GPHG 2020 Innovation Prize: Parmigiani Fleurier Hijri Perpetual Calendar

Davide Traxler, CEO of Parmigiani Fleurier, winner of the Innovation Award 2020

Parmigiani Fleurier is very proud to present a world premiere, it’s very first Hijri Perpetual Calendar wristwatch. The new calendar is based on technology Parmigiani Fleurier developed for an exclusive table clock launched in 2011 and inspired by the restoration of a pocket watch featuring an Arabic calendar.  For the first time in Parmigiani Fleurier’s history, the Hijri Perpetual Calendar complication is made available in a wristwatch.

In the Muslim world, the calendar is based on the cycles of the moon. The Hijri or Islamic lunar calendar consists of twelve months of 29 or 30 days – depending on the moon phase- and is used to pinpoint the days for Islamic holidays. In contrast to the solar calendar, which is used in the west, the months of the lunar calendar change annually by a difference of -10 to -12 days. As a result, each month always falls on a different season and therefore varies from the Gregorian Calendar.

The starting point of Islamic time calculations is the emigration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in present-day Saudi Arabia in the year 622, known as Hijri, and is when the first Muslim community was founded.

This new piece features a 44.6 mm timepiece with a platinum case, a slate dial and rotor in platinum. It shows the hours and minutes, and date in Arabic numerals, the name and length of the months in Arabic calligraphy, as well as the abundant and the common years. It also features a moon phase in an aventurine sky and a power reserve of up to 48 hours. As seen in all Parmigiani timepieces, every single component of the movement, even the hidden parts, are decorated by in-house specialists. No components were made of gold.

Technical specifications:

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Hijri Perpetual Calendar

Reference: PFH980-2000111-HA1481

Case

Material: platinum
Diameter: 44.6 mm
Thickness: 14.1 mm
Water-resistant to 30 meters

Dial and hands

Brass slate brushed

Movement

Self-winding mechanical
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve of 48 hours
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, moon phases, Hijri perpetual calendar.

Strap and buckle

MSRP: CHF 80'000