Here is how Parmigiani Fleurier designed the Bugatti supercar-inspired watch

Parmigiani Fleurier has been a partner of Bugatti since 2004. 

In that year, the watchmaker broke new ground producing a watch with a three-dimensional “engine”, the Bugatti Type 370, to accompany the launch of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4. 

It also marked the beginning of a collection that has since grown to include Bugatti Type 37 Centenaire, Bugatti Super Sport, Bugatti Vitesse and Bugatti Super Sport Sapphire.

At January’s SIHH in Geneva, Parmigiani Fleurier unveiled the Bugatti Type 390, inspired by the 1500-horsepower quad-turbocharged W16 engine of the latest Chiron model by the prestigious carmaker. 

The timepiece is available in rose gold and white gold versions, each in a 10-piece limited edition.

Founder Michel Parmigiani talked to STYLE about this high-power journey of innovation.

The Bugatti Type 390 timepiece is described as “probably the most complicated watch the brand has ever manufactured”. What were some of the biggest challenges in the process of creating and how were they overcome?

The biggest challenge behind the Bugatti Type 390 is to have assembled a movement along a single axis which runs in a single line from the barrel to the tourbillon.