Dolce Excellence Mastery Transcending Time With Craftsmanship
To honour Michel Parmigiani’s journey of passion and prowess, Parmigiani Fleurier’s creation of L’Armoriale, its pocket-watch masterpiece, was the only way.
Within Parmigiani Fleurier’s “Objets d’Art” collection is a piece that is the epitome of artistic watchmaking, the L’Armoriale pocket watch, conceived to honour tradition in a modern world.
Its concept was sparked during a trip by Parmigiani Fleurier’s CEO, Guido Terreni, to Northern Italy, to the Palazzo Te in Mantua, located at the crossroads of Milan, Genoa, and Venice.
While Terreni took in the Mannerist architecture and breathtaking frescoes of the Renaissance-era royal palace, he felt that it would be most fitting to take inspiration from its lavish Renaissance elements with a one-of-a-kind timepiece collection that would honour Michel Parmigiani, the man who made Parmigiani Fleurier what it is today.
As a young watchmaker and restorer with a passion for both watchmaking and architecture, Michel opened “Mesure et Art du Temps” in 1976 as a traditional workshop devoted to restoring antique timepieces. While mastering his trade, he pursued his creative impulses by designing and crafting complex timekeeping creations of his own. Michel’s reputation for artistry and technical prowess grew and doors of opportunity opened. Eventually, this led him to launch his watchmaking Maison, Parmigiani Fleurier, in 1996 with the support of the Sandoz Family Foundation and the Landolt family.
Traditionally referred to as the “Mains d’Or” or “Golden Hands,” the artisans involved in creating this latest piece each specialized in a distinct craft. Every component, from the intricate engraving of the case to the chain, was meticulously designed and constructed for fluidity of movement and exquisiteness of style.
The L’Armoriale movement features a chronograph, a minute repeater, and a perpetual calendar featuring a moon phase set against an aventurine sky and hand-hammered moons on white gold. Its movement beats at a smooth frequency of 2.5 Hz, equivalent to 18,000 vibrations per hour, providing a leisurely and refined experience. From its gears to the detailed engravings and polished bridges, every facet of its movement reflects the values that Parmigiani Fleurier stands for. An ode to art, technicity, and elegance.
If you think pocket watches are a relic of the past, well, think again. These exquisite new styles and their accessories are restored to the spotlight by those who do not follow the trends but set them. The L’Armoriale bridges the gap between centuries, harmonizing sophistication, finesse, and beauty, and will bestow those qualities on the one who wears it.
