Parmigiani Fleurier present their new ladies' collection.
by Ian Skellern
(c) February 2006
Parmigiani Fleurier launch their new ladies' collection
at the Balthus Grand Châlet in Rossignière.
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The Collection: Five Women, |
Collection designer Carol Vallat presents a selection of her 'babies'.
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Until recently, Parmigiani's watches were designed exclusively for men. Not that that stopped some women from wearing them; however, for 50% of the planet’s population it certainly limited the brand’s attraction . . . and the most important 50% according to many!
Much more important than knowing what you can do is knowing what you can’t do. Michel Parmigiani knew he could create innovative movements and he knew he could design special styles which would appeal to a certain type of man; however, he also knew that designing for the opposite sex was not necessarily his forte. He decided that the best person to design a range for contemporary women was a contemporary woman; he found exactly the right person in talented young designer Carol Vallat.
7 am. "The radience of the morning light has a purity that stimulates every watch- making move I make." Anne-Laure Parmigiani: watchmaker, gemmologist and engraver. |
A peculiarity of a small brand like Parmigiani Fleurier is that everyone knows each other and their offices are all close by.
Imagine this scene if you will: a medium-sized office with the design team developing exciting new models and everyone else knowing what is going on; the doors to the office are usually open and the computer monitors display giant images of attractive new – and sometimes sparkling - shapes and colours.
Would it surprise you to learn that practically every woman in the building stopped in whenever possible to share her thoughts and lend advice?
This collection was not just designed by a woman, it was influenced by many women . . . and it works!
Midday. "Flying is alway a challange. Space and infinity guide my passion. "Nancy Thomas: long-haul airline pilot and official Parmigiani Fleurier balloonist. |
Parmigiani Fleurier took the concept of having the Ladies watch collection designed 'for women, by women' to its logical conclusion: as they strived for authenticity in all other aspects of their watches, why not carry that through to the end and have 'genuine' women model the collection?
Dispensing with the usual supermodel or celebrity endorsements, Parmigiani Fleurier chose five ‘normal’ professional women – all with strong links to the company – to model the range: each representing a different time of day and a different state of mind.
I am not sure if the group has an official name, however, 'Parmigian's Angels', coined by my collegue Jordan Rothacker, has a nice ring to it.
Toric retrograde perpetual calendar, or the diamond-clad Kalpa XL Tourbillon, would suit.
 4 pm. "Whether facing the Pacific Ocean or caught up in the hustle and bustle of New York, contrasts are part of my life." Michelle Veyna: President Parmigiani Fleurier USA. |  The elegent and refined Kalpa Donna would look perfect peaking out from under the cuff of a suit. |
 Playing with fire and lit up with a fairytale array of diamonds, the Kalpa Jewellery is all ready for a night on the town. |  7 pm. "As night falls, any sense of constraint slowly disappears as the city disappears and the city reveals its complex and freer nature." Catia Hofmann: Parmigiani's International Sales Manager. |
Good watch design is art and there is no doubt that Michel Parmigiani –
an admirer of the Golden Ratio and Fibonacci numbers - is not only a great watchmaker, he is also an excellent artist.
The Balthus Grand Chalet was therefore a very appropriate setting for the launch of Parmigiani Fleurier’s artistic ladies’ collection.
Our hostess Contess Setsuko.
The incredible Balthus Grand Chalet.
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Born in 1908 of Polish and Russian background, Count Balthazar Klossowski de Rola, spent his early childhood in Paris.
An entirely self-taught artist, Balthus learnt his craft by copying the great masters.
He was best known for his paintings of young girls on the verge of womanhood; however, he was also a painter of landscapes and still life.
Balthus moved to Rossinière, Switzerland in 1977. He married for the second time to Setsuko, a young Japanese woman thirty-five years junior. They converted a small hotel into a private – though very large - chalet: reportedly the largest chalet in Switzerland.
The photographers and friends Henri Cartier-Bresson and Martine Franck (Cartier-Bresson's wife), both portrayed Balthus, his wife and their daughter Harumi at the Grand Chalet.
When Picasso's private collection was donated to the Louvre, Balthus became the only living artist to have his work displayed in the Louvre's collection.
The Grand Chalet is now run by the Balthus Foundation and contains a large collection of Balthus' sketches and art.
 11 pm. "Sketching out a play on light and shade suggests the flowing nature of forms. Matter springs to life to arouse emotion." Carol Vallat: Designer Parmigiani Fleurier. |  Relaxed and cheerful, the steel Kalpa Piccola plays with the light. This is Parmigiani's first quatz model. |
When I first saw Parmigiani's new collection and the, 'five women, five moments' presentation, my reaction was,' That's quite clever
as I know quite a few women who might relate with one of the 'models' and therefore the associated watch. As I thought about it futher,
I then realized that there is a little bit of each of Parmigian''s Angels in all women i.e., rather than one lady, one watch, it may well end up, one
lady with five watches!
Do not say I did not warn you gentlemen!
Click here for Part Two: Up, Up and Away!
or
Click here for Part One: Introduction.
For more information on Parmigiani Fleurier: Parmigiani Fleurier.com
For more information on Balthus: The Balthus Foundation, Contess Setsuko , Balthus and the Grand Chalet,
Ian Skellern - February 2006
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