In June of last year, I surprised even myself by writing about a chronograph, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph (you can see that here). It’s not that I don’t like watches from Parmigiani Fleurier, it’s just that I tend to favor their three-handed models more. Still, this chronograph had a lot going for it – classic style in PF approach – and I definitely was not going to turn down a chance to spend a few days with a loaner.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph: what it is
This watch is the answer to how you create a dressy chronograph that still comes across as sporty, while remaining within the PF design language. For the sport side of things, well, that’s where the chronograph comes from. Fittingly, we’ve got the triple-register approach with the classic ‘Panda’ scheme (ours, though, had grey subdials rather than black). Fit that to a stainless steel case and a rubber strap, and hey, sport is on deck.
So, how do you make it dressy? Well, for one, you polish a lot of the steel elements. Around the sapphire crystal, you make the bezel coin edge, which catches and plays with the light like no other. For the main handset, you get a standard sword shape, but then you hollow them out (with no luminous paint). Finally, the rubber strap is embossed with a texture that tricks the eye into thinking it’s not rubber, and you put a polished clasp on it.
Finally, there’s the PF design language. That comes in via the guilloche finishing on the dial, the understated PF logo on the dial, as well as the “hidden” details done to the movement itself. In fact, for as firmly as the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph is in the luxury category, it does not shove the fact in your face. And you know what? That’s the kind of luxury I like – let’s keep it refined and a touch under the radar.
Wearing the watch
When a watch like the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph crosses your desk, it’s not one you want to pass up spending some time with it on your wrist. Once upon a time a watch like this would have made me nervous to wear it, but these days, not so much. Why? These are meant to be used and enjoyed, so that’s how we can best review them.
That also means that they should be comfortable to wear, easy to use, and of course, not fall to pieces the first time the outside comes into contact with it. To be fair, it’s not like I was doing yard work with this on the wrist. But for a trip to the office or a weekend occasion in a suit? That’s where it got put to work.
At first, I was a little nervous about the skeletonized main handset being a problem to read the time. Turns out, I did not need to worry, as I had zero problems. They’re sized well, and the polished hands catch the light, helping them stand out against the textured dial. Reading the date quickly, that was another story (at least for my eyes). Same goes for the chronograph registers, frankly. Sure, you can time things (be it the parking meter or how long that interminable meeting has dragged on), but reading out what you recorded takes a careful stare.
Conversely, the pushers flanking the crown are delightfully sized, and make actually starting, stopping, or resetting the chronograph a breeze. And for all of my leaning away from chronographs, there is just something delightful about the snap of the pushers (and the seconds hand) when you interact with a mechanical chronograph.
Wrapping things up
At the end of the day, I came away enjoying my time with the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph. The overall look fits with the aesthetic I prefer, and I found it to be a watch that – while dressier – did not seem out of place in the day-to-day.
Other than playing with the chronograph functionality, I didn’t use it that much. Which means, if I was considering this line, I would probably end up going for the three-hander or the micro-rotor version, but that’s just me. If you’re all aboard the chronograph train, you can get this one in one of five different color palettes for CHF 27’900. You can check out the full collection over at parmigiani.com
Tech Specs
- Caliber
- PF070-COSC
- Power reserve: 65 hours
- Frequency: 5 Hz – 36’000 A/h
- No. of components: 315
- Jewels: 42
- Thickness: 6.95
- Case
- Stainless steel
- Diameter: Ø 42.0 mm
- Thickness: 12.9
- Glass: ARunic anti-reflective sapphire
- Case back: Sapphire
- Water resistance: 100
- Dial
- Finishing: “Clou triangulaire guilloché”
- Indices: 18ct gold rhodium-plated appliques
- Color: Silver & Black
- Hands
- Hours and minutes: Delta-shaped
- Bracelet: Rubber
