Part of the Toric Tourbillon series, this piece is an early example of Parmigiani Fleuriers work, an independent brand headed by master restorer Michel Parmigiani. The watch is distinguished by its impressive finishing from the sharp Ctes de Genve to the subtle bevelling highlighting the skill needed to assemble and finish this high complication.

Introduced around 2000, the Toric Tourbillon was the first tourbillon released by the young brand. The tourbillon has long been a rite of passage for many independent watchmakers looking to make a name for themselves. The visual appeal of the complication, its storied past and the skill needed to assemble one according to more traditional methods have all contributed to this.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Toric collection is inspired by the work of Abraham-Louis Breguet and features a range of classic complications, alongside more inventive ones. The name is derived from the geometric shape of a torus, evident in its pieces, which have stepped and fluted bezels a detail inspired by classical Greek and Roman Doric columns as well as the curvature of the Golden Ratio.

In the first days of the manufacture, Parmigiani chose to rely on high-quality bauches, which were modified, assembled, and finished in-house. This reference 2840 makes use of a Girard-Perregaux Three Bridges 9900 bauche. Initially created for pocket watches, this movement has a historic lineage that stretches back to the 19th century, when it won first place in the 1867 and 1889 Paris World Exhibitions as well as the Neuchatl Observatory Prize in 1911 one of the most prestigious competitions to determine the accuracy of certain timepieces. The movement was miniaturised to wristwatch size in 1986 and presented at Baselworld five years later.

The Toric Tourbillon exposes the movement through an open-worked dial and sapphire caseback, but the minimalist features of the watch ensure that it does not overpower the wearer. Rather interestingly, the minute hand sits below the hour hand, which is due to the fact that the movement is an inverted version of the original Girard-Perregaux pocket watch movement from the 19th century.

Closer look

This Parmigiani is in good condition overall. There are superficial marks throughout, most notably on the bottom two lugs and both sides of the case, consistent with wear over time.

The watch comes with a two-year warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.