Tag Archive for: Kari Voutilainen

Exquisite tourbillon details of the Jean Daniel Nicolas Two-Minute Tourbillon by Mr. Daniel Roth. You can just make out the gold second hand on the left of tourbillon cage pointing to 60 and the blued-steel hand on the right pointing to 0.

Why We Are In A Golden Age For Appreciating Superlative Hand-Finishing In Wristwatches

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Ian Skellern deliberately wrote the headline as “Why We Are In A Golden Age For Appreciating Superlative Hand-Finishing . . . ” because the fact is that if many people do not appreciate superlative hand-finishing, then fewer will pay for superlative hand-finishing, so there is likely to be less superlative hand-finishing on offer. So what does any of this mean for the future of superlatively hand-finished timepieces?

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Corum Gold Bridge on the wrist of Vincent Calabrese

Artisans Du Temps: 30th Anniversary AHCI Exhibition At MIH Museum In La Chaux-De-Fonds

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In 1985, Svend Andersen and Vincent Calabrese founded the AHCI: Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants. The aim was to help independent watchmakers survive at a time when large brands and quartz watches were dominating the horological world. In 1985 very few people even knew that there was such a thing as independent watchmaking, as advertising and exhibitions (of which there were very few) were far too expensive for them to participate in. Today, 30 years later, the AHCI boasts 35 members and four candidates. Not bad for an organization I once described as “like herding cats.”

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Hands, hand-made: the Voutilainen Observatoire

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

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Many of you are likely to have come across at least a few heated discussions of “finishing,” a topic that seems to fascinate, and divide, watch enthusiasts. Like many people, my starting point for serious watches was with a well-priced brand long known for its expertise in developing movements, justly viewed as offering good value for money – but not necessarily for the refinement of its movement finishing, at least on its less expensive pieces. What have I learned since then?

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SalonQP 2014

Roundup of SalonQP 2014: London’s Premier Watch Exhibition

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SalonQP, London’s premier watch exhibition, ran from the 6th through the 8th of November 2014 at the prestigious Saatchi Art Gallery in central London. It was bigger and better than ever in terms of both size and visitor numbers.

Read on for more than just a few reasons (and lots of photos) why SalonQP is my favorite watch exhibition.

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Dial of Margot in white gold by Christophe Claret

Aiguille d’Or: Round Table Discussion Of The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2014

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Now we get to the real nitty-gritty at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.: the Aiguille d’Or. There are no ifs, and or buts any more, just a decision on which of the 72 pre-selected watches is the best overall timepiece of the year. It is the most prestigious of the awards given.
Which could be our panel’s favorite to win? The Margot by Christophe Claret? Urwerk EMC? Perhaps the De Bethune DB29 Maxichrono Tourbillon? Or will it be something else entirely?

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Karin Voutilainen 28 Sarasamon with dial from Unryuan studio in Japan. The Saiei Makie and Somata zaiku lacquering of this dial takes months to complete and uses gold dust), gold leaf, great green turban (a snail) shell and abalone shell from New Zealand

Kari Voutilainen Wins The 2014 Gaïa Award For Artisanal Creation

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In the world of complicated watchmaking, that which might appear simple when seen from the dial may often be quite complicated when you turn a watch over and peer into its depths.

In Kari Voutilainen’s case, not only does his style comprise an uncommon sort of complicated simplicity, it is also riddled with the thing that eludes many watchmakers: near perfection.

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Close up of the dial of the Ulysse Nardin Freak Blue Cruiser

Give Me Five! Tourbillons From Baselworld 2014 Part 2

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Continuing our series on tourbillons from Baselworld 2014, here are a few from Breguet, Chopard, Ulysse Nardin, Grönefeld and Kari Voutilainen.

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Stunning Maki-e dial by Kari Voutilainen

Splashes Of Color That Brightened Baselworld 2014

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And as much as I appreciate high-end complications, bright colors catch my eye just as much as the next person and here is a small selection of colorful timepieces from Baselworld 2014.

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Kari Voutilainen and family clone-composite photo

Introducing ‘Resident Collector’ GaryG

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If you have been around the horological block a few times, you will certainly be aware of GaryG, a frequent poster on prevalent watch fora. His love of the art of luxury watchmaking is unmistakable, and his interest, intelligence and enthusiasm on the subject downright infectious. We are sure you will also love what he brings to the Quill & Pad table.

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