Hands-On Review of the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Two Tone 36
My introduction to watches has been mostly fashion watches that aren’t meant for longevity in either functionality or style. I never really thought I’d get to experience luxury timepieces until I could build up a budget to access them, which sometimes feels completely out of reach. Also, when there are so many beautiful watches to choose from it’s hard to decide on just one to save up for or splurge on. So, it’s always exciting and fun when I get the opportunity to test out timepieces that are made with great attention to detail and dependable complications. In a market where men’s watches reign supreme or are given more thought it makes it even more enthusing to dive deeper into the realm of women’s timepieces. In this case Parmigiani Fleurier have created a piece that is not just for man or woman but anybody who appreciates a great watch. For me, with the wrist size of about 6-6.25 inches, this is the ultimate feat; a watch that is versatile in size, style, and who it’s made for. All to say, I loved wearing this watch.
Parmigiani Fleurier’s history dates to 1976 when Michel Parmigiani opened a workshop to repair and restore vintage timepieces. He began to grow and improve his expertise in watchmaking and antique watch restoration and eventually with the help of the Sandoz Family Foundation, The House of Parmigiani Fleurier was born on May 29, 1996. With Michel Parmigiani’s knowledge and craftsmanship, the atelier was built on strong foundations of creating high end watches. It didn’t take long for the brand to grow with this craftsmanship when in 2001 the workshop expanded with the integration of Atokalpa and Elwin. Atokalpa, a specialist in train manufacturing opened the door for PF to create and develop pinions, balance wheels and springs, pallet forks, and escapement wheels. With their expertise in precision bar turning, Elwin, supplies the tools for mechanical movements. This integration further elevates the PF manufacturing process and opens the door for more high-end hand-crafted possibilities.
The Tonda PF collection was introduced in 2021 for the 25th anniversary of the Maison. The collection introduces a redesigned shape of the case and bracelet in comparison to Parmigiani’s previous watches and is more focused on design details such as the Guilloché Grain d'orge textured dial that is at the base of the Tonda PF watches. The collections started with case sizes between 40-42mm. About a year after its introduction the brand expanded the collections versatility into a smaller case size of 36mm, while retaining all of the refined motifs and functionality.
Parmigiani Fleurier set out to create a unisex two-tone timepiece for their already coveted Tonda PF collection, and they’ve been able to deliver that with great success. The Tonda PF line already boasts an array of robust watches with a variety of complications, functions, and styles in multiple case sizes ranging from 36mm-42mm. They’ve successfully grown the collection since its inception. So, adding the two-tone steel and rose gold watch was the best next step in expanding the collection further.
As I mentioned before, I really loved wearing the Tonda PF two-tone 36mm piece. I enjoyed it for many reasons. With a small wrist size, it can be a challenge to find watches that sit perfectly on my wrist without being too tight or too loose or feeling bulky and heavy after some time wearing it. Of course, there is always the option of going for an even smaller case size for lighter more discreet wear, but most times I want that stunning wide dial that gives an unobtrusive view of the dial details, whether minimal or maximal. The Tonda PF captures that so well. When downsizing to 36mm the brand didn’t compromise on these features. They maintained the same wide dial opening as the rest of the collection. The integrated bracelet falls beautifully from the case and wraps the arm very comfortably. I couldn’t stop peaking at my wrist while I wore this piece. I was in awe of how wonderfully the integrated bracelet hugged my wrists, and as cliché as it may sound, it felt like it was shaped exactly for me. The Guilloché Grain d'orge pattern on the sand grey dial elevates the minimal design of this piece and really stands strong with the two-hand construction. Maybe a small detail, but I really liked that this watch has a two-hand movement. Time flows so smoothly and serenely across the dial. It is so minimal yet carries a lot of charm.
The most important detail of this piece (outside of its mechanics) is the gorgeous steel and rose gold two-tone finishing on the case and bracelet. The 18k rose gold detail is on the knurled bezel as well as vertical links along the bracelet which accentuate the tapered style. The hands, indices, and logo both on the dial and buckle are also in rose gold. In many ways the steel, sand grey dial, and rose gold features blend, yet still all stand out in their own ways. It is a great colorway decision for this unisex piece. Depending on the jewelry or outfit I wore, the piece adapted to these styles. I was able to make it more feminine when needed or keep it more neutral depending on my mood.
The movement in the Tonda PF 36mm two-tone is an in-house automatic Calibre PF770. It beats ata frequency of 4 Hz – 28’800 A/h. The date window from the 40mm Tonda PF (Calibre PF 703) has been removed but the movement in the 36mm provides a longer power reserve of 60-hours compared to the 48 hours in the larger case size. The open back displays a 22k rose gold skeletonized oscillating weight. The movement is about 3.9mm making the overall thickness of the watch 8.6mm which adds to the slim comfort of the piece on a small wrist.
Overall, this piece was fun and beautiful to wear. I don’t have much to critique about the piece because it checked off so many boxes and was comfortable on my wrist. I do hope that Parmigiani Fleurier will continue to add to the two-tone colorways, perhaps adding a yellow gold option or their deep ruby dial with the two-tone rose gold would be stunning.
How Much is the parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Two Tone 36?
The Tonda PF 36mm two-tone steel and rose gold is available for $26,200 USD.