver Black its 65-hour power reserve is the in-house Caliber PF071, a COSC chronometer-certified movement based on Parmigiani’s GPHG award-winning Caliber PF361.
While this version of the Tondagraph does not include annual calendar functionality, it features the big date as an additional integrated feature rather than a modular addition, which makes for better technical reliability.
Like all Parmigiani Fleurier movements, Caliber PF071 is enhanced with chamfering and polishing done by hand, sandblasted surfaces, a sunray pattern on the 22k gold oscillating weight, and hand-finished bridges.
“The arrival of the Tonda GT has expanded our audience and rejuvenated the existing collection for more modern tastes,” Terreni states. “Its launch created momentum for the brand in a very difficult year and offers an opportunity for many new potential customers to enjoy Parmigiani Fleurier. Now the classical aesthetics of a silver-and-black dial, a monochromatic case in steel or in gold, and an integrated bracelet, bring a new level of freshness to the collection, and the subtle enhancements on these new models demonstrate how we can take their sophistication even higher.”
The Parmigiani Fleurier Tondagraph GT steel model retails for USD $20,400 USD on the rubber strap and USD $21,500 on the steel bracelet, while the Parmigiani Fleurier Tondagraph GT Rose Gold model retails for USD $45,300 on a rubber strap and USD $72,500 on a solid gold bracelet.
Breitling releases Premier B09 Chronograph in a new burgundy color, limited to 250 pieces.
Breitling’s latest addition to the Premier Collection has flown relatively under the radar and is a limited edition B09 Chronograph in burgundy limited to 250 pieces.
First introduced in 1943 by Willy Breitling, the “everyday elegant” design of the Premier collection pays homage to three generations of inventors – Léon, Gaston & Willy Breitling – and embodies Breitling’s legacy of inventing the modern Chronograph.
Encased in a 40mm steel case, the new Premier B09 Chronograph features a burgundy colored sunburst dial with Arabic numerals and complementary brown chronograph subregisters in line with the heritage feel of the Premier collection.
Additional rectangular chronograph pushers and design details such as grooves on the case sides, open sapphire case backs and vintage-inspired hands complete the elegant Premier aesthetic.
Powered by Breitling’s in-house B09 movement offering a power reserve of 70 hours, the new Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph Burgundy comes on a brown alligator strap and is limited to 250 pieces priced at US$8,400 each.
The IWC Shaffhausen Portofino family has expanded with the addition of the new 39 Chronograph edition in three new colors.
For over 30 years, IWC’s classic Portofino Collection has represented the laid-back lifestyle of the Mediterranean and is distinguished by its classic round case and uncluttered dial of the “pocket-watch-style wristwatch.”
Now IWC Shaffhausen has released the Portofino as a 39mm chronograph edition with three new colors: a silver-plated dial with gold hands and markers on a black alligator strap, a green dial with a green alligator strap and a black dial, and gold hands/markers on a brown alligator strap.
Enclosed in a polished stainless steel 39mm case, the Portofino 39 features an elegantly clean dial with delicate leaf-shaped hands and two smaller chronograph sub-dials displaying a 30 minute counter and a seconds subdial.
Along with the chronograph stopwatch functions, the Portofino 39s hacking seconds function also gives the wearer the ability to stop the second’s hand when the crown is pulled out to help synchronize time with a second watch.
Powering the Portofino 39 Chronograph is IWC’s 79350 self-winding movement (based on the modified Valjoux 7750) which offers a 44-hour power reserve.
The all-new IWC Schaffhausen Portofino 39 Chronograph Collection is currently available online with prices starting at $5,900.
Hublot is making a splash with the new turquoise New Big Bang Unico Summer edition available in select Mediterranean retail stores this Summer.
Hublot is celebrating the warmer weather with the creation of a new turquoise-colored unisex Big Bang Unico Summer edition.
Made with a 42mm aluminum case, the lightweight Big Bang Summer uses anodized satin-finished and polished aluminum to create a modern colored material that guarantees longevity and protects it from scratches.
Powered by the UNICO caliber HUB1280 offering a 72-hour power reserve, the new Big Bang Unico Summer features an oscillating seconds clutch, a chronograph friction system with ball-bearing adjustment, and a column wheel that is visible through the dial.
Equipped with Hublot’s patented interchangeable “One Click” attachment system, the Big Bang Unico Summer comes with two turquoise-colored straps: a Velcro strap with matching stitching and matching sports buckle and a natural rubber strap with deployant clasp made with turquoise anodized aluminum with an engraved logo.
Sharing on the inspiration for the new Big Bang Unico Summer, Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe says, “What I love most when traveling is the amazement of the return, wrote Stendhal. This enchantment of the journey that we bring back with us transforms us a little, for the better… And even if daily life has not really changed on our return, our eyes being open to other horizons is enough to lend it new colour.”
“Right from its beginnings, Hublot has adopted a future-focused approach to watchmaking, sparking trends through the many patents it has filed for its innovations. The Big Bang Unico Summer embodies the beauty of our summer experiences. We wanted to give you another shade for this year, to let you relive these magic moments any time you want.”
Priced at US$20,900, the new unisex Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer is limited to 200 pieces and will be available online at hublot.com and in the Mediterranean boutiques in Capri, Forte dei Marmi, Mykonos, Ibiza, Bodrum, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco.