Akrivia AK-06

Quill & Pad Team Members Pick Their Top 5 Watches From Baselworld 2017 Plus Special Mentions And Biggest Surprises. Warning: Modem-Burning Photo Fest!

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The year 2017 wasn’t just good for both interesting and exciting new wristwatches at Baselworld: I’d go so far to rate it as a vintage year. This article started as a pure Top 5 rundown, but the sheer number of superb watches soon had us reaching for our “Special Mention” over spill. And that’s all without the really big surprises. So without further ado, welcome to our team’s top picks of Baselworld 2017.

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Vallée de Joux style: movement detail of the Philippe Dufour Simplicity

Does Hand Finishing Matter? A Collector’s View Of Movement Decoration (Archive)

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Anyone who visits online watch forums with any frequency very likely comes across at least a few heated discussions of “finishing,” a topic that seems to fascinate, and divide, enthusiasts. What is it and why are opinions divided?

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Voutilainen Vingt-8 ISO (at right) on the Author’s wrist with his Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph II

Exclusive Preview: Kari Voutilainen Watches For SIHH 2017 (Live Photos)

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SIHH week 2017 is off to a great start for our small group of California collectors. The highlight of our first day was our now-traditional Saturday night dinner with independent watchmaking legend Kari Voutilianen. Each year, Kari meets with us to share and explain the watches that he will be introducing at SIHH. And here they are.

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Yellow HYT Colorblock H1 on the wrist

Give Me Five! 5 Of The Most Colorful Watches Of 2016 From Richard Mille, HYT, Fabergé, GoS, and Kari Voutilainen

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The year 2016 was at times grey and sullen, while at other times it rained purple, red, or blue and a host of other vibrant (and symbolic) colors. There was also a crop of colorful watches to stand out from the masses of new steel and titanium-encased horology, titillating the senses with bursts of fresh color. Here are five-ish colorful watches that caught my eye last year from HYT, Richard Mille, Fabergé, GoS, and Kari Voutilainen.

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Kari Voutilainen with a 8848 Ti M3 mobile phone with a special SIM card cover

The Real Story Behind The Stepan Sarpaneva/Kari Voutilainen/8848 Ti Chinese Phone: Yes, There’s More, Much More

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Social media has experienced quite the discussion of a Chinese phone “by Kari Voutilainen,” a Swiss-based Finnish independent watchmaker, which turned out to be not a phone but a SIM card cover. If not a social media storm in a teacup, then a brisk zephyr in a thimble, which also involved another Finnish independent watchmaker, Stepan Sarpaneva.

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Pre-selected Jewellery watches in the 2016 GPHG

Quill & Pad’s Predictions In The Jewellery Category Of The 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

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Welcome to Quill & Pad’s 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève predictions in the Jewellery category in which the team picks favorites and explains why. The pre-selected watches in the running for this category are: the Voutilainen Scintillante, Audemars Piguet’s Diamond Fury, Graff’s Princess Butterfly, the Chanel Secret Watch Signature Grenat, the Hublot Big Bang Impact Bang, and Chopard’s Precious Chopard Watch.

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Pre-selected Artistic Craft watches in the 2016 GPHG

Quill & Pad’s Predictions In The Artistic Crafts Category Of The 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

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Welcome to the 2016 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève predictions in which the team picks favorites. Our panel is divided due to the impressive number of sensational watches on offer. Find out why!

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Unique Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph II commissioned by the author

Commissioning A Watch: My Journey With The Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph II

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Date: late February 2010. Place: a small San Francisco restaurant. Players: an informal group of Northern California watch collectors, all owners of at least one Kari Voutilainen watch. One of the members of the group nonchalantly mentioned, “I’ve been talking with Kari about something . . ..” It was a set of bespoke Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph II models. Time: two seconds later. Response: “I’m in!”

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Absolutely dazzling Chopard Imperiale Joaillerie

Give Me Five! Righteous Rainbows From Kari Voutilainen, De Grisogono, Chopard, Ulysse Nardin, And Fabergé At Baselworld 2016

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The prevailing financial atmosphere may be pointing toward Spartan classicism in some areas of life, but fortunately for us the worlds of art and beauty – which include haute horlogerie – still express joyful color. Enjoy the bursts of vivid hue in these five time-telling rainbows we found at Baselworld 2016 from Kari Voutilainen, de Grisogono, Chopard, Ulysse Nardin, and Fabergé.

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Korona K3 Northern Stars Black Enamel from Stepan Sarpaneva

Objects Of Desire: Independent Watches At Baselworld 2016

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It is with a bit of trepidation that I turn my attention to independent watches from Baselworld 2016 that are now on my “desire” list; we’ll see whether any of these watches from Sarpaneva, Grönefeld, Voutilainen, Akriva or even Renaud & Papi make it onto my wrist as a result! In the meantime, enjoy these gorgeous timepieces.

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