In 2015, afer two years of research and development, Parmigiani Fleurier presented an ultra-thin tourbillon, the Tonda 1950 Tourbillon. Its 3.4-mm-thick calibre made it the thinnest self-winding flying tourbillon in the world. In 2017, the spotlight is back on the Tonda 1950 Tourbillon, which is unveiled in a version with an Abyss blue dial, a white gold case and a Hermès indigo blue alligator strap.
The calibre PF517 owes its thinness to a micro-rotor made from 950 platinum and a precise arrangement of the movement components. The flying tourbillon, the barrel and the micro-rotor are arranged on the same main plate, which means there are no successive levels to increase the thickness, and the time display is kept central – a rarity for an ultra-thin tourbillon. Flush with the surface, the flying tourbillon offers the wearer a truly captivating spectacle.
Parmigiani Fleurier has developed two technical improvements to optimise the chronometry of the calibre PF517. Firstly, the titanium tourbillon cage is extremely light(0.255 grams). Its very low weight and inertia enable rotational movement with no loss of torque. The tourbillon's efficiency is increased, thus improving the timepiece's chronometry. The tourbillon cage completes one rotation every 60 seconds to allow the minutes to be measured. Secondly, Parmigiani has opted for a variable inertia balance instead of a screw balance. This enables the tourbillon cage to be designed with a sleek shape, which leads to improved aerodynamics and better overall stability in the tourbillon's operation.
The tourbillon, located at 07:08, refers to the time of Michel Parmigiani's birth in Val-de-Travers, Switzerland. The decoration on the movement bridges features the same oblique orientation as a series of Côtes de Genève stripes, in a circular arc design – a highly complex decorative technique mastered by the brand's craftsmen.
