Parmigiani Fleurier Unveils 'La Ravenale' Minute Repeater Pocket Watch for Michel Parmigiani's 75th Birthday

Parmigiani Fleurier, a brand rooted in the extensive restoration experience of its founder, Michel Parmigiani, has recently unveiled a magnificent new creation. Encouraged by the Sandoz Family Foundation, Michel Parmigiani established his own brand in 1996 in Le Fleurier, dedicated to his refined vision of horology. In a special tribute to his 75th birthday, following the memorable Rose Carrée created for his 70th, the brand presents 'La Ravenale' – an exquisite Lépine pocket watch that exemplifies a profound reverence for traditional watchmaking artistry.

This exceptional pocket watch, 'La Ravenale,' draws its aesthetic inspiration from the Golden Ratio, a mathematical principle cherished by Michel Parmigiani and evident in nature's perfect symmetries, such as the Traveller's Palm of Madagascar. The watch's design features intricate palm-shaped engravings across its movement bridges, dial, and the 18k white gold case, meticulously crafted by Atelier Blandenier, a renowned workshop specializing in high-end hand-engraved finishes. The timepiece integrates a meticulously restored ultra-thin 1920s minute repeater movement, signed Ed. Koehn, Genève, sourced from Michel Parmigiani's personal collection and brought back to life by Parmigiani Fleurier's in-house restoration atelier after months of dedicated work.

Functionally, 'La Ravenale' boasts a minute repeater mechanism discreetly housed within its 51.8mm white gold case, which chimes hours, quarters, and minutes with distinct tones, enhanced by the Lépine construction for superior resonance. The hinged caseback is intricately engraved with overlapping symmetrical patterns inspired by the Madagascar palm, accented with iridescent opal and light green jade marquetry, giving it a sophisticated Art Deco appeal. The dial, crafted from white gold with a serene blue PVD treatment, showcases engraved palm motifs, delta-shaped openworked hands, hand-applied gold indices, and a gold oval PF cartouche, echoing the modern Tonda PF collection. Completing this unique piece is an 18k white gold chain, painstakingly handmade over 100 hours by Laurent Jollier, Switzerland's last chain-maker, signifying the unparalleled craftsmanship of this horological masterpiece.

The creation of 'La Ravenale' stands as a testament to the enduring pursuit of excellence and the profound respect for horological heritage. It reminds us that true artistry transcends time, blending historical craftsmanship with innovative design to produce objects of lasting beauty and significance. This timepiece not only honors a visionary founder but also inspires us to appreciate the dedication and passion required to perfect such intricate and meaningful works.