Continuing the Bugatti story which began with the creation of the now legendary Type 370 wrist watch, Parmigiani is unveiling a new collection designed to enhance the Bugatti watch family, famous for showcasing the brand’s iconic imagery. Taking inspiration from the Bugatti Atalante 57S Sport, one of the only private passenger cars of the 1930s, this is a watch with a sporty yet highly accessible character.
Christened the Atalante, its entirely original aesthetic is a first for Parmigiani. Its round shape (Ø 43 mm) is its only concession to tradition, while the profile of its case, its dial and its chronograph push-pieces, which are located on the left side of the middle, are completely original – a hallmark of the Bugatti spirit.
Inspired by the world of automobile design, the profile of its case sees the bezel and the case-back joining to form a satin-finished area which evokes the air intakes found on the side wings of sports vehicles.
The highly original idea of positioning the chronograph push-pieces on the left to optimise the use of its functions was something which occurred naturally right from the start of its construction. The ability to press the push-pieces with the thumb to start and stop the chronograph hand considerably improves comfort, making them easier to access during races.
Its dial, which is directly inspired by the design of a Bugatti radiator grille, is responsible for much of the Atalante model’s sporting character, and reveals some of the gears and the date disc. The acronym “EB” at 6 o’clock is there to mark the official alliance which brings the two companies together.
Parmigiani’s first “fly-back” chronograph
As the first automatic “fly-back” chronograph, the manufacture’s own Calibre PF 335 is based on the brand’s first in-house chronograph movement, with an added chronograph fly-back mechanism. Once the chronograph hand is moving, a single press resets it instantly to zero and restarts the chronograph immediately. In addition to the chronograph’s 30-minute counter and small seconds, the Bugatti Atalante chronograph features two separate tachymetric displays. One on the bezel allows high speed events to be timed, and the other on the 30-minute counter can be used for slower events such as walking or running. The calendar is read via a window.
Bugatti Atalante Chronograph Atalante
Model: Bugatti 43 Flyback chronograph
Movement:
PF 335
Automatic winding movement.
50 hour power reserve.
Calibre 13”’ ¼ – Ø 30.3 mm.
Frequency 4 Hz – 28,800 vib/h.
68 jewels. Two series-coupled barrels.
“Côtes de Genève” decoration, chamfered bridges.
22 carat gold oscillating weight on gold models.
Functions:
Hour.
Minute.
Small seconds at 9 o’clock.
Date under openworked dial.
1⁄4 second chronograph (large seconds in centre, 30 minute counter at 3 o’clock), flyback.
Exterior:
Round case: 43 mm. Thickness: 13.40 mm.
Material: 18 ct white gold, 18 ct rose gold. Polished and satin-finished.
Water resistance: 30 m.
Shaped push-pieces at 8 o’clock and 10 o’clock.
Bezel with tachometer.
Anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
Crown: Ø 9 mm.
Open case-back.
Consecutive number engraved on the case-back.
Jewellery:
Bezel set with 68 “brilliant” cut diamonds (Top Wesselton VVS, ~1.1 ct).
DialsTwo variants
“Silver” openworked dial.
Rhodium-plated applique indexes, Delta shaped hands with luminous coating.
“Ivoire” openworked dial.
Rhodium-plated applique indexes, Delta shaped hands with luminous coating.
Jewellery:
Flange at 3 o’clock set with 27 brilliant cut diamonds (Top Wesselton VVS, 0.4 ct).
Straps: Hermes alligator with 18 ct gold deployant safety clasp.
