June 15, 2020:   Welcome the advent of the Blessed Month of Ramadan this year, with the world’s first Islamic Calendar wristwatch, and mark the significant periods of this special time with authenticity.

Parmigiani Fleurier, specialists in innovative, ingenious and cutting-edge luxury Swiss timepieces, made haute horological history with the launch of their Islamic Perpetual Calendar wristwatch recently. The response to this piece of fine engineering adaptation from fine watchlovers and luxury timepiece aficionados has been tremendous.

'At Parmigiani Fleurier we specialize in achieving the impossible and our master craftsmen and fine watch designers have outdone themselves by being able to appropriately re-engineer, re-imagine and reinterpret the intricate movements that powered the very first table clock that featured the Islamic Lunar Calendar into the innovative wristwatch”, said Davide Traxler, CEO of Parmigiani Fleurier.

The Islamic Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon with the Hijri Year being made up of twelve months of 29 or 30 days – depending on the moon phase. 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 in a different season and therefore varies from the Gregorian Calendar. The starting point of Islamic time calculations is the 'Hijri' or journey of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), from Mecca to Medina in present-day Saudi Arabia in the year 622, which was also the year the first Muslim community was founded.

The Hijri Perpetual Calendar wristwatch is presented as a 44.5 mm timepiece with a platinum case and a slate dial. This new watch shows the hours and minutes, date in Arabic numerals, the name and length of the months in Arabic calligraphy, 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 Fleurier timepieces, every single component of the movement, even the hidden parts, are also decorated by in-house specialists. In addition, it features a rotor in platinum. No components in this watch are made of gold.

Every detail has been thought of and this stunning timepiece includes Arabic architecture inspired elements- the bridges adopt the shape of growing and shrinking crescent moons and the Rub al Hizb, an Islamic symbol represented by two overlapping squares.

The aesthetic of the Hijri Perpetual Calendar wristwatch is inspired by the purest artistic elements and follows timeless codes often seen in Parmigiani Fleurier collections. The shape of the lugs remains faithful to the brand's ethos, designed to be ergonomic and comfortable on the wrist. This timepiece is also fitted with a black Hermès alligator strap with a pin buckle. As is usual with Parmigiani Fleurier's iconic creations, further customization of the model is possible in order to create a one-of-a-kind timepiece.

PARMIGIANI FLEURIER
Taking its name from its founder, watchmaker and restorer Michel Parmigiani, the fine watchmaking brand was founded in 1996 in Fleurier, in the Swiss valley of Val-de-Travers. With its own watchmaking centre ensuring its independence, the brand has both full control over the production process and unique creative freedom. For over twenty years, the Parmigiani Fleurier signature has resided within timepieces that command the utmost respect, in harmony with watchmaking traditions. They are the labour of a lifetime – that of Michel Parmigiani, the talented individuals who assist him, and the special relationship between the Manufacture and the masterpieces of the past, enabling it to invent a bold future.