Unless you know Italian, the word “Tonda” might not mean anything to you. Tonda is actually Italian for “round,” and the Tonda 1950 specifically is home to Parmigiani’s collection of ultra-thin round watches. As one of the participants of the first-ever Watches & Wonder in Miami, Parmigiani is announcing its new Tonda 1950 Annual Calendar watch. Available in rose and white gold, the Tonda 1950 Annual Calendar is an interesting option for watch lovers who are seeking out an ultra-thin annual calendar watch for their collection.
The new Tonda 1950 Annual Calendar is actually based off an earlier Parmigiani watch called the Tonda Quator. However, refinements have been made to make it more elegant and legible. First things first, the Tonda 1950 Annual Calendar comes in a 40mm wide case and is available in 18k rose gold and white gold. The rose gold model has a white grain dial, whereas the white gold model has a black opaline dial. The case features the distinctive teardrop-style lugs that have become a signature of the collection. It is water-resistant to 30m. Both models will come with a black alligator strap made by Hermès.
The Tonda 1950 Annual Calendar features a reworked dial to improve legibility. Large hour indices grace the periphery of the dial within and there is a retrograde date indicator. At 9 o’clock you have the sub-dial for the day, and at 3 o’clock you have the sub-dial denoting the month. Finally, at 6 o’clock you have a moon phase display that only needs correcting once every 122 years. To ensure the watch is legible in the dark, the hour indices, alpha-style hour and minute hands, as well as the hands for the day and month indicator are filled with luminescent material.
The movement within is the Caliber PF339, which is a modular movement based on the PF331. It is self-winding and is remarkably thin at just 5.5mm thick. Double barrel mainsprings mounted in series provide a power reserve of 50 hours. Beat rate is 4Hz. The movement is visible through a sapphire display caseback and it is well decorated. The bridges are beveled by hand and feature Côtes de Genève decoration. In addition, the solid gold rotor has barley grain guilloche and the logo of Parmigiani Fleurier.
Compared to the Tonda Quator on which it is based, I find the new Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Annual Calendar to be much more aesthetically pleasing. The reworked configuration of the dial is not only more balanced to my eyes but also more legible. I see it as a compelling option for seasoned watch lovers who want an annual calendar watch that is a bit quirky, more affordable, and off the beaten path of your usual Pateks and Vacherons. The Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Annual Calendar is priced at $29,600. parmigiani.com
