To mark the 20th anniversary of the brand, celebrated in 2016, Parmigiani Fleurier is revisiting the Kalpa Donna, the first women's watch in its collection, featuring the iconic "tonneau" form. The uniqueness of the Kalpa Donna Anniversaire lies in its solid gold quartz movement, hidden within a steel case. Just like a treasure chest that conceals its riches within. Each version of the Kalpa Donna Anniversaire is limited to 96 pieces, in reference to the year Parmigiani Fleurier was founded – 1996.
The Kalpa Donna Anniversaire features an engraved dial which reflects the segmentation of the hours. This subtle decoration is more reminiscent of a sheet of fabric than a dial – an invitation to slip away from the world of timekeeping and revel in elegant femininity. A diamond in a closed setting is applied by hand to the dial's surface, creating a sense of harmony. Serving as a focal point, it creates a play of light that radiates across the mother of pearl, accentuating the impression of depth.
The Kalpa Donna Anniversaire is available with a dial in four different colours of mother of pearl, and each of these has a leather strap selected to complement it. The harmonious marriage of these original, electric hues underlines the femininity of the watch. A mandarin orange colour dial paired with a red leather strap; a luminous white dial with an off-white leather strap; a lilac dial whose reflections are set off by an enamel white leather strap; and finally, a Tahitian mother of pearl dial accompanied by an étoupe leather strap. A steel bracelet is also available with all of these colourways, adding a dash of modernity to the Kalpa Piccola Anniversaire.
The shape of the Kalpa Donna Anniversaire case is the classic "tonneau", one of the first designs that Michel Parmigiani created for his brand. This form is based on the application of the golden ratio, a geometrical reference which provides a harmonious ratio of proportions. The case and its lugs, the angle of which has been carefully calculated to describe a perfect curve, sit ergonomically on the wrist. The sides of the steel case are set with Top Wesselton diamonds of a rare purity.
Gold quartz movement
Visible on the back of the piece, the quartz movement entirely in rose gold reveals its refinement, emphasising the beauty of the piece. The main plate, bridges and gears have been produced in the Parmigiani Fleurier watchmaking centre, and decorated to the very highest standards characteristic of luxury Haute Horlogerie. The central bridge mirrors the iconic shape of a Parmigiani Fleurier lug, and this motif is also engraved across the other surfaces of the movement, creating a myriad of symbols that dance around three jewels. Creating this decoration is a very delicate process, due to the difficulties inherent in working with gold, and owing to the extremely thin bridges, so designed to keep the piece as refined as possible.
Hours, minutes