Part of the first series to have been created Parmigiani Fleurier, the Memory Time is an understated piece that highlights the mastery that the brand holds over traditional watchmaking techniques. Establishing many of the design cues that Parmigiani is now known for, it is both elegant and subtle in style.
Introduced in 1996, this Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Memory Time bears the distinction of being the first ever watch to have been created by the brand. The name itself, “Memory Time”, is highly evocative, recalling Parmigiani’s roots as a restorer and aptly encompassing the nostalgic aesthetics of the piece.
Frequently seen on the wrist of Michel Parmigiani himself, the watch establishes core design principles that can be seen across subsequent pieces in the Toric collection, such as the stepped coin-edge bezel and the javelin-style hands. The shape of the watch was inspired by the curvature of the Golden Ratio, while the intricate bezel draws upon classical Greek and Roman “Doric” columns.
Elegance and subtlety are the watchwords of this neo-vintage piece, as it combines traditional techniques like engine-turning with an understated complication, further maintaining its classically styled look through the combination of a yellow gold case and silvered dial, which are very rarely seen together in the early Memory Time series. The watch also possesses an unusual jump hour display that allows the watch to incorporate a discreet GMT complication, giving the wearer the option to include an alternative time zone in place of the traditional 12 o’clock indication.
Powered by the self-winding calibre PF132, which is based off a Lemania 8813 ébauche, the movement can be seen through the sapphire caseback. It is decorated to the highest standards, with a skeletonised rotor that reveals the baseplate – a detail that cannot be found elsewhere in the series – and subtle Côtes de Genève.
Closer look
| Brand: |
Parmigiani Fleurier |
| Model: |
Toric Memory Time |
| Movement: |
PF132 |
| Functions: |
Second time zone, jump hour |
| Case material: |
Yellow gold |
| Case diameter: |
36mm |
| Crystal: |
Sapphire front and back |
| Strap: |
ACM's strap - grey textured calf, Parmigiani Fleurier yellow gold buckle |
| Lug Width: |
18mm
|
| Year: |
Circa 1996 |
| Box & papers: |
Parmigiani Fleurier box |
This Parmigiani Fleurier Memory Time is in very good condition overall. Few superficial marks can be found on the case and lugs, consistent with minimal wear. The engravings on the caseback and behind the lugs are crisp and well defined.
The watch comes with a two-year warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.
