When the Parmigiani Tonda PF Sport Chronograph first launched in mid-2023, we here at aBlogtoWatch took it as a sign that the brand’s long-held dark horse status in the luxury sports watch race might be coming to an end. This was a genuine, world-class contender in its market segment, and despite a lower public profile than some of its hype-driven competitors, it might well be a moment for the brand to find a greater enthusiast following. For 2024, the brand gently updates the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph, adding a rich midnight blue panda colorway that sets the watch even further apart from its competition. Will the new hues of the Parmigiani Tonda PF Sport Chronograph in Milano Blue be what propels the line to mainstream success? It’s faintly possible, but in the meantime, this remains a stellar, refined sporting option for those in the know.
Like the 2023 variant, the Parmigiani Tonda PF Sport Chronograph in Milano Blue begins with a 42mm case in stainless steel. Although this is the bolder, sportier iteration of the Tonda case design on paper, in practice it remains incredibly elegant, with a softer and more sumptuous feel than its hard-angled rivals. The flared, French curve-style semi-integrated lugs immediately set this silhouette apart on the wrist, and offer unique light play thanks to the hair-thin polished chamfers surrounding the wider brushed sides and polished upper surfaces. On top of this, the Tonda line’s uniquely sloping, split-finish polished, and fluted bezel makes this design even brighter and more intricate. Although the 160-notch fluted design here is the chunkier, simpler iteration of Parmigiani’s signature design, the end result is still ornate and elegant, adding a sense of visual complexity to the overall layout. The offbeat concave profile also helps to slim the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph’s perceived thickness, lending this design a lower, wider feel than the 12.9mm overall thickness might suggest. While the overall focus is certainly on elegance and refinement, this is still a properly capable sports chronograph, however, with a full 100 meters of water resistance.
There isn’t a world of difference between the dial of the Parmigiani Tonda PF Sport Chronograph in Milano Blue and previous iterations, but the small adjustments here add up to a genuinely charming whole. There’s almost nothing extraneous in this layout (except the always-controversial 4:30 date window, at least), but there isn’t any particular element one can point to as being “simple.” Instead, there’s a thread of luxe minimalism that runs through the design, with heavy emphasis on finishing quality and carefully considered visual balance. This sense of thoughtfulness shines through especially well in the new Milano Blue colorway. While the silver main dial surface is a carryover from previous models, the blue used for the subdials and outer minutes scale is far from the run-of-the-mill navy tone. Instead, it’s a subtle, mature midnight tone, changing from near-black to deep oceanic tones depending on lighting. When combined with the not-quite-white silver dial base, it’s far less stark and jarring than a traditional black-and-white panda colorway, with impressive depth and nuance. Parmigiani’s finishing only adds to this sense of depth, with a clou triangulaire main dial surface that offers a tighter, more detailed alternative to the tapisserie or clou de Paris finishes found on some competitors. However, Pamigiani’s focus on luxe minimalism and refined finishes is not without drawbacks. The polished, skeletonized alpha hands and undersized beveled indices make legibility a genuine challenge in low light, especially considering the complete lack of luminous material.
Like the rest of the series, the Parmigiani Tonda PF Sport Chronograph in Milano Blue is powered by the brand’s in-house PF070 automatic chronograph movement. Parmigiani continues its dedication to elegance and excellent finishing here, with a sumptuous mix of arabesque waves and polished anglage topped by a show-stopping 22K gold rotor inspired by the steering wheel of the classic Ferrari 250 GTO. The brand adds even more detailed finishing to this rotor, including brushing, polished anglage, and matte blasting. The PF070’s performance is as impressive as it looks, with a healthy 65-hour power reserve at a 36,000 bph beat rate complementing COSC-certified chronometer accuracy and column wheel chronograph actuation.
Parmigiani fits the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph in Milano Blue with a dial-matching deep blue integrated strap in fabric-effect rubber. Like previous Tonda PF Sport straps, this one strikes an ideal balance between flowing integrated lines, tapering thickness, and flexibility, with a comfortable, almost satiny feel on the wrist out of the box. The two-button deployant clasp here remains on the stiffer side, but once fastened, the wearability far outweighs the downsides.
With consistent incremental improvements and a compellingly elegant presentation, Parmigiani is well on its way to becoming the worst-kept secret in watchmaking, and releases like the Parmigiani Tonda PF Sport Chronograph in Milano Blue are a potent driver towards even broader success for the brand in the future. The Parmigiani Tonda PF Sport Chronograph in Milano Blue is available now through authorized dealers. MSRP for this watch stands at 27,900 CHF as of press time. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.
