05/30/2024

Good Sport: Parmigiani Fleurier’s New Tonda PF Sport Chronograph is a Timepiece for Purists

A master class in understated aesthetics, this tool watch upends the luxury playing field with its easy elegance.

By Rhonda Riche

Editor-At-Large

It’s funny that just as dress codes are relaxing – like running shoes now being acceptable footwear with suits and even tuxedos – sports watches are becoming more refined; case in point: the new Tonda PF Sport Chronograph from Parmigiani Fleurier.

With this new timepiece, Parmigiani has found a way to confound outdated expectations of what an all-around timepiece can look like. The brand has achieved this not with some wildly complicated new movement that took years to develop but by the judicious use of refined colors and well-contemplated details on the dials, counters, and bracelets.

Fleurier Says Relax

The definition of “hedonism,” according to Miriam-Webster, is “the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life.” But after getting to know the new Tonda PF Sport Chronograph, which has a style that Parmigiani Fleurier is touting as “hedonistic elegance,” I don’t know if I’d agree with that description.

Hedonism implies selfishness, but this chronograph is the sort of timepiece you’d wear to show your friends, family, and colleagues that you care enough about them and yourself to make an effort to look good. It’s about respect and pride, not self-indulgence and vanity.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph "Artic Grey"

At the same time, the cool, casual look of the 42mm Tonda PF Sport Chronograph exudes a sort of devil-may-care attitude via its three colorway options: Milano Blue, Arctic Grey, and London Grey. These hues are neatly expressed in the counters and the rubber bracelets.

The pursuit of the good life is well demonstrated in the silvered guilloché dial with its “clou triangulaire” pattern. This texture catches and plays with the light for an amusing effect.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph "London Grey"

Meanwhile, the knurled bezel – a Parmigiani Fleurier signature – stands out from the regular Tonda collection thanks to its more pronounced ridges. Meanwhile, the rubber bracelet has a fabric-like finish called “tromp d’oeil” and a secure stainless steel folding clasp.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph "Milano Blue"

Ride on Time

The Tonda PF Sport Chronograph represents an escape from the work-a-day world, whether that means being tough enough to explore the great outdoors (its water resistance is rated to 100m, after all) or just breaking away from the old khakis-and-polo-shirt idea of casual work attire.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph "Milano Blue"

According to Parmigiani’s CEO Guido Terreni, “Each piece is crafted to bring a touch of elegance to life’s carefree moments, embodying a minimalist luxury that speaks to both form and function. This collection marries horological precision with a refined, sporty aesthetic, designed for those who find beauty in simplicity and sophistication in sportive elegance.”

Again, not exactly a Dionysian take on hedonism, but the stainless steel-encased Tonda PF Sport Chronograph is not only a study in refinement; it also features many technical treats that promise its wearer a really good time.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph "London Grey"

For instance, powered by a high-frequency (5 Hz) integrated chronograph manufacture movement, this piece is COSC certified and offers 65 hours of power reserve. Finally, the oscillating weight, designed specifically for this collection, is skeletonized to evoke the steering wheel of the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO.