Introduced in 1996, this Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Memory Time bears the distinction of being the first ever watch to have been created by the brand. The name itself, “Memory Time”, is highly evocative, recalling Parmigiani’s roots as a restorer and aptly encompassing the nostalgic aesthetics of the piece.
The Toric collection that this watch established, was inspired by the work of Abraham-Louis Breguet and features a range of classic complications, alongside more inventive ones. The name is derived from the geometric shape of a torus, evident in its pieces, which have stepped and fluted bezels – a detail inspired by classical Greek and Roman Doric columns as well as the spiral of the Golden Ratio.
The Toric Memory Time establishes elemental design principles that can be seen across subsequent pieces in the Toric collection. It is a piece frequently seen on the wrist of Michel Parmigiani himself. This example features the 36mm round case in a warm shade of 18k white gold. The stepped case, marked by its knurled, coin-edge decoration, is crisp. The polished aspects contrast with the knurled details, making for a visually sumptuous experience. The gold crown, with its knurled detailing, is marginally recessed into the case and topped with a sapphire cabochon.
Elegance and subtlety are the watchwords of this neo-vintage piece, as it combines traditional techniques like engine-turning with an understated complication, further maintaining its classically styled look through the combination of a platinum case and silvered dial. The watch also possesses an unusual jump hour display that allows the watch to incorporate a discreet GMT complication, giving the wearer the option to include an alternative time zone in place of the traditional 12 o’clock indication.
The rim around the sapphire caseback also has a knurled detail, which, in addition to its function, serves to tie the whole aesthetic of the case together. The inner polished section of the caseback features a personalised engraving in Italian. Visible through the sapphire is the self-winding calibre PF132, based on a Lemania 8813 ébauche. In the early days of the manufacture, it relied on high-quality ébauches, modified, assembled, and finished in-house. This example is decorated to the highest standards, with a gold rotor with the brand mark and beautiful decoration. The bridges underneath wear subtle Côtes de Genève.
If sold within the United Kingdom, this Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Memory Time will be subject to 20% VAT