Kari Voutilainen was born in Finland in 1962 and has a passionate interest in horology spanning thirty years. He completed his initial watchmaker’s training at the world-renowned watchmaking school of Tapiola in Finland. He first came to Switzerland in 1989 to attend the International Watchmaking School, where he completed the WOSTEP complicated watch course, a post-graduate course for those watchmakers dedicated to the restoration of complicated, high-quality rare watches. He was quickly spotted by Parmigiani Mesure et Art du Temps, where over the following ten years he was at the center of the restoration work of some of the world’s rarest pieces as well as the creation of new and original ‘one-off’ pieces.
News: Introducing the Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force. The First Piece in the New System 78 Collection.
The Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force is the newest watch demonstrating an Armin Strom core principle: always be innovating. This watch takes the traditional mainspring barrel and turns it on its head by adding a stop-work declutch mechanism combined with automatic winding to create consistent power delivery to the balance. With a bold redesign of the movement, dial, and case, Gravity Equal Force marks the launch of the new System 78 Collection, highlighting innovative watchmaking at a competitive price. As a guiding principle, every watch that comes from the Armin Strom manufacture must include an innovation. The inspiration behind Gravity Equal Force was a desire to transmit equal force to the balance, thereby increasing the consistency of rate.
News: Introducing the MB&F Legacy Machine 101 Palladium. An 18-Piece Limited Edition in 'Vert d'eau' Color.
The MB&F Legacy Machine 101 may be the most classic Legacy Machine, focusing on the essence of a mechanical wristwatch —hence the ‘101’ name— it is no less a Machine of firsts. When it was launched back in 2014, it housed the very first movement developed entirely in-house by MB&F. Today, the LM101 series inaugurates our very first piece in palladium, a rare silvery-white metal similar to platinum. And finally, the new palladium edition gets another first: a brand new color for the sunray dial plate, which varies between pale blue and green —a color best described in French as “vert d’eau”— sea green or aquamarine in English.
News: Introducing the Vacheron Constantin Dual Time and Ladies Quartz Overseas with Black Lacquered Dial
The Overseas collection treats itself to a total black look. Two new timepieces are available in a black lacquered dial beautifully framed by the shimmering gleam of the steel case. Launched in 2018, the Overseas dual time model equipped with the 5110 DT automatic Manufacture movement enables simultaneous reading of two time zones, complete with date and day/night indication. The Overseas Lady quartz appears with diamonds on its bezel to light up the path of its hands, while the date is displayed at 3 o'clock. Following the Overseas Chronograph and the Overseas Automatic black dial success, the novelties unveiled today enrich the black dials references, highly sought after by collectors.
News: Introducing the Richard Mille RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams. A 30-Piece Limited Edition.
The talented, multi-award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer has long been a friend of the brand, sporting many of its iconic timepieces. And when Richard Mille suggested they work together on the first watch to bear his name, Pharrell looked deep into his childhood for inspiration. “I’ve always been fascinated by looking up at the sky. What could be more inspiring than all that ever was and all that ever will be? Space, before your eyes. It’s yours to see. It was here before the Earth, before this Solar System. It’ll be here after us and nothing’s more meaningful than that. When I look up at the sky I’m looking at God. I feel part of so many different parts of a whole. This is the Alpha and the Omega.”
News: De Bethune Presents the Maestri’Art DW5 Armilia Unique Piece. A Hand-Engraved Piece of Horological Art.
De Bethune plunges into the fantasy universe of designer and scenographer François Schuiten, nicknamed the “Watchmaker of Dreams” while engaging in a dialogue with the enigmatic world of The Obscure Cities through signature motif highlighted on the very structure of its DW5. A reality shift, a parallel universe in which humans are often left to their own devices —even though the reality is never very far away— this imaginary world is composed of enigmas and mysteries. Through shadows and unusual reflections of our world subject to the principle of worrying strangeness, the authors of The Obscure Cities usher their readers into spectacularly extravagant settings while maintaining a distinctly human approach.
News: WatchBox Announces Partnership with Seddiqi & Sons to Launch in the Middle East
WatchBox, the global leader in pre-owned luxury timepieces and Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the Middle East’s most respected and established luxury watch retailer, today announced a joint venture to launch WatchBox Middle East. This partnership brings expertise in the secondary watch market to the region through WatchBox’s signature ‘electronic trading’ platform and also marks the debut of its retail footprint. A flagship WatchBox boutique dedicated to luxury pre-owned timepiece services including buying, selling, and trading will be unveiled in the Dubai International Financial Centre —DIFC— in November 2019.
News: Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève GPHG 2019 Winners. Audemars Piguet Takes the 'Aiguille d'Or' Grand Prix.
Excellence, innovation and watchmaking expertise were duly rewarded today November 7th, 2019 at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, on the occasion of the 19th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève —GPHG— prize-giving ceremony. The international jury of this edition 2019 of the GPHG handed out 19 prizes, including the supreme “Aiguille d’Or” prize awarded to Audemars Piguet for their amazing Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin, the world’s thinnest automatic perpetual calendar. Now, on to the rest of tonight's winners.
News: Introducing the Richard Mille RM 52-06 Tourbillon Mask. Four 18-Piece Limited Editions.
In 2012, the RM 052 Tourbillon Skull, with its overtly philosophical allegory, served as a milestone in the history of Richard Mille. Symbolizing nonconformity and freedom, the watch was a runaway success, its only limit is that it had a very small production run. Demand for this esoteric piece encouraged Richard Mille to revisit the theme in a new way and bring to life the RM 52-06 Tourbillon Mask. Surrealistic, fantastic, mysterious. The curvaceous lines of the iconic symbol enthroned in the heart of the tourbillon movement make the RM 52-06 one of the most enigmatic calibres.
Eye Candy: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Black Ceramic ref. 26343CE. A Haute Horlogerie Black Knight.
First released in 2018 at the SIHH, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Black Ceramic ref. 26343CE was presented on a rubber strap and in a limited edition of 25 pieces in four different color accents on its minute track. But to make things even more interesting this year, Audemars Piguet also released the Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Black Ceramic with a matching black ceramic bracelet and in a limited edition of 100 pieces. This new reference 26343CE.OO.1247CE.01 watch features a 30-minute chronograph and a tourbillon in a full black ceramic look.
Insider: MB&F Horological Machine No. 7 Aquapod Platinum Red. The Sexiest Jellyfish Out There.
The MB&F Horological Machine No. 7 Aquapod was first released in titanium with a blue bezel and in 18K 5N red gold with black bezel back in 2017. A year after, a third version of the watch was presented in titanium but with a gorgeous bright green bezel. Inspired by a jellyfish and the ocean, the MB&F Horological Machine No. 7 conquers the confines of the ocean and plunges into the water. Right on time for the summer this year, a fourth version in platinum with a bright red bezel was added to the mix. The MB&F is available in a limited edition of 50 pieces in grade 5 titanium with green bezel, 33 in titanium with blue bezel, 66 in 18K 5N red gold and 25 pieces in platinum.
Insider: Panerai Luminor Tourbillon GMT Titanium PAM 768. The Green Lantern 'Lo Scienziato'.
The iconic Panerai Tourbillon ‘Lo Scienziato’ is back with a bolder look and dressed in a green highly contrasting look. First released in 2016 as the Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Titanium PAM 578, the new Panerai Luminor Tourbillon GMT Titanium PAM 768 is a skeletonized tourbillon, dedicated to the Tuscan genius Galileo Galilei, who with his discoveries laid the foundations for the development of mechanical timepieces. This watch is the result of in-depth research and development carried out by the Laboratorio di Idee within the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel.
Insider: Richard Mille RM 26-02 Tourbillon Evil Eye. Perfectly Suited for Halloween.
The concept of the Evil Eye, also known as Ayin Harsha in Arabic countries, Nazar in Turkey or Matiasma in Greece, is a glance believed to have the power to cause harm to those on whom it falls and can come from anyone at any moment. The belief is that the cause can be zealously, malevolent jealousy or envy. The Evil Eye knows no boundaries except those imposed on it by various protective talismans, like those popular Turkish or Israeli blown glass blue and white eyes. Today, we bring you a different type of amulet, one that you can strap on your wrist and protect you as others less fortunate take a quick glimpse at your powerful timepiece.
News: Presenting the MB&F + Loupe System Project LpX. The First Collaboration Between the Two.
If you’re a serious watch enthusiast, you have undoubtedly heard of Loupe System —quite simply the most advanced portable magnifying loupes in the world today. Loupe System has teamed up with MB&F to create Project LpX, an intergalactic magnification station enabling accurate viewing of watch movement details, while simultaneously reminding you of the immensity of our galaxy. Synchronous, forward-thinking imagination knows no boundaries.
Insider: Franck Muller Vanguard Racing Skeleton 'La Mejor Carrera del Mundo' Carbon. A Stunning 75-Piece Limited Edition Celebrating the World of Motorsports.
First presented at the SIAR 2019 just a week before the Mexican F1 Grand Prix comes the Franck Muller Vanguard ‘La Mejor Carrera del Mundo’ —the best race in the world— Limited Edtion. Available in carbon or in rose gold, the watch celebrates the world of motor racing with the colors of the Mexican flag. While the carbon model is available in a limited edition of 75 pieces, the rose gold model comes in a 25-piece limited edition. Both watches feature the colors of the Mexican flag between 11 and 1 o’clock.
Insider: Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB1 'Oeuvre d'Or' White Gold Dial. Our Favorite Execution of this Model.
Four years after its launch by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the co-president of Chopard and founder of Chopard's in-house manufacture L.U.C division, Ferdinand Berthoud was awarded the highest prize in the watchmaking industry —Grand Prix “Aiguille d’Or” at the 16th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève—, and earlier this year, the brand presented a new collection called ‘Oeuvre d’Or’ in a new artistic interpretation of its original creation, the Chronomètre FB 1. For the occasion of the SIAR 2019 in Mexico City, Ferdinand Berthoud presented a new iteration of the Oeuvre d’Or’ this time sporting a dial made of white gold rather than in yellow gold as in its previous iterations.
News: Presenting the A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus. The First Stainless Steel Sports Watch Family for the Brand.
Until today, A. Lange & Söhne had five watch families: Lange 1, Saxonia, 1815, Richard Lange and the Zeitwerk. Presented today, the new Odysseus is a new face that introduces a sixth watch family. And as usual at Lange, it is endowed not only with a distinctive design but also with a newly developed movement. What first meets the eye on the dark-blue dial is the day-of-week and date display. Located on the right, the Lange outsize date in the classic double aperture is complemented with an equally large day of the week display on the left. The outer verticals of the frames echo the curvature of the bezel. The typical Lange font is used for both displays, though here, the numerals and letters are white against a blue background. The newly developed mechanism consists of 99 individual parts.
News: Introducing the HYT H5 Timepiece. Equipped with a Brand New In-House Calibre Developed by Eric Coudray.
Today, the brand debuted the H5 collection, featuring a new design and the brand new proprietary 501 calibre movement that took over three years to develop with master watchmaker, Eric Coudray. The H5 is a limited edition of 25 pieces and comes in two versions: a stainless steel case with green fluid on a grey rubber strap, and black fluid on a black rubber strap. HYT continues to push the boundaries of the horological comfort zone, and even more so, the new movement marries fluid technology with a mechanical approach. Both editions pair back to HYT’s classic green palette and feature an eye-catching neoralite hour ring with superluminova.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Ultra-Thin ref. 26586IP. The World's Thinnest Automatic Perpetual Calendar.
Perpetual calendars come in all forms, shapes, metals, and prices. However, few brands stand out from the rest as far as their perpetual calendars in terms of history, reliability, and prestige. When you are looking for a perpetual calendar the first brand names that pop up would be Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin as these make the ‘holy trinity of watchmaking’. Audemars Piguet has a long history making perpetual calendars and after the successful release of the Royal Oak Perpetual ref. 26574 at the end of 2015, the brand pushed the envelope even further in 2018 presenting a prototype of what would become the world’s thinnest automatic perpetual calendar.
Eye Candy: Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 mm. Two Stunning References and a Lot of Watch for the Money.
Finally we got to see the new Chopard Alpine Eagle in the metal and all we can say is that this watch is simply stunning. Incredibly finished, its bracelet fits like a glove and very comfortably. Contemporary, refined and assertive, the new Alpine Eagle sports chic timepiece collection is a state-of-the-art reinterpretation of the St. Moritz, the first watch created in 1980 by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, now co-president of Chopard. Imagined and personally designed by him, Alpine Eagle is driven by his passion for the Alps and by the lofty power of the eagle that reigns supreme there. Crafted from an exclusive, ultra-resistant and light-reflecting metal named Lucent Steel A223, it beats to the rhythm of a Chopard chronometer-certified movement.
