Parmigiani Fleurier first joined forces with the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2007, building an alliance between the worlds of watchmaking and music. A decade has since passed, and Parmigiani Fleurier is now more firmly committed to the values it shares with the Montreux Jazz Festival than ever before: a spirit of curiosity and openness to the cultures of the world; a dedication to craftsmanship, and a quest for harmony; the desire to continue the work of their founders, who wanted above all to share their passion with as many people as possible, beyond all borders.
As a Global Partner to the event, Parmigiani Fleurier will welcome its customers, partners and friends to its newly redecorated space for sixteen days of unforgettable concerts.
On the occasion, the manufacture unveils an MJF Special Edition watch which echoes the black and white theme of the 2017 poster. This year, the MJF has called on the extraordinary talents of French graphic designer Malika Favre, who has created a bold monochrome representation of women dancing. Hiding between the energetic lines of their bodies are six musical instruments, which start to emerge upon closer inspection. Parmigiani Fleurier has chosen to play with this contrast on its new Tonda Métrographe, which features a white date window against a black dial, and a black strap with white topstitching. The back of each watch in this limited edition of 20 numbered pieces is engraved with "Montreux Jazz Festival". These pieces will be presented at the end of the concerts, in line with tradition, to both established artists and rising stars of the music scene.
Every year since the advent of the partnership with the Montreux Jazz Festival, Parmigiani Fleurier has created an MJF special edition watch with a dial which reflects the theme of that year. The principle consists of selecting the most striking element from the Festival poster, whether this is a central theme, a musical symbol or a motif, then reproducing it on a unique dial, calling on the technical expertise of the master dialmakers working at the manufacture's watchmaking centre.
Often, the technique used to showcase this motif is "épargnage". It consists of placing a custom-made protective piece, the "épargne", featuring the chosen motif, on the dial before a decorative treatment is applied. It is then removed, and the poster's theme is revealed by the contrasting surfaces and the play of textures and light.
In 2016, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Montreux Jazz Festival, Parmigiani Fleurier unveiled a Special Edition with a snailed dial, evoking the grooves of a 33 rpm vinyl record. This timepiece paid tribute to music, in the format available to listeners 50 years ago, and underscored the longevity of the festival and the genius of its founder Claude Nobs, a huge collector of 33s.
