It is surprising to see a Hijri Perpetual Calender wristwatch in the world of haute horology, but Parmigiani Fleurier’s success is a first in the history. Therefore, “Innovation Prize” was given to the Hijri Perpetual Calendar model at the 2020 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG).
Hijri Perpetual Calender is based on technology Parmigiani Fleurier developed for an exclusive table clock launched in 2011 and inspired by the restoration of a pocket watch featuring an Arabic calendar.
Actually, the original development of the timepiece dates back to 1993 with the restoration of a pocket watch by Michel Parmigiani, three years before the creation of the Parmigiani Fleurier brand. This led Mr. Parmigiani to the creation of a table clock featuring a Hijri Calendar in 2011- a world’s first as no lunar calendar had ever been designed to operate continuously. This piece of exception was inspired by his work restoring a simple Hijri Calendar.
As is known, in the Muslim world, the calendar is based on the cycles of the moon. The starting point of Islamic time calculations is the emigration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in present-day Saudi Arabia in the year 622, known as Hijri, and is when the first Muslim community was founded.
The Hijri or Islamic lunar calendar consists of twelve months like Gregorian calendar of 29 or 30 days. This calendar is so important to pinpoint the days for Islamic holidays. In contrast to the solar calendar, which is used in the west, the months of the lunar calendar change annually by a difference of -10 to -12 days. As a result, each month always falls on a different season and therefore varies from the Gregorian Calendar.
This new piece features a 44.6 mm timepiece with a platinum case, a slate dial and rotor in platinum. It shows the hours and minutes, and date in Arabic numerals, the name and length of the months in Arabic calligraphy, as well as the abundant and the common years. It also features a moon phase in an aventurine sky and a power reserve of up to 48 hours. As seen in all Parmigiani timepieces, every single component of the movement, even the hidden parts, are decorated by in-house specialists.
Parmigiani Fleurier Hijri Calendar Watch embodies both culture and high horology. This new watch display the high standards in innovation and hand-crafted expertise the Maison is known for.
Hijri calendar is a reflection of a civilization. As Michel Parmigiani said: “ The calendar is an eminently fascinating watchmaking complication, as it really is the mirror of civilizations”.
Highlihgt:
- First Hijri Perpetual Calendar wristwatch.