“OBJETS D’ART” COLLECTION
TEMPUS FUGIT
TIMEKEEPER & AUTOMATON
Parmigiani Fleurier celebrates the Year of the Dragon with «Tempus Fugit». Exceptional creation of the Maison inspired by the legend of the Dragon and The Pearl Of Knowledge.
ARTISTRY AND HERITAGE
This extraordinary masterpiece emerged from the profound passion of Michel Parmigiani for the rich cultural history of ancient civilizations. Created in the Parmigiani Fleurier’s ateliers, it is a true testament to artistry and heritage.
Now, in a grand revival, Tempus Fugit has been lovingly restored to mark the auspicious Year of the Dragon in 2024.
THE QUEST FOR THE PEARL OF KNOWLEDGE
Imagine a Timepiece that draws its inspiration from the enchanting Asian legends of the majestic dragon gracefully dancing with a luminous pearl, the determined carp leaping over the mythical Dragon Gate, and the Dragon Emperor in relentless pursuit of the elusive Pearl of Wisdom.
At our Maison, we have seamlessly woven these captivating narratives into the very essence of «Tempus Fugit», infusing it with the soul of traditional Chinese culture.
In addition to the eyes of a demon, the Imperial Dragon includes the body parts of nine animals – the head of a camel, the ears of a cow, the antlers of a deer, the neck of a snake, the paws of a tiger, the claws of an eagle, the belly of a mollusc, the scales of a carp, and the mane and beard of a lion.
The very distinctive shape of the nose resembles a mushroom, a symbol of good luck. A unique piece of watchmaking art, the Dragon and the Pearl of Knowledge has nearly 1,000 components. It required more than 5,800 hours of work and the participation of the most prestigious master craftsmen, under the direction of Michel Parmigiani.
HAUTE HORLOGERIE AND
MECHANICAL ARTS
Within this Masterpiece meticulously crafted in-house, the essence of Time takes on the form of a majestic dragon. Here, the dragon embarks on an eternal journey, completing one revolution per hour, relentlessly chasing a resplendent orb – the coveted Pearl of Knowledge.
As the dragon approaches the precipice of victory, the luminous pearl evades its grasp, six times in every hour. With each evasive dance, a resonant gong reverberates, a sublime reminder of the artistry and precision encapsulated within this horological marvel.
Tempus Fugit embodies the eternal march of time, where the pursuit of wisdom never ceases. Experience the symphony of timekeeping and elegance in a creation that transcends the boundaries of horology.
TIMEKEEPING TREASURES
With an astonishing 585 jade scales, meticulously designed and crafted to perfection, this horological wonder is nothing short of a legend. Adorned with 150 mesmerizing green jade stones, complemented by a dazzling array of white, yellow, orange, and red jades, and featuring solid white gold claws, ruby eyes, and a carnelian tongue, the dragon is a symphony of luxury and prestige.
At its core lies the Pearl of Knowledge, a solid white gold sphere surrounded by a mesmerizing aura of golden flames, set within a cameo of white diamonds, rubies, orange and yellow sapphires. The transparent rock crystal base unveils the intricate movement, while a gilded silver ring displays the traditional Chinese 12-hour cycle, where one Chinese hour equals two standard hours.
Price on request
Model
Inspired by Chinese mythology
Unique piece No. 44064
Functions
Hours, Minutes
Dragon automaton turning in a 1-hour circuit
Pearl of wisdom automaton escaping 6 times an hour at random
Gong chime with an “on-off” bolt, sounding just before the pearl moves
Base
Rock crystal and solid 925 silver with 10-micron rhodium plating, 2.0kg
Hour Crown
Solid 925 silver with 10-micron plating, 176g
Waves
Rhodium-plated solid 925 silver, 48 g with hour indexes in solid 925 silver, set with imperial jade
Dragon
925 silver with 20-micron plating, 1.440kg, hand-forged and chiselled, polished and set with 18ct gold scales, 437g, themselves set with jade in varying shades from imperial green, light green, white, yellow, orange to brown-red, 277ct of natural class A jade. 585 scales in total, of which 554 are stone-set. The claws and moustaches are made of rhodium plated solid 18ct white gold, the eyes from rubies and the tongue from carnelian
Pearl for Wisdom
Yellow gold ball, 18 ct gold, 12.71g, set with precious stones, 90 diamonds, 1.35ct, VVS1, 124 yellow sapphires, 1.95ct, VS, and 297 rubies, 3.81ct, VS, surrounded by yellow gold flames, 18ct, 10.02g
Automaton Dimensions
Height: 280 mm, diameter: 165 mm
Automaton Weight
6.120 kg
Movement
PF 670
Number of jewels: 17
Height (with automaton module): 112 mm.
Diameter (with automaton module): 114 mm.
Hand-wound by key
Time-setting by key
8-day power reserve
Frequency: 2.5 Hz –18,000 vib/h
Hand-bevelled main plates and bridges, finishes:
drawn strokes – circular-graining and Côtes de Genève
Restoration as a source of inspiration
Michel Parmigiani has mastered the art of revisiting the past to chart the present and future. His renowned expertise at vintage timepiece restoration has allowed him to amass hundreds of years of watchmaking knowledge and bring this wealth of historical know-how to bear in the creation of new watches. The art of restoration, which he applied to the Sandoz family’s collection before embarking on his own independent watchmaking journey, lies at the very foundation of Parmigiani Fleurier.
