highlights


The Kalpa Hemispheres by Parmigiani, the world to the nearest minute

Pусский
May 2008


Step by step, Parmigiani is adding to its range of Kalpa timepieces. After the Kalpa Grande, Kalpagraph, and Kalpa Tourbillon, the brand is now introducing the Kalpa Hemispheres, an innovative dual time zone watch featuring a rare function—at least to our knowledge— the adjustment of the second time zone to the nearest minute.
In this regard, the second time zone indi-cators on most watches are equipped with only the hour indicator and thus the local time and the destination time (according to the wearer’s choice) can only be set in terms of the hour reading. While this is fine for most countries, whose time is only changed by hours in terms of GMT, there are other countries where this does not work. For example, in India, Iran, Afghanistan, Burma, Australia (central time zone), the Marquises Islands, and Newfoundland, the time is set in terms of half-hour increments from GMT. In the unique case of Nepal, the time is even changed in a three-quarter hour difference from GMT.

Parmigiani

Parmigiani

The Kalpa Hemispheres timepieces correct this current ‘failing’ of the standard GMT watches, by offering the possibility of setting the hour and minute readings totally independently one from the other. To do so, two distinct crowns have been positioned on the right side of the case, one for setting the reference time (home time) and the other for winding the movement, setting the local time, and the local date (indicated by a rotating disc). This device also includes a double day/night indicator. The first is linked to the time of the second time zone and is located at 12 o’clock, while the second is tied to the local time, with an indication situated in the centre of the dial of the small seconds hand at 6 o’clock. Setting the hour can be carried out at the same time between the two time zones, or the local time and second time can be adjusted quite independently. Completely developed by Parmigiani Fleurier, this mechanism is as simple to use as it was complicated to design. It is driven by an automatic winding Calibre Parmigiani Fleurier PF 337, and features a power reserve of 50 hours. Elegantly placed in an 18 carat pink gold or steel case, it offers a ‘Havana’ dial for the gold model and a choice of ‘Silver’, ‘Graphite’, or ‘Blue Metal’ for the steel version.
A true traveller’s watch, it is not surprising that the Kalpa Hemispheres is being promoted by the noted navigator, Bernard Stamm.


Source: Europa Star April-May 2008 Magazine Issue