Parmigiani Fleurier Celebrates Its Founder’s Birthday With the L’Armoriale Répétition Mystérieuse
A state-of-the-art wristwatch that reads time on the caseback.
In keeping with tradition, Parmigiani Fleurier has unveiled a new time-telling object d’art to celebrate its founder, Michel Parmigiani’s birthday on December 2. For the past few years, the luxury independent Maison has presented state-of-the-art pocket watches that marry artisanal crafts with intricate mechanical functionality. Entitled Armoriale Répétition Mystérieuse, this year’s offering arrives in the form of a wristwatch with a meticulously-built enamel cover.
Measuring 42mm in diameter, the timekeeper comes encased in a specially designed white gold case. The cover comes adorned with a translucent pastel green grand feu enamel that’s imbued with an elaborate guilloché pattern. Staying faithful to Michel Parmigiani’s aesthetic principles, the pattern incorporates design elements inspired by Doric columns and the Golden Ratio, highlighting the geometric precision and enduring elegance of classical architecture.
Equipped with “cathedral” gongs to enhance sound resonance, the timepiece delivers deep, rich tones reminiscent of grand cathedral bells, thus amplifying its distinct chime. Instead of flipping over the cover, time is read on the caseback. The dial, crafted from Guatemalan jade, also boasts an unconventional design, where the running of time is indicated via the rose gold hour and minute motifs. As time goes on, the motifs orbit around the center disc, which features detailed engravings that mirror the cover.
In bringing this masterpiece to life, the Maison partnered up with its longtime artisanal collaborators, with Vanessa Lecci on enameling, Eddy Jacquet on engravings and guilloché done by Yann von Kaenel from the Julien Toninelli de L’Atelier. The Armoriale Répétition Mystérieuse is the first of five unique timepieces in a new series. Read more about the piece on the Maison’s official website.
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