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Last night in Mayfair, Parmigiani Fleurier won the European Watch of the Year Award in the Women’s category for its Tonda 1950 set Mother of Pearl.

Tension was at its highest as the words “and the winner is…” lingered among the audience and nominees at Mayfair Hotel. The representatives from Parmigiani Fleurier were still holding their breath when the first syllables of the Fleurier-based brand name came through and a picture of the Tonda 1950’s delicate mother of pearl dial shot on the big screens. A watchmaker expert among the jury explained that this watch had reached the pinnacle of excellence above all other contestants for its timeless beauty and elegance.
“It’s such a great honour for us”, said Parmigiani’s representative on stage, “To be awarded with such a prestigious recognition is huge step for Parmigiani Fleurier and it fills us with pride”.

Indeed the process that lead to yesterday’s nomination was no small accomplishment. The pan-European annual event of watch of the year award is organized by the leading watch specialist 0024 Watch World magazine, who asked each brand to submit their key models to an international jury of watch experts in April earlier this year. Over a thousand applications for as many timepieces were submitted, and the jury faced the momentous task of narrowing them down to just four watches per category, weighing-up factors as diverse as aesthetics, finishing, engineering, innovation and value for money.
Parmigiani Fleurier’s stunning timepiece was shortlisted along with 3 other watches from Piaget, Cartier and Audemars Piguet – very prestigious contestants to say the least. The Tonda 1950 MOP set prevailed because it gathers both pure lines and horological complexity; it carries simple beauty and elegance with its dazzling mother of pearl dial and delicate case setting, along with the finest watchmaking know-how – an ultra-thin profile enabled by a platinum micro-rotor.

The Tonda 1950 collection was launched in 2011 in its masculine edition, as a tribute to Michel Parmigiani (1950 being his year of birth). The watch gathers the Brand’s DNA at its simplest: the iconic lugs, the harmony of its profile and proportions, the shape of the hands and indexes are as many emblems to the brand that can be found in every single Parmigiani Fleurier timepiece.
The ladies-version of the Tonda 1950 was born in 2012 with a delicate setting of 84 Top Wesselton diamonds, and its latest execution – launched early 2013 and awarded yesterday – features a stunning Tahitian mother of pearl dial.

Parmigiani Fleurier in London is proud to see the impact of this award extend beyond the borders of the United Kingdom and Europe, and this ladies’ timepiece will have the place of honour in the Brand’s newest retail Boutique, the Atelier Parmigiani, on Mount Street.


Original text in english