Following up on their 2012 release of the Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Vitesse at Pebble Beach, Bugatti announced the Super Sport version. The new model showcased at SIHH 2013 in Geneva in collaboration with the Bugatti Vitesse. Indeed, a watch for the super wealthy, Bugatti owning watch connoisseur.
The Bugatti Vitesse, released in white gild at the prestigious annual Pebble Beach Event back in 2010, accompanied the super car the design so inspired with utter precision in its design modifications.
Matching the superlatives of peerless designs and precision engineering epitomising the design of the Bugatti Super Sport was never going to be easy to replicate onto an intricate device. Nonetheless, highly-skilled craftsman at Parmigiani Fleurier created a profound device with distinguishable features possessing very unique designs. First impressions indicate a job well done, with notable features such as the 90 degree angled dial facing the driver when their hands are ‘glued’ intensely at the wheel, with adrenaline pumping to the maximum as they approach 268 mph (431 kph).
The Vitesse watch has many visual references to the car, such as the use of high-tech-finish titanium, and the dial in Texalium, an advanced material in glass fiber and aluminum. The distinctive side view of the watch is a direct reference to the car’s flank with its unmistakable air intake design. It is also part of the Parmigiani Fleurier DNA, because the marque’s watches feature lugs with the same shape.
“Often a relationship between a car marque and a watch brand is not natural,” said Pierre-Henri Raphanel, official driver for Bugatti, present at the evening in Milan. “In this case, it is a perfect match. For example, many people said that Michel Parmigiani’s idea for a 90°-slewed movement could never work. The same was said of Bugatti’s 1,200-horsepower car. In both cases, the product functions to perfection. Both brands are pushing the limits. Both are for connoisseurs.”
Designed to perfection
Subtle design notes reminiscent of the car that inspired it are worth mentioning. The balance wheel, escapement and their bridge-plates are set up like an arc, mimicking the famous Bugatti logo. The side of the ergonomically shaped case resembles the tension lines on one of the wings. The dial, with its Delta-shaped hands, is made of black Opaline with a circular cutout revealing parts of the movement once more. The 18ct rose gold case is curved and combined with articulated lugs it ensures a snug fit. The rose gold case is polished and satin finished. The finishing of the movement contains Côtes de Genève, circular graining and sand-blasted parts, along with hand beveled main plates.
All this is packed in a case measuring 36mm wide and 50,7 mm tall. Being 22,7mm thick it is no small watch by any means but it still is manageable. The case is attached to a black alligator Hermès strap, with a rose gold folding buckle.
Just like the Bugatti Vitesse car: it has a huge performance, but the technology is so exceptional that anyone can drive it, keeping it under perfect control. The prices of both reflect the same idea of exclusivity that so defines the owners of a Bugatti.
