Introducing Kari Voutilainen Unveils His 20th Anniversary Tourbillon Edition

One of the most revered and respected names in haute horlogerie, particularly within the independent watchmaking scene, is Kari Voutilainen. This Finnish watchmaking genius embarked on his journey by earning a degree from a watchmaking school in Finland before moving to Switzerland to delve into advanced courses in high complications.

Like many others of his era, Voutilainen began his Swiss career at the restoration workshops, he worked on the restoration workshop of Michel Parmigiani. Over his illustrious career, Kari has earned nine GPHG awards and boasts a 20-year track record as an independent watchmaker. Maybe his watches are not easy to find due to their rarity and value among collectors, but he is a common name in collaborations. You can find his work in many pieces from brands such as Schwarz Etienne, As far as we can remember, his last contribution was to the new Daniel Roth watch, and many others.

After all these years, Kari has become one of the biggest names in the industry. With his main workshop now overlooking the small town of Môtiers, where his case and dial manufacturers are based, he produces components not only for his own watches but also for other companies worldwide. 
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of his company, Kari Voutilainen has introduced a new tourbillon watch. This timepiece is inspired by his first-ever watch, a pocket watch completed in 1994, and is aptly named the Voutilainen Tourbillon 22.

Kari completed his first watch, a one-minute tourbillon pocket watch, in 1994. Three years in the making using the Parmigiani workshop, The watch was a one-minute tourbillon with twin barrels, power reserve indicator, and a finely guillochéd dial.

The new watch is limited to just 61 pieces, available in four case options: platinum, white gold, rose gold, and a unique piece in stainless steel. It features polished surfaces with a knurled caseband, paying homage to pocket watches, and straight lugs for a classic touch. Sapphire crystals on both the front and caseback showcase the tourbillon from the reverse side. The case measures 40 mm in diameter and 13 mm in height.

The dial, made from a solid silver base, is adorned with multiple hand-guilloché patterns, which can be chosen from among dozens of motifs, with the color also customized per the client's request.

The model chosen by the brand to showcase the Kari Voutilainen Tourbillon 20th Anniversary edition features a classic dark blue color, with silver-toned tracks, Breguet numerals, and partially blued steel hands. The off-centered small seconds are located between 5 and 9 o'clock, while the power reserve indicator is between 8 and 9 o'clock.

The real spectacle unfolds through the transparent caseback. Voutilainen has masterfully recreated his original pocket watch movement, now scaled down to a diameter of just 32.5mm. The movement features twin barrels that connect directly to the center wheel pinion, ensuring more consistent timekeeping by maintaining a steady amplitude over the 72-hour power reserve. This design allows the watch to maintain a similar rate whether it has just been wound or no.

The main attraction is the one-minute tourbillon, equipped with a hairspring featuring a Phillips terminal curve and a Grossmann internal curve, running at a slow frequency of 2.5Hz. The movement is executed in a classical style, with an extraordinary level of hand-finishing that is beyond impressive.

The watch comes with a leather strap, with the color and type customizable to the customer's preference. Only 61 pieces of the Kari Voutilainen Tourbillon 20th Anniversary will be produced, 20 pieces each in platinum, white gold, and rose gold, and one unique piece in stainless steel. The price is available upon request.

For more information, please visit Kari Voutilainen official website.