Parmigiani Fleurier has created a very special timepiece dedicated to the painter and sculptor Edouard Marcel Sandoz. The watch pays tribute to the artist’s love of animals with a beautiful hand engraved enamel dial which complements the grand complication wristwatch. Introducing the Parmigiani Toric Tecnica Les Carpes de Sandoz.
The eye is immediately drawn to the dial of the watch on first glance. To achieve this level of detail and intensity, many stages are required. First the engraver uses their skills to carve out the material to create the curves, lines and shapes of the carp and the aquatic plants. The fish will be placed on the dial at the end of the enameling process.
The steady hand of the engraver, working on the Carp.
The next person to apply their craft to the dial is the enameler. Different oxides are applied to the dial to provide different hues and shades.
The enameler applying the layers of blue and green to to the dial before firing.
The dial is then fired several times in an oven at a temperature of between 800 and 900°C to reveal the pattern and colours. Each firing brings out the different layers and effects.
The dial in the process of being fired in the oven at a temperature between 800 and 900°C
The result is an artistic and colourful tribute, depicting carp swimming around in a pond. The other aspect of this timepiece is done by the master watchmaker who is responsible for the movement. It features a chronograph, perpetual calendar, minute repeater and a tourbillon. The date is displayed in the top circle at the 12 o ‘clock position. At the 3 o’clock position is the day of the week, and the 30 minute counter for the chronograph. The tourbillon sits at the 6 o’clock position. The month is at the 9 o’clock position in addition to the leap year indicator. The arrow shaped hour and minute hands are covered in luminescent coating.
The finished product: The Parmigiani Toric Tecnica Les Carpes de Sandoz with Chronograph, Perpetual Calendar, Minute Repeater and Tourbillon
The minute repeater with 2 cathedral chime gongs sound the hours, quarter-hours and minutes on demand. Usually a minute repeater is activated using a slide which is located at the side of the case. Parmigiani have taken a novel approach. The repeating mechanism is wound by a quarter clockwise twist of the knurled bezel. Doing this activates the striking works on release.
The 18 ct white gold case is 46.70mm in diameter and has hand engraved lugs with aquatic plant motifs, which provides a nice contrast to the polished case. The buckle also features similar engraving.
Extra Touches: The hand engraved lugs with aquatic plant motifs
Flipping the watch over reveals the hunter style caseback. The engraver and enameler have worked their magic again, displaying a geometric aquatic leaf pattern. The colours match those found on the dial. Once opened, the movement can be viewed through the sapphire crystal.
The hand engraved and enameled hunter caseback with blue and green aquatic plant pattern
The manually wound PF352 movement is 29.90 mm in diameter and 9.35 mm thick, and is made up of 586 components and 47 jewels. The single barrel provides a power reserve of 40 hours. The escapement oscillates at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour). The movement receives haute horlogerie finishing. All of the bridges are hand-bevelled. They are engraved with decorative foliage reminiscent of the captivating scene found on the dial.
The watch comes fitted with an Hermes made Alligator strap with hand engraved 18ct white gold Ardillon buckle.
All is revealed: The manually wound hand finished movement
We think this watch is a fitting tribute from Parmigani to honour Edouard Marcel Sandoz combing the beauty of a mechanical timepiece and colouful hand finished dial.
One lucky person will get to own this timepiece. It is a Piece Unique!
For more information please visit Parmigiani.
Technical Specifications
PFH435-1207001-HA3141
| MOVEMENT | |
| Calibre: PF352 | |
| Winding: Manual | |
| Minute repeater movement. Tourbillon, chrono and perpetual calendar. Sounds the hours, quarter-hours and minutes on 2 cathedral chime gongs. | |
| Power-reserve: 40 hours | |
| Frequency: 3 Hz – 21’600 A/h | |
| Dimensions: 13”’ – Ø 29.90 mm | |
| Thickness: 9.35 mm | |
| Components: 586 | |
| Jewels: 47 | |
| Barrel(s): 1 | |
| Decoration: Plates and bridges bevelled and hand engraved bridges | |
| FUNCTIONS | |
| Hours, Minutes | |
| Tourbillon | |
| 1/3 sec chronograph – large second, 30-min counter | |
| Minute repeater wound by the bezel | |
| Perpetual Calendar | |
| CASE | |
| Shape: 4-part round case | |
| Dimensions: 46.70 | |
| Thickness: 16.82 mm | |
| Material: 18 ct white gold | |
| Finishing: Polished | |
| Water-resistance: 10 m | |
| Glass: Anti-reflective sapphire | |
| Crown: Ø 7 mm | |
| Back: Engraved and enamelled double case-back | |
| Back engraving: Individual number and “MODELE UNIQUE” | |
| DIAL | |
| Dial with gold appliques carp “ramolayé” reported | |
| Material: 18 ct white gold | |
| Colour: Green | |
| Index: Transfered | |
| Finishing: Hand-engraved and covered with translucent enamel | |
| Hands: Delta-shaped with luminescent coating |
| BRACELET | |
| Material: Alligator | |
| Colour: Blue | |
| Brand: Hermès | |
| BUCKLE | |
| Type: Ardillon | |
