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Emblematic collection

By Charlotte de Villeneuve, photos : Nicolas Menu, botanical stylist : Garance du Nord

Parmigiani Fleurier, an authentic watch manufacturer perpetuates precious savoir-faire and allows tremendous creative freedom resulting in a myriad of Kalpa collection variations.

Parmigiani Fleurier was founded in 1996 and soon became established in the world of luxury watchmaking. In 1998, the brand made a name for itself by designing a house movement christened the PF 110. This hand-wound, double-barrelled movement offering an eight-day power reserve would become an emblem of the brand through the Kalpa collection, introduced in the 2000s.

Kalparisma Nova Galaxy PFC125-1232500 Limited Edition 8 Pieces Self-winding movement, 18k white gold case set with 182 diamonds totalling 2.283ct, Aventurine blue dial, Hermès alligator strap.

New aesthetics

Not only does it possess a singular movement, but the collection’s first model, the Kalpa XL Hebdomadaire (2001) boasts bold, innovative lines. When sketching his design, Michel Parmigiani did not flinch at shaking up watchmaking’s aesthetic traditions. “An idea that I’d been cherishing for some time was to create a ’shaped’ watch, but one with harmonious horns seamlessly integrated with the case middle,” he says. “To accomplish this, I took the watch profile and horns as the starting points for my design.”

Kalpa Chronor PFH187-1001400 Limited Edition 50 Pieces Shaped automatic movement with solid-gold integrated chronograph – COSC-certified, 18k rose gold case, guilloché dial, Hermès alligator strap.

Secret harmony

The lugs of the watch, often in aesthetic disharmony with the case, are seamlessly integrated into the ensemble. To create the teardrop-shaped contours, the master watchmaker relied on mathematical concepts, giving them a natural elegance. Finally, as the profile sketch was completed, it became clear that a barrel shape was needed for the middle of the watch. Since then, this profile has been seen on all the brand’s timepieces, serving as both hallmark and foundation stone.

Kalpagraphe Chronomètre PFC193-1002500 Shaped automatic movement with integrated chronograph – COSC-certified, 18k rose gold case, blue dial, Hermès alligator strap.