Kari Voutilainen, one of the most accomplished and talented contemporary watchmakers, began his career restoring antique clocks before taking on commissions for prestigious brands and numerous independent watchmakers, eventually establishing his own brand in 2002.
Most of his timepieces are made to order, as craftsmanship of this calibre cannot be mass-produced. Each piece is entirely handcrafted at his workshop in Môtiers, near Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Recognised for his exceptional craftsmanship, Voutilainen has received nine awards to date at the prestigious GPHG – Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
The 217QRS Model
Inspired by the Vingt-8, the 217QRS features a central retrograde date display seamlessly integrated into the dial.
Setting the date can sometimes be a tedious process, but on this model, it couldn't be simpler: a single press of the crown advances the date by one day.
Retrograde complications typically feature an instantaneous return, with the hand jumping back to its starting position. Here, however, a specially designed mechanism allows the hand to glide smoothly from the 31st back to the 1st, making the transition particularly satisfying to watch.
Only 30 pieces were produced, equally divided between platinum, white gold and rose gold cases.
The timepiece featured in this article is the final example from this series.
It features a 39 mm white gold case with Voutilainen’s signature faceted lugs. Its green guilloché dial catches the light beautifully, creating a striking contrast with the blue mother-of-pearl centre. Together, these elements give the dial a remarkable sense of texture and depth.
The applied hour markers and numerals add further depth to the dial, while the three-part Breguet-style hands once again showcase Kari Voutilainen’s exceptional craftsmanship.
