Independents

...Kalpa Grande QF in WG or RG - or - Palladium.

Thoughts on the brand, watchmaker, any experience/ownership. I have not had the chance to see one but will be driving through a market where there is a retailer.

Thanks!

Parmigiani Fleurier is one of the respected names in haute horlogerie with some very distinctive watches.
Until recently they have not made all that many watches so they are not as well known as the bigger producers.
In the industry Michel Parmigiani's shop is very well known, because many of todays active watchmakers worked there at one time or another and learned much from him.

Parmigiani is one of the instigators in the Fondation Qualité Fleurier which is propagating their own mark of quality with Geneva Seal type elements and COSC type elements, but for complete and finished watches.  www.fleurier-quality.com

I like Parmigaini's watches, I find them very distinctive with a strong personality, but refined.  Only MHO, of course,

Who can give some info on the ownership experience?

Don

No message body

Between us, my wife and I own three Parmigianis: a Kalpa Grande, the new Kalpagraph, and a Kalpa Piccola Joallerie (the original with the Piguet-derived automatic movement, PT rotor, etc.).

The Piccola is my wife's favorite watch, bar none -- and I really enjoy wearing both of my pieces.  The finishing work is impeccable, and even though I have a small wrist even the Kalpagraph wraps smoothly around the curves of the wrist.  I have the polished bracelet on the Kalpa, and even though it's a bit "bling" for my usual style I love wearing it -- the bracelet flows like liquid mercury.

Summary: in my opinion, great watches, good price points, very comfortable to wear, bring a grin to the face every time I see them peeking out from under my cuff, and not something you'll see many other folks wearing.  I also like the QF concept, although the quality of finishing on the "normal" pieces is already so high that I don't see a huge difference.  I do love the Kalpa QF Palladium with the abyss face -- have seen it in person, and it's beautiful.

With unlimited funds, the Toric Perpetual would be very high on my list going forward, too.

What can I say -- we're big fans!  Hope that's useful to you.

Best,

Gary G

Considering the Palladium limited as well as the QF series. Having not seen in person, but hoping to in the next few weeks, seems to be all I am looking for. I see one in my future. (Maybe for my wife as well)

The new Kalpa Donna or Piccola with the red lacquered face must be seen to be believed.  Downside is that it's a quartz movement (manufactured by Patek), but it's a lovely slender piece -- beats the PP twenty-four hands-down, IMHO.

I was fortunate to get one of the last automatic mechanical Piccolas -- really a great piece.

Let us know how this turns out -- I'll be interested to hear.

Best,

Gary

       i will let you know. BTW - my wife is a fashion designer/artist and wears a rolex bubble back or 1905 omega from my collection. Not the soft bling type, but is drawn to bright colors