Rosneathian
1471
Thank you, Sir. I’ve retrieved some early reviews and catalogues, and this is what I’ve learnt:
1. MP worked for two years to build LUC’s first movement, the famous 1.96. His original intention was to use it in his own watches that were to follow. The Sandoz Foundation stepped in and offered him the resources to go do his own, so PF was born in 1996.
2. His first products were desk/table clocks, pocket watches and private commissions. Wrist watches followed, beginning with the Memory Time.
3. The Toric line grew from this. Catalogue entries called these watches ‘Torus’ (I’m not sure when the name change took effect).
4. By 1999 the Ionica had come along and PF introduced the Basica line to make its work more accessible. While Torus watches typically began at around CHF14K, Basica watches started at around CHF8K.
5. Complicated watches such as the first perpetual calendar and rattrapante also reached PF’s tiny market by 2000.
Annual production was around 300 in 1997 rising to around 1,200 in 2000, so even if these numbers and dates are approximate we’re dealing with very small volumes. I’m not a hardcore collector but these numbers do make me appreciate my good fortune at being able to buy the watch above.
As others have remarked in recent posts, the price to quality ratio of these early Torics is close to unbeatable in today’s market. Some of these watches can still be found for as little as 30% of their original list price…
All the best.
There's something about Torics from 20 years ago...
The stepped cases remind me of...
Thanks for a typically nicely-written review — it’s always pleasant to see how a scholarly approach to a given subject develops…and the fact that it earned you as many as three pieces from this excellent brand is even more interesting!👍
There may be two parallel things happening with PF right now. The first is an uptick in exposure owing to new watches delivered under the leadership of Guido Terreni. The second is interest in particular watches from across the last two decades.
Love the knurled cases
Such a beautiful watch .
Thanks. There do appear to be a few here and there. In this case I was fortunate through contacts here on WPS to snag the watch pictured before it was advertised.
I know very little of the brand so...
Hello. Thank you for the kind words. It's always a treat to find a watch of this quality and in this condition at 27.67% of its last known list price :)
Very well said, my friend.
Thank you, Sir. I’ve retrieved some early reviews and catalogues, and this is what I’ve learnt:
Thanks. You are quickly becoming the PF encyclopedia!
These watches are timeless beauties.
A quick correction...
Thanks for your thoughts/ pics
What an extraordinary creation the Pantographe is: part watch part automaton, and all PF. A joy.
Late to the club!