An early example of the Toric Retrograde Perpetual Calendar*, with an intriguing retrograde date complication. The watch bears several hallmarks of early Parmigiani watches from this period, from the stepped and knurled bezel to the choice of colour combination. It is powered by the PF 130.2, a movement based on a Lemania 8813 ébauche.
FROM RESTORATION TO CREATION
Michel Parmigiani is widely recognised as one of the foremost restorers of vintage clocks and watches. In 1976, in the midst of the Quartz Crisis, he opened his own workshop, where he most notably brought back to life several pieces which now sit in the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, building his appreciation and understanding for traditional watchmaking. Interestingly, it was in the Parmigiani workshop that Kari Voutilainen first began his own watchmaking journey, restoring vintage masterpieces for nearly ten years, from 1990 to 1999. It was there that he learnt “everything they don’t teach you at watchmaking school," Voutilainen once commented.
Alongside restoring historic pieces, Parmigiani also began to branch out, attempting more original creations such as minute repeaters, perpetual calendars, and other pieces. In 1996, he established his own manufacture, in Fleurier. Backed by the Sandoz Family Foundation – whose collection of watches and clocks were restored by Parmigiani – he was afforded greater creative freedom through this financial backing, with the foundation also acquiring dial, movement, and case makers to allow for greater freedom and in-house production. Over the 25 years since the brand was created, there have been two distinct design periods – the Toric collection, and the more modern Kalpa and Tonda series.
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