ReviewParmigiani Fleurier Toric Hémisphères Rétrograde: The Perfect Travel Companion

Let’s cut straight to the chase. If you are a modern-day businessman who sees the world through the minuscule window of a plane more than the one in your own house, this is simply the best travel watch your money can buy. The Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Hémisphères Rétrograde is undoubtedly an elegant-looking timepiece, but it’s so much more than that. First, let’s start with the name. The Toric was Michel Parmigiani’s first watch design back in 1996. The name was brought back to life in 2017 with the Toric Chronomètre, an equally refined watch. This paved the way for the watch you see here today—the Hémisphères Rétrograde.

There’s a reason this timepiece won the first prize in the highly-regarded Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) Travel Time category in 2017. The watch industry has long catered to individuals who need to view the time at two different time zones simultaneously, and this is where GMT watches came in. But you see, traditional GMT watches have always had an issue—the GMT hand can only measure full-hour increments. However, some parts of the world have half-hour or quarter-hour offsets relative to the Greenwich meridian (such as India, for instance). The Toric Hémisphères Rétrograde eliminates that problem completely thanks to the calibre PF317. This ingenious movement allows the second time zone to be adjusted to the minute via a secondary module.

The elegant grained white dial contrasts beautifully with the rose gold case

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The second time zone gets its own day/night indicator

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The time for the secondary time zone is set through the second crown at two o’clock

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The second time zone module, developed by Agenhor (a well-known Geneva-based company that specialises in watch complications, which was founded by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht), sits on top of Parmigiani’s in-house PF331 automatic calibre. The time is set through the second crown at two o’clock. Apart from displaying the time in two time zones to the minute, there’s also a retrograde date calendar indicated with a third central hand, and a day-night indicator for both time zones. The PF317 beats at 28,800vph and offers a power reserve of 50 hours.

The Toric Hémisphères Rétrograde won the Travel Time Watch prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2017

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Through its exhibition sapphire crystal caseback, you will only be able to see the base calibre, while the second time-zone module remains hidden

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You might assume that a watch with these many features would result in a cluttered dial, but that is not the case here. The Hémisphères Rétrograde exudes grace, from its black Hermès strap to the delicate and perfectly legible grained white dial. Time is exhibited through javelin-shaped hands made from 18-karat rose gold—coated with SuperLuminova, along with 18-karat rose gold applied hour indices. The retrograde date indicator can only be described as quirky, with the first three and last three numeral date markers placed upside-down. Save for any OCD tendencies, this little detail will positively delight you. Flip the watch and, through its exhibition sapphire crystal caseback, you will only be able to see the base calibre, while the second time zone module remains hidden. The rotor is made from gold and has a guilloche finish, with the rest of the movement is finely decorated with Geneva stripes and perlage.

Parmigiani hit the nail on the head with the Toric Hémisphères Rétrograde. It is an absolute must-have for any individual who needs to follow more than one time zone at a time, yet does not want to compromise on style at all.