Last year in 2022, Parmigiani Fleurier launched the Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante, which reimagined the classic split-seconds complication to create a dual-time travel watch. Rather than having two seconds hands for measuring two different intervals of time, the Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante featured a pair of hour hands that could be set independently, but could also be stacked on top of each other with a push of a button whenever a secondary time zone display wasn’t needed. Now, just one year after the debut of the GMT model, Parmigiani Fleurier is taking this same core concept and applying it to a completely different function. Joining the collection as part of the brand’s new releases for Watches & Wonders Geneva 2023 is the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante, which offers a similar design to last year’s GMT model, but reimagines the collection’s rattrapante mechanism to be a highly innovative feature for measuring elapsed time.

The underlying concept behind the new 2023 Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante (ref. PFC904-1020001-100182) is to use its dual stackable hands to offer similar functionality to a rotating timing bezel. Rather than featuring a dial with two stackable hour hands, the Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante has two superimposed minute hands, with one rhodium plated and the other in 18k rose gold. When the two-minute hands are stacked, the rhodium-finished hand covers the rose gold one; however, pressing the two pushers on the left-hand side of the case advances the rose gold minute hand forward in either one of five-minute increments. The pusher at 8 o’clock moves the timing hand forward by five minutes, while the one at 10 o’clock advances it by one minute. To start the timer, simply press the two pushers to correspond with the desired interval of time, and the rose-gold minute hand will advance accordingly. The period of time that is being measured will be complete when the rhodium-plated minute hand catches up to the rose-gold hand, and operating the third pusher located on the tip of the winding crown returns the hand to its original position, similar to how the two seconds hands operate on a traditional rattrapante chronograph.

Just like last year’s GMT model, the new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante features a stainless steel case that measures 40mm in diameter by 10.7mm thick with a knurled bezel that is crafted from 950 platinum. An anti-reflective sapphire crystal sits above the dial, while another sapphire crystal is set into the screw-on caseback and functions as a display window to offer a few of the internal movement. The crown, along with both oblong pushers on the left-hand side of the case, is crafted from steel, while the button located on the tip of the winding crown appears in 18k rose gold, and despite having multiple points for potential moisture ingress, water resistance for the new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante comes in at 60 meters to protect against daily wear and use. Additionally, similar to other Tonda PF models, the new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante is fitted with a semi-integrated stainless steel bracelet that features brushed and polished surfaces and is completed by a matching stainless steel folding clasp.

The dial of the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante is a sand gray color and it features a “Grain d’Orge” hand-guilloché pattern engraved throughout its surface. Just like the hands on the watch, the hour markers and Parmigiani logo are crafted from 18k gold and rhodium-plated to give them a brilliant white metal color, which offers a strong contrast against the natural rose-gold color of the secondary timing minute hand. Aside from its sandy gray taupe color, the dial fitted to the new Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante is very much in line with what can be found on last year’s GMT model; however, rather than having a double set of hour hands, there are two minute hands on the new Minute Rattrapante version. With no dial text (beyond the applied Parmigiani logo) and no running seconds hand, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante offers a clean and highly legible display that hides its complexity behind a dial that could easily be mistaken at a quick glance for being a simple time-only watch.

At the heart of the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante is the brand’s manufacture Caliber PF052 automatic movement, which is an evolution of the PF051 that can be found inside the GMT version of the watch that debuted last year. Consisting of 271 individual components, the 35-jewel Parmigiani Fleurier PF052 runs at a frequency of 21,600vph (3 Hz), while offering users a power reserve of approximately 48 hours. The plates and bridges of the movement are decorated with polished bevels, perlage, and Geneva stripes, and in order to maintain its slim profile, the Cal. PF052 features a micro-rotor design, with its oscillating weight crafted from solid 22k rose gold and adorned with the brand’s “Grain d’Orge” guilloché motif.

Just like the GMT model from last year, the new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante offers a deceptively simple appearance, and while it initially might appear to be a straightforward three-handed model that lacks even a date display, the Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante is hardly a simple time-only watch. Despite offering an advanced rattrapante timing complication, the new model is still able to benefit from an ultra-clean and symmetrical display, and while the core functionality is similar to what can be achieved with a simple rotating bezel, not having an additional tool-oriented bezel allows the Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante to offer a significantly more refined appearance compared to something like a traditional dive watch. With an official retail price of $30,600 USD, the new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante (ref. PFC904-1020001-100182) is slightly more expensive than its GMT sibling, although this still feels fairly reasonable given the watch’s premium features, precious metal components, and the highly innovative Cal. PF052 movement. For more information on the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante, please visit the brand’s website.