Here we have yet another stunning timepiece from the independent production house Parmigiani Fleurier. The new Tecnica Ombre Blanche integrates three complications in a single watch: a tourbillon, a perpetual calendar and a minute repeater.
At the first glance, you will notice the tourbillon and the perpetual calendar, while the minute repeater is activated by a slider on the case band. This complication is wound by rotating a knurled ring under the bezel. However, this mechanism represents a challenge in terms of water resistance, as the surface to be protected is much larger when compared to a traditional band slider.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tecnica Ombre Blanche Watch
The minute repeater here is achieved with “cathedral” chimes which form two sets of gongs around the case. This greatly intensifies the acoustic quality when compared to a single set. It also means that the watchmaker’s work, in order to adjust them to the desired tone, is much more difficult. Just like every minute repeater, it chimes the hours, quarter hours and minutes with an exceptional chime, promptly signaling the Parmigiani Fleurier Tecnica Ombre Blanche’s qualification for a place in the watchmaking Hall of Fame.
The beating heart of the new watch is caliber PF351 manual-winding movement which is capable to store enough energy to keep the watch working for at least 42 hours. The 39 jewels movement is finished with an exclusive guilloche pattern, made of thousands of parallel ribbed lines, while all the beveled angles are polished by hand. It has hand-beveled main plate and bridges. Furthermore, the impeccable mechanism has the oscillating rate of 21,600 alternations per hour (3 Hz) and consists of 504 individual components.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tecnica Ombre Blanche Watch Mechanism
Parmigiani Fleurier Tecnica Ombre Blanche watch boasts a white Grand Feu enamel dial which is created by using the champlevé technique. The process consists of engraving a gold base by creating a hollow which corresponds to the dial area. After that, the enamel is applied to this bas-relief with a paintbrush and the complete piece is exposed to very high temperatures so that the vitreous enamel melts and fuses. Several layers of enamel are successively applied, then fired, until the hollow is filled.
Its beautiful satin-finished dial comprises 18-karat rose gold appliqués and delta-shaped hands with luminescent coating. Two other complications: a one-minute tourbillon and a perpetual calendar are indicated in 3 counters: one at the 12 o’clock position for the date, one at the 3 o’clock for the days and one at the 9 o’clock for the months. The leap year is displayed by a window in the months counter, while the date counter also houses a power-reserve indicator.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tecnica Ombre Blanche Watch Dial
Tecnica Ombre Blanche is housed in an 18-karat rose gold case which measures 45mm in diameter and 13mm in thickness. The case is shielded with anti-reflective sapphire crystal and constructed to resist water pressure of up to 10 meters.
The new Parmigiani Fleurier watch is limited to only 5 pieces. Each timepiece is teamed with Hermes alligator leather strap, ending with an ardillon buckle.
