Unique Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph II commissioned by the author

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

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!”

Absolutely dazzling Chopard Imperiale Joaillerie

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

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.

Korona K3 Northern Stars Black Enamel from Stepan Sarpaneva

Objects Of Desire: Independent Watches At Baselworld 2016

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.

MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual on the author’s wrist at SIHH 2016

Collectors Speak: Picks And Pans Of SIHH Week 2016

It’s already been six consecutive years that I’ve had the delightful experience of going through SIHH week with several of my closest friends. Our closing discussions centered around four questions, which were focused more tightly on SIHH itself this year due to the inclusion of nine independent watchmakers: what watch did you think was best of show at SIHH? What was the worst watch of the show? What watch displayed at the show would you buy if money were no object? What watch did you see on display that would you buy with your own money?

2016 SIHH Novelty: Kari Voutilainen Vingt-8

Sneak Peek – New Voutilainen SIHH 2016 Wristwatches With Live Photos

It’s SIHH 2016 week! And already, our California collector group was off to a splendid start with our traditional Saturday evening dinner with friend and genius watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. Kari brought along several of the watches that he will be presenting this week at SIHH, and was kind enough to grant permission for us to show them here before the official start of the show.

Two great decimal repeaters: the Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece 8 (left) and the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater

Sounding Off: A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater vs. Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece 8

Recently, GaryG presented his take on the Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece 8 while Elizabeth wrote about the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater.

Here Gary, Elizabeth, and Ian compare and discuss six areas of these two rare and very technical timepieces: design, innovation, operation, finishing, sound, and overall impression.

And there’s a video so you can see and hear both decimal repeaters to make your own comparison.

Smooth operator: repeater actuation slider, Voutilainen Masterpiece 8

Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece 8 Decimal Repeater

One of the big introductions of 2015 in the collector’s world was A. Lange & Söhne’s Zeitwerk Minute Repeater: a watch that both shows and chimes off the time using a “decimal” format of hours, tens of minutes, and minutes rather than the more traditional hours, quarters (15 minutes), and minutes. But the first decimal repeating wristwatch to reach the market wasn’t the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater. It was by independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen.

From the book ‘Horlogerie d’Art’ about Kari Voutilainen by Theodore Diehl

Book Review: ‘Kari Voutilainen Horlogerie d’Art’

“Työ puhuu puolestaan.” This Finnish proverb means, “A man is valued by his work, not his words.” And it most definitely characterizes the introverted, Finnish master watchmaker Kari Voutilainen to the proverbial tee. ‘Kari Voutilainen Horlogerie d’Art’ is an epic book written by Theodore Diehl that would make a perfect gift for the horophile in your life!

Top Only Watch lot: Patek Philippe Reference 5016A-010

You Are There: Attending The Only Watch Auction 2015 With Patek Philippe

Only Watch, the biennial charity auction on behalf of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research, has firmly established itself as a landmark event on the watch scene. This year’s sixth renewal of the event, serving as the kickoff for the autumn Geneva watch auction week, saw Patek Philippe donating the landmark piece for the event, a blue-dialed, steel-cased Reference 5016A-010, which hammered for more than $7 million.

Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision on the wrist

Complete List Of Prize Winners In The 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

The evening of Thursday, October 29, 2015 played host to the red-carpet gala evening in Geneva for the presentation of prizes in the 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. We will be sharing our thoughts and insights on the winners of the big night, and why those not so lucky may have missed out. But without further ado, here are the brands and watches that went home with a well-deserved trophy.