Parmigiani Fleurier has again partnered with Singapore-based Sincere Fine Watches, resulting in the Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Steel Pacific Blue SHH Edition. Conceived for the retailer’s independents-focused store, Sincere Haute Horlogerie (SHH), the watch features a unique, light blue hue for the barleycorn guilloché dial, while retaining the characteristic integrated-bracelet design and an ultra-thin automatic movement.

Initial thoughts

The Tonda PF has been a crowd favourite due to the fact that it’s an original take on the popular integrated bracelet design, while also having excellent proportions. At the same time, the barleycorn guilloché dial arguably boasts amongst the finest engine turning on a sports watch. So a new shade for the dial is a welcome thing, since it adds an good looking option to an already appealing watch.

However, I would have hoped for something more distinctive to set apart the SHH Edition beyond the dial colour. Another guilloche pattern for the dial, for instance, would have made it truly stand out.

While the standard model has proven extremely popular – Parmigiani has since unveiled many complicated iterations of the model – it is nice to see that this will only be produced in a limited quantity, adding a level of exclusivity to the new dial, which will surely be appreciated by clients of SHH.

Priced at around US$27,000 before taxes, this carries a 10% premium over to the regular-production version. Considering that this is a limited edition of just 50, the premium seems reasonable.

“Pacific Blue”

The Pacific Blue edition is amongst several limited editions launched by SHH, which evolved from a concept store focused on independent watchmaking. SHH carries brands like Greubel Forsey, Ferdinand Berthoud, and H. Moser & Cie. It is part of Sincere Fine Watches, which was established in 1954, making it the oldest watch retailer in Singapore. Sincere was recent acquired by fellow Singapore retailer Cortina, giving it the scale to grow the network of SHH stores.

The limited edition is a variant of the standard Tonda PF Micro-Rotor, which was launched in 2021. The Tonda PF is characterised by a minimalist aesthetic with a clean dial bearing only hour indices, hands, a date at six, and an applied “PF” emblem. But the dial is not sparse as it is decorated with grain d’orge, or barleycorn, guilloché, that is engraved by a CNC machine but nonetheless fine.

The regular production Tonda PF Rotor

In the case of this limited edition, the dial features a new colour that combines shades of blue and grey in a finish labelled “Pacific Blue”. This particular colour was introduced in last year’s SHH limited edition Tonda PF Annual Calendar and drew on the colours discussed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in his 1931 essay Architectural Polychromy.

Apart from the dial colour, the watch remains unchanged over the standard model. Housed in a stainless steel case, it features a knurled platinum bezel and is accompanied by a integrated bracelet. The case measures 40 mm in diameter and 7.8 mm high. 

The Tonda PF runs on the PF703, a slender automatic movement with a micro-rotor. Designed by Vaucher, the movement specialist that’s a sister company of Parmigiani, it is relatively large but impressively thin. With the micro-rotor winding a single barrel, it has a shortish power reserve of 48 hours.

The PF703

Key facts and price

Parmigiani Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Steel Pacific Blue SHH Edition
Ref. PFS914-1020004-100182

Diameter: 40 mm
Height: 7.8 mm
Material: Stainless steel with platinum bezel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: PF703
Functions: Hour, minutes and date
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hours (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 48 hours

Strap: Matching bracelet

Limited edition: 50 pieces
Availability: Only at the Sincere Haute Horlogere boutique in Singapore
Price: 39,980 Singapore dollars (excluding taxes), or about US$27,000

For more, visit Parmigiani.com.

Correction August 30, 2023: The dial is engraved via CNC milling and not a straight line engine as stated in an earlier version of the article.