Kari Voutilainen Bespoke 44.5mm Watch

andrewluff · 2018-01-09T08:48:20Z

Andrew Luff showcases his custom Kari Voutilainen watch, detailing the bespoke 44.5mm case, unique petrol blue guilloché dial, and hinged case back.

Andrew Luff shares his custom Kari Voutilainen timepiece, emphasizing the master watchmaker's guilloché work and the unique design choices made for his personal "keeper." His post highlights the collaborative process with Kari Voutilainen, showcasing how a collector's vision can be brought to life in a truly bespoke creation.

I had not worn my Kari for a while, so retrieved it to wear for a bit and thought I would take a few fresh pictures as it seems like ages since I last had it behind the lens. I love this watch and would class it as one of my 2 keepers...

When it comes to guilloche... Kari is the master...

I am so pleased I asked Kari to incorporate the officer style case back hiding the magic ticking inside!

and the special enamel touch inside the case back..

and finally the whole piece!

Cheers

Andrew

Key Points from the Discussion

The author specifically requested a larger 44.5mm case size, leading Kari Voutilainen to re-engineer the movement from 28mm to 32mm to fit, a size he has since used for other watches.
The chosen petrol blue dial color was a spontaneous decision, differing from the author's initial vision, but stood out among many samples.
The hinged officer-style case back, while adding weight and thickness, was a deliberate design choice appreciated by the author for its aesthetic and personal value.
The dial's petrol blue color and weave guilloché pattern are particularly striking, inspiring another collector who is meeting Kari Voutilainen soon for a unique piece.
Kari Voutilainen's dials are considered the benchmark for quality, with his guilloché work setting the standard for other watchmakers.
The author's other 'keeper' watch is a Hublot carbon tourbillon, cherished for its personal history and the collaboration with Jean-Claude Biver, serving as his daily wearer.

The Discussion

Watchonthewrist

Jan 9, 2018

That dail is amazing and i love that officer's caseback . I can imagine that its a keeper 👌🏻

andrewluff

Jan 9, 2018

I like a lot of Kari's creations but for me it has to be the guilloche I love! Cheers Andrew

andrewluff

Jan 9, 2018

Subtle is good sometimes Cheers Andrew

andrewluff

Jan 9, 2018

not merely to tell the time! In fact, the time is often wrong on it as I forget to wind it and then just put it on Cheers Andrew

andrewluff

Jan 9, 2018

I was determined to have a classical looking Kari (apart from the size of the case as until this!) and I love this petrol blue dial as being different from other watches I own. Cheers Andrew

ik2000

Jan 9, 2018

You had this made in a much larger case size than he normally produces? And the movement and everything reworked to fit around this size? THESE are values that I appreciate in a watch maker. Thanks for the pictures, have you ever tried it with a darker strap?

Key Points from the Discussion

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