Parmigiani Fleurier’s new Tonda PF Sport Chronograph brings pastel tones and an end to the Tonda GT
Borna Bošnjak- The sportiest Parmigiani Fleurier gets a trio of new contrasting sub-dial colours, with subtle tones of blue and grey, paired with clou triangulaire guilloché.
- Large, 42mm steel cases stay under 13mm tall, bound to wear with plenty of presence thanks to the integrated rubber strap design.
- It improves on the Tonda GT it replaces with an integrated chronograph movement in place of the modular calibre of its predecessor.
Though Parmigiani Fleurier has just released a revival of its first-ever Toric collection, it’s not resting on its laurels. A Mere month after Watches and Wonders, we’re greeted by a trio of Tonda PF Sport Chronograph models that are meant to fully phase out the Tonda GT with sleeker designs and a significant movement upgrade. The admittedly lengthily named Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph in Arctic blue, London grey, and Milano blue join four existing Tonda PF Sport Chronograph and time-only references, fully rounding out the collection.
Unlike the subtle, grain d’orge guilloché you’ll find in the “regular” Tonda PF collection, the Sport goes for a more noticeably patterned clou triangulaire – literally translating as “triangular nail”. The pattern gets its name from the repeating shapes reminiscent to that of triangular nail heads, though in this case, it’s been made more subtle than the one found in the outgoing Tonda GT. The proverbial “pop of colour” is done in the most Parmigiani way possible, with muted tones of navy, sky blue, and taupe. These are reserved for the sub-dials and minute track, but also subtly integrated into the small prism-shaped markers and the very tips of the skeletonised delta hands. One aspect that I’m not that on board with is the date wheel. Its already-controversial 04:30 position is emphasised by its harsh contrasting colour against the white backdrop, a curious choice considering Parmigiani’s usual technicolour mastery. I can understand the reasoning – all the other dial elements are highlighted in some way, but I think it would be better integrated into the 6 o’clock sub-dial in some way.
On the wrist, the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph wears very much like a time-only Tonda PF, but just a tad larger and thicker at 42mm in diameter and 12.9mm thick. This is going to be great news for those that feel the time-only sizing is a bit diminutive, though the Tonda PF case design does tend to wear larger thanks to the wide-reaching bracelet and case geometry.
A look at the case profile reveals that Parmigiani has thankfully kept the beautiful lug design the Tonda PF is known for, now integrating the two teardrop-shaped chronograph pushers. Notably, the lugs are a lot stubbier than on the time-only variant, but still curve downwards, helping wearability. As this is a sports watch, Parmigiani Fleurier ensured that it has the water resistance to match, with an appropriate 100-metre rating.
And perhaps the most objective upgrade to Parmigiani Fleurier’s sportiest watch is the PF070 chronograph calibre. Whereas the Tonda GT had a Vaucher-based modular movement, the PF070 is a fully integrated, high-beat, vertical clutch, column wheel chronograph – now that’s a wordy description. The specs speak for themselves, as the PF070’s two serial barrels provide an impressive 65 hours of power reserve despite the 5Hz beat rate, while the full balance bridge helps with shock-resistance, all while staying just under 7mm in height.
The decoration is also pleasant, with a gold-toned 22k rotor modelled after the steering wheel of a Ferrari 250 GTO covering an array of skeletonised bridges with machine-cut and hand-finished bevels. There are no internal angles to speak of, however. For that, you’ll have to upgrade to one of Parmigiani’s top-end PF361 calibres.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph pricing and availability
The Tonda PF Sport Chronograph collection is available now. Price: €31,400 (~US$34,000)
| Brand | Parmigiani Fleurier |
| Model | Tonda PF Sport Chronograph |
| Reference | PFC931-1020003-400182 PFC931-1020003-400182 PFC931-1020003-400182 |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 12.9mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal front and back |
| Dial | Clou triangulaire guilloché, sub-dials in Arctic grey, London grey, Milano blue |
| Strap | Sub-dial colour-matched integrated rubber, steel folding clasp |
| Movement | PF070, in-house, automatic, 5Hz, COSC-certified |
| Power Reserve | 65 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | €31,400 |