Introducing: The Parmigiani Fleurier Kalpa Chronor

January 15, 2018

Last year, Parmigiani Fleurier debuted the Tonda Chronor Anniversaire, which is an in-house rattrapante chronograph with a movement in rose gold. This year, they're following it up with a new, non-rattrapante chronograph, with an in-house, self-winding movement C and a high-frequency one to boot, at 36,000 vph. The Parmigiani Fleurier Chronor Anniversaire The Chronor Anniversaire was a major announcement last year for Parmigiani Fleurier, and a major success as well, scoring the firm the Chronograph prize at the Grand Prix Horlogerie de Genve. To find out more, check out our Hands On from last year. Why This Watch Matters Making an integrated, automatic chronograph movement is not an easy task C in fact, of all the standard horological complications (the perpetual calendar, the repeater, the simple calendar, the chronograph and rattrapante chronograph, and so on) the automatic chronograph was the last to appear. It wasn't until 1969 that the first automatic chronographs made their appearance. For Parmigiani Fleurier, producing last year's in-house Chronor Anniversaire was a major statement on several levels C it was an assertion of technical prowess (the rattrapante, or split-seconds chronograph, is traditionally considered a high complication, at the same level as a perpetual calendar or minute repeater). But it was also a statement of commitment to a certain approach to watchmaking.? The aesthetics of the Chronor Anniversaire were very clearly an expression of Parmigiani Fleurier's established design identity in terms of movement structure and construction. However, the amount and quality of finishing applied to the movement also spoke volumes about the company's vision of its place in horology. The result wasn't purely Genevan in feel, and had the slightly baroque quality that one often associates with watchmaking in Fleurier. The new Kalpa Chronor asserts the same values, but in the tonneau-like Kalpa case and with an all-new movement as well. Initial Thoughts This is the second year in a row that Parmigiani Fleurier has made major news with a new chronograph movement. An in-house, high beat automatic chronograph is a considerable achievement, and especially with such appealing aesthetics (there are several major haute horlogerie firms that you'd think would have an in-house self-winding chronograph, but don't). Development time and costs tend to be quite high for even a simple integrated chronograph; according to Parmigiani, this one has been under development for six years. The only potential cloud in the sky is that the Kalpa case by its very nature is a design with a narrower appeal than the round Tonda, although personally I admire Parmigiani Fleurier for sticking to its guns and keeping the Kalpa collection in the foreground (the movement also looks as if it would not be difficult to adapt to a round case). This will be one of the more exciting debuts of the 2018 SIHH to see in person. The Basics Brand: Parmigiani FleurierModel: Kalpa ChronorReference Number: 187-1001400-HA1442Case dimensions: 48.2 x 40.4mmThickness: 14mmCase Material: Rose goldDial: 18k gold base; black opaline with snailed chronograph countersIndexes: Applied 18k goldLume: On both indexes and handsWater Resistance: 30 metersStrap/Bracelet: Black alligator by Herms The Movement Caliber: In-House PF365Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and chronograph with vertical clutch with column wheelDimensions: 17 ? ''' x 14'''Winding: AutomaticFrequency: 5 Hz (36,000 vph)Jewels: 32Chronometer Certified By COSC COSC Additional Details: Unusual rose gold plates and bridges; according to Parmigiani Fleurier, there are a total of 84 individually hand-finished internal angles. Pricing & Availability Price: $85,000Availability: TBDFor more click here.