The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Jewellery Watch with a Grain d’Orge Motif in Diamonds

Since the arrival of Guido Terreni as the brand’s new CEO, Parmigiani Fleurier has been shining a spotlight on the Tonda PF, its luxury sports watch collection derived from the existing Tonda line. Just when it looked like the ‘regular’ Tonda dress watches were being phased out, the brand treats us to a pair of dazzling gold jewellery watches for women. However, what is striking – and we’re not referring to the 979 diamonds adorning the case and dial – is the grain d’orge (barleycorn) pattern executed on the dial, a signature design element of the new Tonda PF collection.

Offered in gleaming 18k white and rose gold cases, the watch measures 36mm across and has a slim height of 9.95mm. The beautiful teardrop-shaped lugs, a signature feature of the Tonda family, are shorter and more pronounced than on the Tonda PF models. The wide bezel and the surface of the lugs are set with 70 brilliant-cut diamonds (1.69cts), and the crown is set with a blue sapphire cabochon on the white gold model, and a white opal on the rose gold model.

Diamond Grain d’orge

Parmigiani’s predominant leitmotif is the grain d’orge or barleycorn pattern executed in guilloché on the dial of many Tonda PF models. Using top-quality certified F-G and VVS diamonds (1.21cts), gem setters have brought the design to life on the dial of these new jewellery watches. The brand compares the setting to the pictorial art of pointillism, in which small dots of colour are applied in patterns to form an image. A total of 979 brilliant-cut snow-set diamonds in seven different diameters are used to create the dial. On both dials, the different-sized diamonds are arranged inside wavy white gold structures to recreate the barleycorn pattern. The snow-setting technique juxtaposes diamonds of different sizes in a seemingly random pattern leaving as little metal visible as possible; the idea is to recreate the effect of a blanket of glistening snow.

Other details on the dial and case reveal that the Tonda Automatic is transitioning towards the Tonda PF family. The old Parmigiani Fleurier inscription, for example, has been replaced by the new oval cartouche appliqué at noon with the letters PF. The oval cartouche matches the colour of the hour and minute hands and is applied in rose gold on the rose gold model and in blue-PVD plated gold on the white gold.

Calibre PF310

Parmigiani Fleurier enjoys an exceptionally high level of vertical integration and produces just about everything in-house, except for the leather straps, which are sourced from Hermès. These Tonda Automatic jewellery models are fitted with the calibre PF310, an in-house self-winding movement launched in 2014. With its compact 23.9mm diameter and ultra-slim height of 3.9mm, the movement is perfectly suited to smaller women’s watches. Fitted with two mainspring barrels in series for a longer power reserve of 50 hours, the power is derived from a central winding rotor in 22k gold engraved with a grain d’orge guilloché motif.

Availability & Price

The white gold model is paired with a blue Hermès alligator strap, while the rose gold comes with a classic elephant grey Hermès strap, both with gold pin buckles. Both models retail for CHF 59,000.

For more information, please visit Parmigiani.com.