The Parmigiani Bugatti Vitesse

  Remember the the Parmigiani Bugatti Super Sport? Curvy, sensual, sculptured and technical.  It was a world first - a 90° time setting system and a dial positioned perpendicular to the axis, achieved through a combination of double pinions and bevel gearing.  Its time was quite literally displayed on the side, allowing for instant readability while driving without having to turn the wrist.  Only 30 pieces of the original 18 carat white gold edition were made.  Now it's back, re-worked using new colours and construction materials.  Parmigiani state that they have made the piece more masculine - really? More masculine than this, the original piece?

Parmigiani and Bugatti have been partners since 2001, an enviable alliance.  Earlier this year Bugatti unveiled their Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse - a covetable vision of engineering and beauty.  It had an icily cool paint job and a vibrant orange interior, the inspiration for the Parmigiani Bugatti Vitesse.

For this edition, titanium has been used for the case with polished and satin contrasting finishes.  The dial has been souped-up slightly with automotive-inspired graduating indices.  Out goes the carbon fibre dial of the original watch, to be replaced by something equally textured and techy - Texalium, a material which combines fibre glass and aluminium, available in either white or orange.  A cabochon-set crown completes the re-vamp.

The PF 372 ground-breaking movement remains - hand wound and with a generous 10 day power reserve.  It rests almost on top of the piece and natually it is what you see first, the broad Côtes de Genève decoration, the arc-shaped balance and escapement wheel and the power reserve - it makes for a most excellent panorama and is visible through no less than six sapphire crystals.

The Parmigiani Bugatti Vitesse comes presented on a Hermès alligator strap with a titanium folding buckle.

There's more to Parmigiani than Bugatti - dip into our archives.