Up Shut: Voutilainen Tourbillon twentieth Anniversary

The Voutilainen Tourbillon twentieth Anniversary might be essentially the most troublesome serial-production watch throughout the Voutilainen catalogue. Modelled on Kari Voutilainen’s first-ever watch, a pocket watch made in 1994, the anniversary tourbillon is a wristwatch that is typical Voutilainen in mannequin and substance. The design is classical whereas the usual of execution is exceptionally extreme.

Preliminary concepts

The anniversary tourbillon is predictable in a good way – it appears to be, feels, and options as you will anticipate from a Voutilainen. Even at arm’s measurement the usual of the watch is evident. The guilloche on the dial is refined and tidy, whereas the movement decoration is impeccable.

Zoom in and the movement decoration will get even larger, which is unsurprising since Voutilainen most likely offers the best movement decoration that’s completed in an artisanal technique however at scale (the mannequin makes possibly 100 watches a 12 months).

The overall top quality of the watch is superb, and the movement notably so. The small print of the bridges are fully executed, whereas the steel parts are elegantly fashioned and flawlessly polished.

As spectacular as a result of the decoration itself is the reality that Voutilainen can do this continually all through all its watches for a reasonable-ish price – a testament to the company that Mr Voutilainen has constructed.

As a wristwatch, nonetheless, the movement lacks the scale of the pocket watch. As such, the wristwatch movement feels a little bit of constricted compared with the pocket watch.Each little factor is fastidiously spaced and tightly organized, although the movement is fairly big.

Apparently, whereas the that’s modelled on the 1994 pocket watch, the movement construction borrows from one-off tourbillon wristwatches that Voutilainen made in current occasions. The anniversary tourbillon, nonetheless, is the first to be produced in assortment.

The 1994 pocket watch. Image – Phillips

The movement revealed through a present once more. Image – Phillips

Just a few of the dial designs confirmed on the prototypes are to not my model, nevertheless that may very well be a moot stage since Voutilainen is amenable to dial customisation.

Moreover notable is the case design, which departs from the signature Voutilainen look and in its place opts for a fluted case band moreover found on the pocket watch, along with straight lugs. The mannequin could also be very Nineties, which is wise given the pocket watch was made all through that interval.

The case feels big, on the very least by Voutilainen necessities. That’s ensuing from every its exact dimension and the case mannequin. It seems chunkier than the frequent Voutilainen wristwatch, largely due to the 13.52 mm thickness. It’s not as elegantly sized as a result of the acquainted Vingt-8, nevertheless not excessively massive. In precise truth, the watch is a little bit of paying homage to tourbillon fashions from the likes of Lange and Greubel Forsey, every of which tend in route of larger circumstances.

In terms of concept that’s very similar to the F.P. Journe Tourbillon T30, which was likewise a wristwatch recreation of a pocket watch. Nevertheless the Voutilainen anniversary tourbillon is executed to a greater diploma in terms of improvement and decoration.

A milestone watch

As was anticipated for a watchmaker who wanted to indicate himself on the time, Mr Voutilainen made a tourbillon pocket watch early in his occupation. That pocket watch varieties the premise for the anniversary tourbillon, which recreates many parts of the pocket watch, along with the movement construction and dial format.

When you first encounter the anniversary tourbillon, the first impression is of an unlimited, weighty, and important watch. Mr Voutilainen little doubt wanted to convey that sentiment, which is suitable given the milestone that the watch commemorates.

Reusing the case design of pocket watch means a distantly Nineties throughout the wristwatch, notably the case. The fluted case band shows the model of the interval, as do the simple lugs. In precise truth, the lugs are arguably too simplistic, considerably in contrast with the prevailing Voutilainen mannequin.

On the wrist the watch feels greater than anticipated for individuals who’re conscious of the mannequin. This leaves the dial making an attempt equally big. The upside of that is the upper precise property to level out off the fantastic engine turning. As anticipated for Voutilainen, the guilloche is superb.

The dial format is a bit of strange as a result of the off-centred indications seem a little bit of randomly positioned. This, nonetheless, is logical as a result of the dial relies on the pocket watch, which in flip was made by a youthful Kari Voutilainen who has since refined and superior his mannequin.

Contained within the Nineties-style case is the cal. TBL22, a sturdy improvement that maximises the obtainable space. Two big barrels occupy two thirds of the movement, the tourbillon a third, and the ability reserve mechanism sits in a nook between the carriage and barrel bridge.

The event is an old-school technique clearly taken to optimise chronometry, and one which Mr Voutilainen employed for earlier custom-order tourbillon watches.

The twin barrels, organized in parallel, ship substantial, fastened torque that’s sufficient to rotate the comparatively heavy tourbillon cage, which contains an enormous stability wheel with regulating weights organized in pairs, two in gold and two in titanium. Regardless that I don’t have any testing outcomes for the watch, I am assured it performs properly.

All of that squeezed into the comparatively small amount contained within the case means the panorama is crowded. That isn’t lots a criticism as it is a assertion of reality since a movement constructed on this technique will seem to be this.

Crowded because it’s, the movement is comprised solely of exceptionally optimistic parts. There’s nothing throughout the finish that could be critiqued – it is practically pretty much as good as a result of it’s going to get.

I would really like fully totally different ending on some parts, for instance, yellow gold gilt frosting on the bridges in its place of pink gold gilt. Nevertheless these are stylistic preferences that Mr Voutilainen should be able to accommodate and already does with the Vingt-8.

Key particulars and value

Voutilainen Tourbillon twentieth Anniversary

Case diameter: 40 mm
Peak: 13.52 mm
Supplies: 18k gold or platinum
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: Tourbillon TBL22
Capabilities: Hours, minutes, vitality reserve indicator, and tourbillon
Frequency: 18,000 beats per hour (2.5 Hz)
Winding: Handbook wind
Power reserve: 72 hours

Strap: Crocodile with pin buckle

Restricted model: One in steel, and 20 each in platinum, 18k white gold, and 18k rose gold; for a whole of 61 watches
Availability: From Voutilainen and retailers
Price: CHF285,000 in platinum, and CHF278,000 in 18k gold (prices exclude taxes)

For additional, go to Voutilainen.ch.

Once more to excessive.