The Pershing collection, elegant and sporty, has added a new and exceptional piece to the ranks of Haute Horlogerie. The Pershing Samba Madeira is the latest creation from Parmigiani Fleurier, it celebrates Brazil, with its vibrant colours and lively Samba rhythm.
When it came to paying homage to the musical tradition of a country, the Fleurier manufacture did not content itself with adorning a watch dial with a few subtle references. It made the entire piece an instrument. The Pershing Samba Madeira depicts a close-up of a guitar, its sound hole tailored precisely to the dimensions of the cage of a tourbillon. The frenetic oscillation of this grand complication animates the piece and brings the guitar to life, as if it had decided to play a piece of music continually.
The dial’s marquetry features such minute detail that you would have to use a magnifying glass to make out the fragments of the wooden fresco. Marquetry is an ancestral technique which consists of tracing, cutting out, then assembling minuscule segments of wood, like creating a mosaic, to achieve a finely detailed decorative effect. It is entirely handcrafted and each segment of the design has been uniquely prepared – including the 6 guitar strings which are as fine as a single strand of hair.
In January 2013, Parmigiani Fleurier presented two tourbillons which also celebrated the joy of music. The Tonda Woodrock and Tonda Woodstock – in tribute to British and American rock music – both feature a guitar in marquetry with, in the background, a Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes flags, respectively.
The Pershing Samba Madeira pays tribute to Brazil. In the background, behind the guitar, are the words “Ordem e Progresso”, the country’s national motto which appears across a star-spangled globe, as on the Brazilian flag. The watch features the dominant colours of the Brazilian flag (green, yellow and dark blue) which sweep across the fresco and are picked up again in the Hermès strap.
With a 192-hour power reserve, the PF510 calibre movement which equips this unique model is composed of more than 237 components, all hand-finished in the purest tradition of the watchmaker’s craft. The back of the movement features fine bevelling, and delicate Côtes de Genève decorations adorn the bridges and complete the fine craftsmanship of the piece.
The elegant titanium case is set off by the 18 carat rose gold of the bezel and indices. The Pershing Samba Madeira is a unique model and comes in a presentation case which has been handpainted with the colours of the Brazilian flag to match.
Parmigiani Fleurier has been a partner of the Brazilian Football Confederation (BFC) since 2011 and, with this exceptional piece, the brand is reaffirming its strong ties with Brazil and the connections which unite cultures through music.
