To celebrate Michel Parmigiani’s birthday, the company that bears his name has an annual tradition of unveiling a new high horological creation. This year, Parmigiani Fleurier presented the Armoriale Répétition Mystérieuse, a masterpiece that merges artistic beauty with exceptional acoustic engineering. This luxury watch has been designed as a limited series of five ultra-slim unique pieces, personalised to the collector’s wishes, in white gold and enamel.
In a sense, striking watches are a return to a horology that required the telling of time in the dark, before the invention of artificial light or luminous markers.
Front (left) and back (right) of the Parmigiani Fleurier Armoriale Répétition Mystérieuse, where the minutes and hours are indicated by the letters “M” and “H” on the dial.
The Armoriale Répétition Mystérieuse is both about artisan craftsmanship and high-complication watchmaking. In terms of the calibre, Parmigiani engaged the talents at AP Renaud Paper to design and craft a manual wound movement that chimes the cathedral gongs once the slide on the side of the case is pushed. The term “cathedral” refers to gongs which are extra-long and wrap around the movement almost twice, prolonging the resonance of each sound to deliver a deep tone reminiscent of cathedral bells.
The constituent parts to the watch. Clockwise from far left: the back dial, the cathedral gongs, the green enamel and guilloché front dial, and the case and movement.
The clarity and purity of the sound from the hammers striking the gongs is enhanced by the ingeniously crafted case with its hollowed-out back and sides for amplification. The movement comprises 392 components and boasts a 72-hour power reserve. The repeating mechanism is fitted with a regulator to maintain a steady rhythm to the chimes and ensure a smooth uninterrupted sound.
The white gold case has design elements such as geometric lines and Doric columns that are typical of the brand, where the watch is in a sense inverted, with the time-telling dial on the back. The front is decorative and next to the gongs to ensure the maximum volume from the repeater mechanism. The front of the Armoriale has a pastel green translucent grand feu enamel that displays the fine hand-turned guilloché pattern beneath. Turn the watch over, and the hour and minute hands in rose gold are visible. The back dial is also adorned with a disk of Guatemalan white jade and features circular indices.
Detail of the front dial of the Armoriale Répétition Mystérieuse showcasing the enamelled guilloché pattern, the detail in the case, and the slide to operate the repeater mechanism.
To complete the experience of acquiring the watch, Parmigiani Fleurier has crafted a bespoke watch box featuring a resonator made from Risoud spruce wood, which is renowned for its superior acoustic properties. The elegant presentation box enhances each sound. By placing the watch at various points within the case, the owner can modulate the resonance, creating a tailored auditory experience. A luxury watch that delivers a luxury experience. POA.
Author: Andrew Hildreth
Find out more about this fascinating watch, HERE.
Opening image: The Armoriale Répétition Mystérieuse on its bespoke watch box featuring a resonator crafted from Risoud spruce wood.
Other articles about chiming watches, HERE (Patek Philippe ref. 6301P) and HERE (MB&F Albatross).
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