Parmigiani Fleurier has announced that it will hold "Mechanical Wonders 2026," an exhibition showcasing historical masterpieces restored by the company, to commemorate its 30th anniversary. Founder Michel Parmigiani has a background in restoring rare mechanical objects such as mantel clocks, pocket watches, and automata, and the knowledge he gained there has been a source of inspiration in creating timepieces. The exhibition will feature masterpieces from the Sando Family Foundation collection restored by Parmigiani Fleurier. The exhibition will be held at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3 in Tokyo Midtown from September 19th (Saturday) to 24th (Thursday), 2026.
Sand Foundation Collection on display in Japan for the first time
"Mechanical Wonders 2026" will showcase masterpieces from the Sand Family Foundation collection restored by Parmigiani Fleurier. This will be a rare opportunity to see these historical masterpieces, as there have been no similar exhibitions of the Sand Family Foundation collection in Japan. The exhibition will be held at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3 in Tokyo Midtown, Minato-ku, Tokyo, from September 19th (Saturday) to 24th (Thursday), 2026.
Parmigiani Fleurier, who has been inspired by restoration work.
Michel Parmigiani, the founder of Parmigiani Fleurier, dedicated his career to restoring rare mechanical objects such as mantel clocks, pocket watches, and automata before establishing his brand. During this time, he established a philosophy of "understanding before altering, and preserving while respecting the original," which led to international acclaim.
Given this background, Parmigiani Fleurier still places great importance on the restoration and preservation of historical masterpieces, viewing them as a source of inspiration. The Sand Family Foundation's collection, which will be exhibited this time, includes many works restored by Michel Parmigiani, and a highlight of the exhibition is the gathering of early 19th-century masterpieces for the first time in 20 years.
At Mechanical Wonders 2026, restored masterpieces and contemporary timepieces will be displayed side-by-side, as if in dialogue. The aim is to convey to visitors the continuity of understanding works that convey lost past technologies, reinterpreting them, and expressing them in contemporary creations. This is synonymous with Parmigiani Fleurier's mission not to simply reproduce history, but to carry on its spirit into the present and connect it to the future.
The venue is 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3.
The exhibition will be held at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3, a research center for design founded in 2007 by Issey Miyake. Directed by Taku Sato and Naoto Fukasawa, it is one of Japan's leading institutions dedicated to design, production, and innovation.
We delve into past technologies and reinterpret them for contemporary creation. We invite you to experience this continuity and the cultural significance of design that lies within.
A sophisticated pocket watch with a sector dial housed in an 18K yellow gold domed case. Hours are displayed in a fan-shaped window at the top of the case, and minutes are shown in 5-minute increments on a white enamel sector. A separate white enamel display disc indicates the current time. The unmarked round movement consists of two gear trains and features a mainspring barrel with a Maltese cross winding mechanism. 18K yellow gold (55.3mm diameter, 8.5mm thickness).
A gold silkworm-shaped automaton consisting of 11 articulated rings connected by pivot screws on the sides. A hidden single-wheel gear mechanism brings it to life, moving like a real silkworm through two sawtooth wheels below the fifth joint and an intermediate wheel below the seventh joint. Gold (76.5mm total length, 15mm maximum diameter).
A frog automaton crafted from enamel-finished gold. An internal single-wheel gear mechanism incorporates a pinned barrel, which gradually pushes up six hammers of increasing weight to recreate the sound of a frog croaking. Gold (60mm length, 29mm width, 5mm thickness).
A masterpiece that fuses a clock, musical movement, and automaton into a gold perfume bottle. The case is lavishly adorned with enamel paint and engraving, guilloché engraving of wheat ears, transparent enamel, gold leaf decoration, and half-pearls. Gold (Height 190mm, Width 66mm, Depth 43mm).
The gold case, adorned with enamel paint and engraving, serves as the handle of a walking stick and houses a miniature singing bird automaton. The multi-layered mechanism consists of a drive system located at the top and a round windbox housed below. A fixed barrel with a Geneva mechanism powers the automaton, and a whistling mechanism produces the bird's song. Gold (41mm diameter, 36mm height).
This exquisite gold pocket watch integrates a time display, a quarter repeater mechanism, and an automaton depicting the biblical scene of Moses striking the rock. The movement consists of three gear trains and twin barrels. A sliding selector lever allows the wearer to switch between the repeater function and the automaton operation.
