Voutilainen - RETROSPECTIVE: 2000 - 2020 Geneva Sunday, November 8, 2020 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Voutilainen
    Year: 2012
    Reference No: B.12.1038
    Case No: Caseback engraved: Unique Piece
    Model Name: L'Esprit du Bois
    Material: 18k white gold
    Calibre: Manual wind, 28 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18 white gold Voutilainen pin buckle
    Dimensions: 43mm Diameter
    Signed: Case,dial, movement and pin buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by original Voutilainen warranty dated December 2012, product literature, outer box and fitted presentation box.
    Literature: Kari Voutilainen and his works are featured in Kari Voutilainen Horlogerie d'Art by Theodore Diehl as well as in Watchmakers, The Masters of Art Horology by Maxima Gallery pp 228-247 and in Twelve faces of Time, Horological Virtuosos by Elisabeth Doerr and Ralf Baumgarten pp. 90-105

  • Catalogue Essay

    Kari Voutilainen is without any discussion, one of the most talented living watchmakers of our time. His signature being complex mechanisms with superlative handmade finishing. Every component in his watches, from the bridges to the tiniest of screws, involves manual labor, may it be adjusted tolerances, polishing, angling and so on.

    After spending a decade restoring the finest horological creations of the past three centuries Kari Voutilainen became a rising star in the watchmaking scene in the early 2000s with his unique decimal minute repeaters. These watches were soon followed by his Observatory models with a movement finish often compared to that of the great Philippe Dufour.

    Voutilainen created the world’s very first decimal minute repeater wrist watch, a horological feat and a very intuitive way of chiming time where the movement chimes the ten minutes and no longer the quarter hours contrary to all repeating wristwatches available at the time. For example, if the time is 6.47 then the decimal repeater will strike 6 low tones representing the hours, 4 sequence tones representing 40 minutes, and 7 high tones representing 9 minutes.

    Needless to say, the chimes of this piece are crisp, loud and incredibly pleasing to the ear.

    The present unique piece in white gold - commissioned by a collector of impeccable taste- is a true piece of horology and visual arts combined.

    The dial features a superb engraved GMT indicator representing the day and night, that advances in one hour increments via a push on the crown.

    The officer style caseback features a sumptuous scene in hand engraved by a theme inspired from Pleiades seven daughters of Atlas on an enamel background. The intricate hand engraving is done by Eddy Jaquet, an artist having worked with the greatest brands in the creation of unique bespoke pieces.

    An outstanding timepiece, this unique masterpiece from one of horology’s greatest masters will certainly have a place of choice in the collection of the discerning esthete.

284

Ref. B.12.1038
A unique and superbly decorated white gold decimal minute repeater wristwatch with dual time zone indicators, engraved and enameled caseback

2012
43mm Diameter
Case,dial, movement and pin buckle signed

Estimate
CHF135,000 - 225,000 
€125,000-209,000
$147,000-245,000

Sold for CHF226,800

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

 

Thomas Perazzi

Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2031

WatchesHK@phillips.com

RETROSPECTIVE: 2000 - 2020

Geneva Auction 8 November 2020