Parmigiani Fleurier updated its sporty, round chronograph model, the Tonda Metrographe, in 2017, streamlining its somewhat idiosyncractic, asymmetrical design to a more classically sporty three-register look ? and Parmigiani being Parmigiani, it did so without sacrificing the aesthetic flourishes and distinctive technical touches that make the timepiece unmistakably its own. Here are insights from a few weeks spent with the revamped Tonda Metrographe, with an oxidized black dial and rose-gold detailing.
The Parmigiani Tonda Metrographe was redesigned for 2017.
The round case is not overly changed from that of the original Metrographe ? a satisfyingly contemporary 40 mm in diameter and 11.7 mm thick, with a host of mirror-polished finishes, and anchored to the bracelet by Parmigiani?s hallmark ergonomically curving lugs. The elegantly rounded, ovoid chronograph pushers flanking the crown are set close to the case for an understated profile; these buttons require just the gentlest of pressing to stop, start, and zero the stopwatch function. (In fact, upon close examination, their oval shape echoes that of the framed Parmigiani logo.) The crown pulls out to two positions, the first to quick-set the date, the second, full extracted position to rotate the hour and minute hands around the dial to set the time. The oval-shaped, close-set chrono pushers contribute to the elegant case profile.
Where the redesigned Metrographe differs substantially from its predecessor is, of course,...