Parmigiani Fleurier
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Parmigiani Fleurier SA | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Privately held company |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Founder | Michel Parmigiani |
| Headquarters | Fleurier, Switzerland |
| Industry | Watchmaking |
| Products | Wristwatches |
Parmigiani Fleurier SA is a Swiss brand of luxury watchmakers founded in 1975 in Fleurier, Switzerland by Michel Parmigiani. In 2006, Parmigini produced the Bugatti 370, a driving watch based on the Bugatti Veyron supercar, which won the 2006 "Watch of the Year Award" from the Japanese press.
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[edit] History
Michel Parmigiani was born in Couvet, Switzerland in 1950. In 1975, Parmigiani founded Parmigiani Mesure et Art du Temps in Fleurier.[1] The focus of the company was restoring watches.[2] In 1996, the Sandoz Family Foundation became the majority shareholder of the company when seeking to diversify their business.[3] In that same year, the first line of Parmigiani watches were released.[1] This debut line included men's and women's watches, clocks, and a Grande Complication, the last of which demonstrating his loyalty to traditional Swiss watchmaking traditions.[2] During 2000 and 2001, the Sandoz foundation acquired three outside firms: Bruno Affolter SA, a case-making company, and Atokalpa SA and Elwin SA, both watch-component manufacturers.[1] In 2003, these three firms merged into Vaucher Manufacture, which manufactures all of the components of Parmigiani watches.[3] Also in 2003, Manufacture of Parmigiani Mesure et Art du Temps (The Measurement of Art and Time)[4] became Parmigiani Fleurier.
Michel Parmigiani is noted for his feats as a horologist. He restored the Breguet Pendule Sympathique Clock, which experts had deemed beyond repair.[5][6] In 1995, Parmigiani won the Prix GAIA award for his work in the horological field.[2]
[edit] Watches
Parmigiani carries a men's line of watches, and a line that caters specifically to women.[7][8] All Parmigiani Fleurier watches are hand-crafted, taking at least four hundred hours to create;[4] they are created with only precious metals and precious or semi-precious stones.[9] In order to create exclusivity, only a few thousand pieces are produced every year.[2] Their watch lines include the Toric, Forma (renamed Kalpa) and the single watch, the Bugatti 370.[10]
In 2006, the Bugatti 370 was awarded the "Watch of the Year" award by the Japanese Press.[11] The watch is a driving watch based on the Bugatti Veyron supercar.[12] It is designed to look like a transversal engine, and is mounted in 18 karat gold. In order to make it readable while driving, the face of the watch has been placed in a vertical position on the case's front.[13] The first Bugatti watch was given to car enthusiast Ralph Lauren.[12] Only one hundred fifty of the watches will be made each year, fifty of each of the three dial colors available.[13] The watch will cost USD$200,000.[12][14][15]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Parmigiani Fleurier’s history. Haute Horlogerie.org. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ a b c d Parmigiani Fleurier. Luxury Bazaar.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ a b Parmigiani Fleurier is now master of the watch’s strategic heart. Europa.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ a b Parmigiani Fleurier. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Luxury Special Supplement. CNBC.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Parmigiani Fleurier — From Restoration to Creating Aesthetics with Technology. Men's Watch Guide.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Strandberg. Mechanical watches for ladies. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Maillard. Charm offensive at Parmigiani. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Parmigiani-Fleurier. American Watch Guild.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Strandberg. Parmigiani's new Kalpa'graph. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ The Bugatti Type 370 watch by Parmigiani Fleurier voted watch of the Year 2006 in Japan. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ a b c Car-themed watches. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ a b An Engine Block Telling the Time. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Parmigiani Type 370 Bugatti for $280,000. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
- ^ Bugatti Type 370 Watch Voted Watch of the Year 2006 in Japan. Retrieved on 2008-02-05.
[edit] External links
- An interview with founder Michel Parmigiani
