Summer “White” Done Right: Parmigiani Fleurier Gives Us the Off-White Watch We Never Knew We Needed

When Guido Terreni joined Parmigiani Fleurier as CEO in 2021, he aimed to establish a fresh new design language for the brand. This led to the introduction of a totally new collection: the Tonda PF.

Two years after its initial debut, the line got an even sportier twist with the addition of the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph. The model married the essence of the Tonda PF with the Tonda GT, giving birth to a decidedly elegant take on a classic chrono with a contemporary rubber strap.

Today, we got the next evolution of the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph, which leans even further into the sophisticated side of the collection, with its gorgeous sandstone color palette warmed up by the use of 18-karat rose gold.

This is the definition of a luxury sports watch – let’s dive in.

I’m a sucker for a white watch – not just during the summer months but all year round. I have three different variations in my collection, and they’re each in regular rotation. Would I add a fourth? Absolutely, but now Parmigiani has me rethinking the whole thing – should my next watch purchase be off-white? I think the answer is yes…
 

For the brand-new Tonda PF Sport Chronograph, the Maison gives off-white a far more elevated name: sandstone. The buttery warm hue extends from the guilloché dial itself to the trio of registers and across the model’s signature textured rubber strap (more on that later).
 

The result is an ever-so-pleasing monochromatic look. This colorway is perfectly complemented by the choice of 18-karat rose gold for the case, indices, hands, and buckle. Who knew sandstone would give classic white a run for its money?

While we’re asking questions, have you noticed how widely rubber straps can vary? Well, I did, and last year, I fully geeked out and started going down a rabbit hole. During my descent into rubber strap madness, I discovered that Parmigiani is doing something unique.

Most rubber straps you see are made from injection molds. The result is the practical, utilitarian companion you see completing countless dive watches.
 

However, in typical PF fashion, the Maison wanted to maintain an ultra-luxe experience with its timepieces, even the sporty models. So, the brand looked to the quintessential sports watch with an integrated bracelet for inspiration and found that its construction typically consists of three parts. Parmigiani translated this to its rubber straps, sewn together in three parts.
 

As a cherry on top, the rubber gets the bonus of texture, giving the appearance of Cordura. Each strap is reinforced and hand-finished with saddle-style stitching, drawing from the artisanal techniques used for fine alligator leather straps.

Powered by the COSC-certified PF070 automatic manufacture movement with an integrated chronograph and a 65-hour power reserve, the 42mm Tonda PF Sport Chronograph in rose gold and sandstone makes its grand entrance into the Maison’s catalog today with a price of $53,100 USD.
 

For more information, head over to the Parmigiani Fleurier website.