For its 20th anniversary, the watchmaking brand led by Michel Parmigiani is launching a special unique version of its very first wristwatch. The model named Parmigiani Fleurier Kalpa XL Hebdomadaire is equipped with a movement made of solid yellow gold. The golden movement with the power reserve that lasts for more than a week is additionally lavishly decorated by hand and it features a dragon wing motif all over its bridges. This fantastic and luxurious trait is initially hidden, since the movement is placed inside a steel housing and it is not visible from the front side. The price of the one-of-a-kind model is set at around $71,200.
Parmigiani Fleurier who is now established as a well known high-end brand renowned for the technically demanding watches was originally founded in 1996. The brand founded by a master horologist Michel Parmigiani started off by creating table clocks for selected collectors. Three years after the creation of the company, Parmiigiani Fleurier presented its first wristwatch. The piece was initially named Ionica and then subsequently renamed Kalpa Hebdomadaire in its later editions. It was characterized with the opulent power reserve which lasted for eight days. The substantial power storage is the reason for the “Hebdomadaire” part of its name, since it is the French word for “weekly”, implying that the piece needs to be wound only once a week.
A Golden Treasure Safely Tucked in a Steel Safe
The first wristwatch in the collection was a perfect candidate to be remade for the big anniversary of the brand. It was naturally remade and improved for the occasion, but this was done in an unusual manner. Even though it has a very luxurious movement, this trait is initially hidden, since the celebratory piece is placed inside the same type of a stainless steel housing as its archetype. Only once the watch is turned around to the other side, its impressive gold movement is visible. As the brand’s founder stated, this is something like a hidden treasure securely hidden inside a safe and visible only to the selected few who know where to look.
By the way, the shape of the case is tonneau as it was twenty years ago. At the time when it came out, it was much rarer than nowadays, since the pieces from the era were predominately round. The housing with a mirror polished finish also has a specially designed middle section which was conceived in order to ensure more comfortable fit. The case is 44.4 mm long, 37.2 mm wide and 11.2 mm thick. It is waterproof to 30 meters and it has a fixed bezel that surrounds a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment.
However, the real strongpoint of the piece is visible only through the rear sapphire panel on the case-back. It offers a glimpse on a truly breathtaking movement, completely made of gold which is extremely difficult because of the natural properties of the material. Each bridge of the movement is manually engraved and shows off a dragon-wing motif with slender curves, while the edges are polished. Otherwise, it is Caliber PF110, the first proprietary beating heart created by Parmigiani Fleurier. It is a hand-wound caliber with 28 jewels and 227 pieces altogether. PF110 beats at the frequency of 3 Hz and as the name of the watch suggests has a long-lasting power reserve based on its twin barrels set in series. The caliber is 29.3 mm long, 23.6 mm wide and just 4.9 mm thick. Its supported functions are central hours and minutes, small seconds, a date display and a power reserve indication.
Each of these functions can be seen on the dial of the watch that is in this instance presented in a tan shade, which is pretty uncommon for the brand. The dial sports a Sunray guilloched pattern on its outskirts and an opaline finish in the center. The power reserve indicator is at the top, the small seconds is on the opposite side where a noticeable date aperture in silver color can be found as well. The face likewise features 18 K gold applied Arabic numerals and indices which are the only hint to the luxurious movement that keeps Parmigiani Fleurier Hebdomadaire Anniversaire running. The dial is completed with delta-shaped hands filled with luminous coating.
The piece with the reference number PFC101-0001600-HA1242 is coupled with Hermes leather strap in Havana brown shade. It locks with a clasp made of steel. This unique anniversary piece costs 70,000 CHF without VAT.
