Particulars
Manual wind
34mm x 42mm and 11.5mm thick
18K pink gold
'Grain d’orge' guilloché main black dial
Applied pink gold Breguet numerals
192hr power reserve
Small seconds
Calibre PF 110
OEM black alligator strap (I believe by Hermes)
Released in 1999
From Michel Parmigiani in 1996: "When I designed the middle case [of the Toric] I hoped that it would become a timeless model with an aesthetic that would survive the test of time. The permanence of my creations continues to be my greatest dream."
The Ionica pictured here followed in 1999, and doubled down on the compressed columns that form the watch's standout feature: its bezel. Its stepped, radial depth frames the dial as would the frame of a fine painting. Given the fact that good watches are now universally recognised (by UNESCO) as forms of mechanical art, this is apt. We can see how Monsieur Parmigiani began to make his designs timeless in the first instance by lifting them completely out of the time and styles of the day.
This is the kind of watch one would want to hold and contemplate, as much as to wear to tell the time or other such trivial uses
This formed part of PF's "mass market" division, distinct from its work on one-off high horology projects. Backing from the Sandoz Foundation also made it possible for PF to price these watches at relatively civilized levels. Ergo: much bang for buck then and now. A dead secondary market is such a boon for those of us who enjoy quiet perusal.
Photo credits: Frezer House.