Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Type 390

Quick specs Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Type 390 Price: CHF 295,000 | approx. € 254.500 | approx. £ 225,400 | approx. $ 295,300 Size: 42.2 x 57.7 mm Reference: PFH390-1201401-HA1442 (white gold) | PFH390-1001401-HA1442 (rose gold)

This is the perfect watch to accompany a Bugatti Chiron owner. PF finally releases the Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Type 390 watch after previewing it over a year ago. And working on it for four years.

The watchmaker likes to refer to it as an ‘engine block on the wrist’, pretty suitable if you have the fastest car in the world. The Bugatti Chiron has 1,500 hp / 1,479 bhp / 1,103 kW of power and a top speed of 420 km/h /  261 mph. It does the 0-400-0 km/h in an astonishing 42 seconds.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Type 390 comes in white or rose gold

But back to the Parmigiani watch. The engine block on the wrist refers to the modular construction of the caliber PF390. It can be removed from its housing, just like an engine, to undergo modifications. The cylindrical mechanical in-house movement has a flying tourbillon, a titanium cage enclosement, an 80-hour power-reserve and is housed in a white or rose gold case.

The caliber PF390 stands out thanks to its gear trains and their arrangement. The objective is the same as on all watches: namely to transmit the energy from the barrels to the escapement. But in view of the cylindrical configuration of the movement, the usual alternating wheel-pinion-wheel-pinion configuration is replaced by a transmission using three planetary gear trains. Each of these three planetary gear trains is equipped with a central train wheel, three planetary gears and a metallized fixed ring gear. A type that has never been used in watchmaking gear trains.

Other noticeable features in the movement are the use of the smallest ball bearings in the world. And the special rod clamp. By replacing four common components of an ordinary watch movement (setting lever, setting lever jumper, yoke and yoke spring on the winding mechanism) – to perform the dual function of winding the two barrels and setting the time.

The Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Type 390 is a watch that looks spectacular, with sapphire glass on all four sides. But everything one it has a function, there are no frills. A rarity in the watch world. It comes on a black Hermès alligator leather strap in 18-carat white or rose gold. Each one is limited to just 10 pieces.