PARMIGIANI FLEURIER’S RATTRAPANTES, OR HOW TO REAPPROPRIATE TIME
In our age of rapid technological advancements, mechanical watchmaking provides a sanctuary, serving as an analog alternative to the overwhelming digital information saturation that characterizes our lives. The 20th century witnessed a proliferation of methods for measuring time, and while some functions and mechanisms have remained unchanged for decades, the current era demands innovation. Although watchmaking often adheres to established formulas for displaying functions like GMT and dive time calculations, there are notable exceptions that defy convention.
Parmigiani Fleurier stands as a prime example of this departure from the norm. The Maison has successfully redefined our relationship with time through two groundbreaking innovations: the Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante and the Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante. These contemporary timepieces not only address the pace of our daily lives but also offer a fresh perspective on how we perceive, experience, and control time itself.
Parmigiani Fleurier’s Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante and Minute Rattrapante transcend the mere quantitative measurement of time, as symbolized by Chronos, and embrace the more philosophical Greek concept of Kairos, which pertains to the qualitative dimension of life’s time. Embark on a journey to become the master of your own time aboard this temporal Odyssey.
“At Parmigiani Fleurier, we push the boundaries in innovation. The individual should control time, his time. It’s not time that should control the individual. That is the essence of our world premiere.” — Guido Terreni, CEO Parmigiani Fleurier
Time to reset
Inviting a recalibration of our relationship with time, these elegant timepieces offer immediate and intuitive measurements that harmonize with the pace of modern life. What sets these complications apart is their extraordinary ease of use.
The ingenious mechanics concealed within these seemingly simple watches redefine the perception and activation of countdowns and dual-time features. Departing from the traditional graduated rotating bezels, an additional gold hand, discreetly nestled beneath the minute hand, seamlessly carries out its designated functions – facilitating minute countdowns on the Minute Rattrapante and displaying GMT indications on the GMT Rattrapante – all the while preserving the Tonda PF’s understated sophistication.
The term “rattrapante,” shared by both timepieces, refers to the intricate motion executed by the extra hand as it gracefully returns to its concealed position, reminiscent of a split-seconds chronograph hand.
Parmigiani Fleurier’s Rattrapantes seamlessly merge practical, intuitive complexities with the luxurious and refined aesthetic that characterizes the Tonda PF collection.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante
- Parmigiani Fleurier introduces a groundbreaking feature: an on-demand countdown timer for minutes, a world-first innovation. Unlike the conventional method involving a graduated bezel, this ingenious and user-friendly solution seamlessly integrates with the Tonda PF’s understated and refined aesthetics.
- The Minute Rattrapante function, hidden from view when not in use, serves to display the remaining minutes until a specific event or target is reached, whether it be the end of a presentation, cooking times, parking meter limits, or remaining game time.
- This function is equipped with two superimposed minute hands: a rhodium-plated hand for regular timekeeping and an 18ct rose gold hand for precise countdown timing.
- Two distinct pushers operate the gold minute hand’s movement across the dial: the pusher at 8 o’clock advances it in 5-minute increments, while the pusher at 10 o’clock moves it precisely in 1-minute increments.
- As the rhodium-plated hand reaches the fixed position of the gold rattrapante hand, the minute countdown is complete, and the hands overlap.
- Activating the 18ct rose gold pusher located in the crown allows the gold rattrapante minute hand to swiftly return to its concealed position beneath the rhodium-plated hand.
- The watch features Parmigiani Fleurier’s signature hand-guilloché Grain d’Orge (barleycorn) dial, presenting an elegant sand grey color.
- The hands and appliqués are meticulously crafted from 18ct gold, exemplifying the brand’s commitment to luxury and craftsmanship.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante
In 2022, one of the most remarkable releases was the Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante, a timepiece that brought a refreshing perspective to the dual-time complication while honoring the pure and minimalist design principles of the Tonda PF collection.
Designed for globetrotters managing multiple time zones, the Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante is a model of sleek elegance, efficiently indicating local and home time without any unnecessary elements.
This iconic timepiece makes a triumphant return in 2023, now available in a full 18ct rose gold version, adorned with a Milano Blue dial featuring an exquisite barleycorn guilloché pattern.
At first glance, the Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante appears unassuming, with the hours and minutes gracefully circling the hand-guilloché dial. However, concealed beneath this classic exterior lies a complication that drives two overlapping hour hands: one in rhodium-plated gold for local time and the other in 18ct rose gold for home time.
To adjust the local time, the pusher at 8 o’clock advances the rhodium-plated hand in one-hour increments, while the gold hand represents the home time. When the dual-time function is no longer needed, the gold pusher integrated into the crown allows the local hour hand to “catch up” (rattraper), just like the split-seconds hand of a chronograph, and conceal itself beneath the gold home time hand.
This distinctive operational mode, unprecedented in the history of watchmaking, relies on a sophisticated and innovative mechanism. It is both intuitive and straightforward to use, enabling enthusiasts to relish an uncluttered display of time and appreciate the meticulous attention given to every detail.
For more information, please visit Parmigiani.com.
