Parmigiani Fleurier adds Mineral Blue edition to Tonda PF Sport Chronograph
Parmigiani Fleurier has introduced a Mineral Blue edition to its Tonda PF Sport Chronograph collection, featuring a proprietary Ultra-Cermet case.
Parmigiani Fleurier has expanded its Tonda PF Sport Chronograph line with a new iteration featuring an Ultra-Cermet case and a Mineral Blue aesthetic. This addition marks an effort to bring a more vibrant, summery sensibility to a high-performance, sport-oriented collection that previously focused on monochromatic palettes like London Grey and Milano Blue. By introducing the Mineral Blue tone to the dial and the textured rubber strap, the brand aims to temper the technical, industrial appearance inherent to the cermet material.
Material Innovation
The core of this release remains the proprietary Ultra-Cermet material. Developed over a period exceeding three years, the composite is created through a process of sintering ultra-fine ceramic and titanium powders under high heat and pressure, bypassing the melting point of the elements to maintain their structural integrity. The final composition contains approximately 40% metal, designed to provide the hardness and scratch resistance of ceramic, rated at 1,450 HV on the Vickers scale, while retaining the tactile, metallic feel of titanium. According to Monochrome Watches, the manufacturing process is highly demanding, requiring the use of diamond-cutting instruments for machining, with the brand noting that more than 90% of production is discarded during the initial selection phase.
Media additions
The material application is comprehensive. Unlike watches that use advanced composites solely for bezels, the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph utilizes Ultra-Cermet for the 42.5mm middle case, the signature fluted bezel, the crown, the chronograph pushers, and even the pin buckle. Fratellowatches highlights that this commitment to the material across all functional components distinguishes the timepiece, as many manufacturers typically switch to easier-to-work-with alloys for secondary parts.
Design and Horology
The watch maintains the technical specifications of the Tonda PF Sport collection. It is powered by the Calibre PF070, an integrated automatic chronograph movement developed in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. The movement operates at a high frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz) and delivers a 65-hour power reserve. It features a column-wheel and vertical clutch, housed within a 6.95mm-thick structure consisting of 288 components. The view through the sapphire case back reveals satin-finished openworked bridges and a skeletonized 22K rose gold rotor, which carries the watch’s serial number and production details on an Ultra-Cermet ring.
Aesthetically, the Mineral Blue edition features a dial with Blackor-plated surfaces. The blue elements in the sub-dials are intended to shift in appearance depending on the ambient light, providing what Revolutionwatch describes as a necessary departure from the more dour
colorways previously offered in the range. The watch is finished with hand-applied, lume-treated indexes in Blackor-plated 18K gold and is secured to the wrist by a textured Mineral Blue rubber strap.
Comparative Overview
The following table summarizes key technical aspects of the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph Ultra-Cermet:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Case Diameter | 42.5mm |
| Case Thickness | 13.3mm |
| Movement | Calibre PF070 (Automatic) |
| Frequency | 36,000 vph (5 Hz) |
| Power Reserve | 65 hours |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters |
Context and Market Positioning
Industry observers have noted that while the use of cermet justifies the complexity of the manufacturing process, it places the timepiece at a higher price point compared to the steel variants of the same model. According to Watchesbysjx, the cermet model carries a premium, which the brand attributes to the difficulty of machining and polishing the composite. The pricing for the Mineral Blue edition is set at CHF 40,400.
The expansion into this colorway reflects a broader industry trend of exploring hybrid materials that marry ceramic durability with metallic aesthetics. This field includes initiatives from brands like IWC, with its Ceratanium, and Porsche Design’s use of sintered Titanium Carbide. For Parmigiani Fleurier, the strategy remains centered on integrating industrial-grade materials without sacrificing the classically elegant design language defined by their broader Tonda PF collection.
