Michel Parmigiani is responsible for the restoration of many pieces in the Sandoz Family Foundation’s immense collection as well as timepieces from the Patek Philippe Museum and the Kremlin Museums.
His latest timepiece, being unveiled this month just in time for Robb Report’s gift guide, is inspired by one of his restoration achievements: a 19th-century Perrin Freres pocket watch that tells time (without hands) via a moving hour marker along a minute track. It served as the model for the new Toric Capitole minute repeater with cathedral chime bells.
Replicating the sector time display of the original pocket watch required the watchmaker to recreate the complication in a version that was 10 times smaller than that of the original – an incredible technical feat.
The decorative Toric Capitole features an 18-carat rose- gold dial handmade by a master engraver featuring a circular satin finish. The double bezel mimics the pattern around the exterior case of the original pocket watch and comes on a brown Hermes alligator strap and features a diamond crown. The recipient of this watch will own a piece of wearable history.
