At SIHH 2012, which begins January 16th, Parmigiani Fleurier will unveil their first annual calendar. The Fleurier manufacture developed this new complication based on their PF 331 automatic caliber, with the addition of a new module, creating the PF 339 Annual Calendar caliber.
An annual calendar automatically adjusts for the variation in the number of days each month, as opposed to having to manually adjust like on most timepieces. It does, however, need to be manually adjusted once each year (for the month of February in non-leap years). In a leap year, which coincidentally is coming up in 2012, the date will display February 29 and will automatically move to March 1 the following day.
Manufactured in the Parmigiani Fleurier dial production unit, the Tonda Annual Calendar can be selected with either silver or charcoal grey dial with delicate “yellow silvered graining” or a “black barley grain” in the center and a black or silvered opaline outer ring. The inner ring features spindle-shaped applied indexes and gold Delta-shaped hands with luminous coating.
The Tonda Annual Calendar features a retrograde hand which indicates the date from 1-31 on the outer dial. The day of the week is positioned at 9 o’clock and the month, shown as a number from 1 to 12, is at 3 o’clock.
The precision moon phase, developed in the Parmigiani workshops, completes the indications of this calendar model. “Only requiring one correction every 120 years, it helps reduce the discrepancy between a classic lunar cycle (29 days and 12 hours) and the actual lunar cycle (29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.8 seconds). It offers two indications for the moon; one for the Northern hemisphere and one for the southern hemisphere, the moon shines with a precious intensity which is complemented by the rose gold detailing.”
Functions include hours, minutes, seconds, date, day, month and moon phase (one correction every 120 years). The 40 mm diameter by 11.2 mm thickness case is available in polished white gold or rose gold. Anti-reflective sapphire crystal and sapphire case back. Individual number engraved on the case back.
Each timepiece is paired with a Hermès alligator leather strap with gold ardillon buckle and polished finish. Water-resistance is 30 meters.
