Parmigiani Fleurier - Tonda Annual Calendar

Parmigiani Fleurier presented the new Tonda Annual Calendar, a piece that combines two complications which founder Michel Parmigiani has a special passion for.

Featuring both a retrograde annual calendar and a precision moon phase, the 4 Hz (28,800 vph) calibre PF339 was developed using the the PF331 automatic movement as a base and equipping it with an additional module dedicated to the complications.

Its series-mounted double barrel guarantees a power reserve of 50 hours and stabilises the distribution of energy so that it is transmitted to the regulator at a constant level. The oscillating weight is crafted from solid rose gold and adorned with a guilloché barley grain motif.

The date is automatically adjusted based on the number of days in the month — 30 or 31 — but it works on the basis of 29 days for February, whether or not it is a leap year. Therefore, once a year, or better, three times every four years, at the end of February, the wearer of the Tonda Annual Calendar has to set the date manually.

The retrograde date indication never obscures the moon phases at 6 o'clock. The day of the week and the month are shown in windows at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock respectively.

The moon phase is added to the calendar indications. It is defined a "precision moon phase" because it only needs correcting once every 122 years – remarkable accuracy that requires a compensation for the difference between a classic lunar cycle (29 days and 12 hours) and the actual lunar cycle (29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.8 seconds).

The Tonda Annual Calendar shows two representations of the moon – as viewed from both the northern and southern hemispheres – to meet the needs of wearers in any location. The moon counter and the solid rose gold moon discs stand out on an aventurine glass sky.

In comparison to the previous Tonda Annual Calendar, designers have enhanced legibility by enlarging the bezel to reveal as much of the dial as possible and positioning minute track and indices on the outside while the numerals on the retrograde date are arranged on the inside.

The construction in several levels creates a nice three-dimensional effect which adds richness to the dial. The hands are slimmer and more elongated than previously, while maintaining the golden ratio proportions.

The new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Annual Calendar is available in two versions, both housed in 40 mm cases: rose gold with a white grained dial (ref. PFC272-1002401-HA1442) or white gold with a black opaline dial (ref. PFC272-1201400-HA1442). The price is Euro 29,600. parmigiani.com