Parmigiani Fleurier adopts a multicultural approach and celebrates diversity, considering calendars as expressions of cultural diversity. The design process integrates the specificities of each society, honoring the uniqueness of every culture. The brand embraces inclusivity, valuing differences and providing a platform for diverse traditions, contributing to a rich dialogue between cultures.
Calendars, viewed as mirrors of civilizations, play a significant role in human history, reflecting beliefs, philosophy, and structuring social and religious life. Parmigiani Fleurier strives to create watches that serve as precision instruments and custodians of history and tradition.
Inspired by Michel Parmigiani’s vision of watchmaking revealing history, culture, and philosophy, the brand aims to make every watch an open window to the world. The Tonda PF Perpetual Hijri Calendar exemplifies this commitment, celebrating watchmaking traditions and honoring the sacredness of time in various cultures.
Parmigiani Fleurier is renowned for its expertise in calendar complications, blending poetry with astronomical precision. The Tonda PF collection features three masterpieces: the complete Chinese calendar Xiali, the Western Gregorian calendar, and the Islamic Hijri calendar, showcasing a deep respect for cultural diversity and the complexity of time. Inspired by a pocket watch featuring an Arabic calendar, Michel Parmigiani created the Hijri Calendar Table Clock in 2011, later miniaturized into the Hijri Perpetual Calendar wristwatch, winning the 2020 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) Innovation Prize. In 2023, Parmigiani Fleurier released the Tonda PF Hijri Perpetual Calendar in platinum, and now introduces a new version in stainless steel with a vivid Viridian green dial. The Hijri Perpetual Calendar follows the Tabular Islamic calendar developed in the 8th century, marking the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. It is a lunar calendar, differing from the solar Gregorian and lunisolar Chinese Xiali calendars, featuring a 30-year cycle with common and abundant years based on moon cycles.
THE SACREDNESS OF TIME
The sacredness of time in Islam is reflected in four months dedicated to piety and good deeds, free from violence or wrongdoing. Three consecutive sacred months begin with Dhul-Qa’dah (١١), followed by Dhul-Hijjah (١٢) and Muharram (١), coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and promoting peaceful journeys. Rajab (٧), occurring mid-year, encourages peace and reflection before Ramadan and the voluntary Umrah pilgrimage. Ramadan (٩) is marked by fasting and concludes with Eid al-Fitr, followed by Eid Al-Adha on the tenth day of the last month.
STEEL AND VIRIDIAN GREEN
The new Tonda PF Hijri Perpetual Calendar has a 100m water-resistant stainless-steel case with alternating satin and polished finishes. Its signature fluted bezel is in 950 platinum and it is paired with a matching stainless-steel bracelet with folding clasp. The viridian green dial is hand finished with a Grain d’Orge guilloche. The applied hour markers and skeletonized delta hour and minute hands are crafted in 18k gold with rhodium plating. The second hand and calendar subdial hands are made of rhodium-plated steel.
ISLAMIC CALENDAR
The Tonda PF Hijri Perpetual Calendar is equipped with the Caliber PF009 automatic movement, which operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and has a power reserve of 48 hours. The intricate movement has beveled bridges. The skeletonized rotor is chiseled from platinum with a polished and sandblasted finish. Like the case and dial, it is meticulously finished with Côtes de Genève and perlage throughout.
The Tonda PF Hijri Perpetual Calendar displays all the information on the dial. The 12-hour subdial shows the 30-year cycle with the abundant 355-day years in beige and the standard 354-day years in white. The 3 o’clock subdial indicates the numbered months of the year with the ninth month of Ramadan highlighted in bright red. The 9 o’clock subdial shows the days of the month with an aperture indicating whether it is a 30-day abundant month or a 29-day common month. A white aperture indicates a 29-day month. The activated beige aperture indicates a 30-day month, with the number 30 in beige and written in Arabic as ۳۰ Finally, the 6 o’clock subdial features the blue aventurine moon phase display, which shows the position of the moon in the northern and southern hemispheres.
