Michel Parmigiani "Meccanica I" Unique Object Reference U1140 No. 2021 Open-face Watch, Parmigiani Fleurier, 1999, 18kt pink gold case with double knurled decoration, case back with hand-engraved "Mondrian" decoration under blue translucent fire enamel, crown set with sapphire cabochon, 18kt gold guilloche matte slate-colored dial, onyx moon phase disc with mother-of-pearl moon, Parmigiani gold "javelin-style" hands, month's dial at 12, date at 3, moon's phase at 6, and day-of-the-week at 9, rhodium-plated 29-jewel hand-wound caliber 17''' 999 movement with minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and small seconds, bimetallic balance, helical hairspring with Philips curves, hand-chamfered and engraved bridges and decoration, together with 18kt gold chain, additional sapphire dial with black transfer printed dial on matte background, housed in the original fitted maple box, international guarantee, and certificate. Provenance: The estate of David G. Newsom.Note: This watch was purchased and presented to David on his 50th birthday at La Maison Robert in Boston. There is a photograph with David and Mr. Parmigiani on that evening.Michel Parmigiani was born in 1950 in the town of Fleurier, Switzerland. He began his career as a watchmaker working for Marcel JeanRichard. In 1975 he set up his own company which specialized in the restoration of fine historic timepieces and producing specially designed mechanisms for other companies. A noted restoration was of Breguet's Pendule Sympathique, a table clock with associated pocket watch dating from 1820. By the end of the 1960s Mr. Parmigiani began to produce precision mechanisms and complex movements. In 1995 Mr. Parmigiani received the GAIA, or Prix Gaia prize, an award for special achievements in watchmaking.