Parmigiani Fleurier

Infobox Company
name = Parmigiani Fleurier SA

type = Privately held company
foundation = 1975
founder = Michel Parmigiani
location_city = Fleurier
location_country = 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.

History

Michel Parmigiani was born in Couvet, Switzerland in 1950. In 1975, Parmigiani founded "Parmigiani Mesure et Art du Temps" in Fleurier. The focus of the company was restoring watches. In 1996, the Sandoz Family Foundation became the majority shareholder of the company when seeking to diversify their business.cite web |url= http://www.europastar.com/europastar/magazine/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001054843|title= Parmigiani Fleurier is now master of the watch’s strategic heart |accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work= Europa.com ] In that same year, the first line of Parmigiani watches were released.cite web |url= http://www.hautehorlogerie.org/en/players/brands/parmigiani-fleurier/history-2498.html|title= Parmigiani Fleurier’s history|accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work=Haute Horlogerie.org ] 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.cite web |url= http://theluxurybazaar.com/timepieces/webforms/watches/brand/brand.aspx?c=0318c28a-3e0b-4854-b17d-1dd0d67df26c|title= Parmigiani Fleurier|accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work= Luxury Bazaar.com] 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. In 2003, these three firms merged into Vaucher Manufacture, which manufactures all of the components of Parmigiani watches. Also in 2003, "Manufacture of Parmigiani Mesure et Art du Temps" (The Measurement of Art and Time)cite web |url= http://www.tourbillon-watches.com/tourbillon.asp?pg=editorial/2002/parmigiani.htm&house=49|title= Parmigiani Fleurier |accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work= ] 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. [cite web |url= http://cnbceb.com/2006/04/01/luxury/|title= Luxury Special Supplement|accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work= CNBC.com ] [cite web |url= http://www.mens-watches-guide.com/parmigiani-fleurier.html
title= Parmigiani Fleurier — From Restoration to Creating Aesthetics with Technology|accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work= Men's Watch Guide.com] In 1995, Parmigiani won the Prix GAIA award for his work in the horological field.

Watches

Parmigiani carries a men's line of watches, and a line that caters specifically to women. [cite web |url= http://www.europastar.com/europastar/magazine/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003119871|title= Mechanical watches for ladies |accessdate=2008-02-05 |last= Strandberg|First= Keith W.|work= ] [cite web |url= http://www.europastar.com/europastar/magazine/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002274745|title= Charm offensive at Parmigiani |accessdate=2008-02-05 |last= Maillard|First= Pierre|work= ] All Parmigiani Fleurier watches are hand-crafted, taking at least four hundred hours to create; they are created with only precious metals and precious or semi-precious stones. [cite web |url= http://www.americanwatchguild.com/manufacturer_detail.php?id=197|title= Parmigiani-Fleurier |accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work= American Watch Guild.com] In order to create exclusivity, only a few thousand pieces are produced every year. Their watch lines include the Toric, Forma (renamed Kalpa) and the single watch, the Bugatti 370. [cite web |url= http://www.europastar.com/europastar/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003594012|title= Parmigiani's new Kalpa'graph |accessdate=2008-02-05 |last= Strandberg|First= Keith W.|work= ]

In 2006, the Bugatti 370 was awarded the "Watch of the Year" award by the Japanese Press. [cite web |url= http://www.europastar.com/europastar/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002001706|title= The Bugatti Type 370 watch by Parmigiani Fleurier voted watch of the Year 2006 in Japan |accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work= ] The watch is a driving watch based on the Bugatti Veyron supercar. 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.cite web |url= http://www.gadgets-reviews.com/index.php?page=articles&catid=7&id=30|title= An Engine Block Telling the Time|accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work= ] The first Bugatti watch was given to car enthusiast Ralph Lauren.cite web |url= http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/ly/watches.htm|title= Car-themed watches |First= Laurance|Last= Yap|accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work= ] Only one hundred fifty of the watches will be made each year, fifty of each of the three dial colors available. The watch will cost USD$200,000. [cite web |url= http://www.elitechoice.org/2007/09/12/parmigiani-type-370-bugatti-for-280000/|title= Parmigiani Type 370 Bugatti for $280,000|accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work= ] [cite web |url= http://www.parmigiani.ch/communication_prix_06_japon_eng.html|title= Bugatti Type 370 Watch Voted Watch of the Year 2006 in Japan|accessdate=2008-02-05 |format= |work= ]

References

External links

* [http://www.timezone.com/library/tzints/tzints631750765845312500 An interview] with founder Michel Parmigiani