Collection
JoshTheCanadian embarks on the highly anticipated design phase for his bespoke Kari Voutilainen GMT-6, a journey chronicled in his multi-part 'KV Adventure' series. This installment delves into the intricate decisions and personal reflections that shape a custom timepiece, offering a rare glimpse into the bespoke commissioning process with an independent watchmaker. His meticulous consideration of every detail, from case material to dial engraving, highlights the profound personal connection collectors forge with their watches.
Please follow the links for Part I and Part II of this journey.
I am now over halfway through the wait for the KV I ordered back in 2021, and expect that I will begin the design process imminently! After putting this out of my head for nearly a year... the game is (nearly) on!
I have increasingly been mulling over my watch - which is based on KV's GMT-6. Ordering a "bespoke" piece is liberating - but the nigh-endless choices can also be debilitating. And, as a person who orders bespoke suits, I have learned one lesson the hard way - it is very, very, very easy to get carried away on any order. Interesting fabric, interesting buttons, overly roped shoulder, etc. - very easy to include one too many details.
So, without further adieu, here is where I am:
Overall, I am using the following watch as an inspiration - I think it is nothing short of stunning:
I enjoy the tonal color palette, but am leaning towards an icy platinum case - although tantalum is a tantalizing option that could fit well for my theme - and I am also leaning towards downsizing the typical 39mm case to 37.5 mm, to make it somewhat more discrete.
However, I want to modernize the inspiration. Right now, I am leaning towards an engraving of the following (although, to be frank, this is still something I am thinking about):
This is an interpretation / reinterpretation of my rosebud - the mountains where I grew up skiing and spending my summers, back when times were much simpler. I think this is something that could be executed well in an engraving. And whenever I think about my youth in the mountains, to be quite frank it makes me emotional.
My biggest hurdle right now is the GMT disk. I believe that the GMT disk in the original is a little too ornate given the simplicity of the proposed engraving. I found the below GMT disks online and I think these - or something even more pared down - would be more appropriate with my vision:
I want to reduce the number of numerals from the inspiration I posted - leaning towards arabic numerals at 12-3-9 and then baton indices. I want hand made removed from the dial. Undecided on the cabochon that is often used, but leaning towards removing the cabochon. I am also contemplating seeing if the name plate could be moved to the chapter ring like some of KV's other watches to leave room for the engraving.
Look forward to actually getting renders - have considered engaging a graphic artist to help with renders beforehand.
In any event, exciting times ahead! I will be sure to keep the thread updated.
Oh, wait, did I just use my outside voice? Darn. π€£
In the first picture you posted, the beautiful scenery in that watch also looks like a mountain landscape on one side and perhaps forest-like trees on the other side. Is that your rendering or another example from another collector?
It will be a gorgeous KV for sure ππ»
An explosion of colours, textures, engravings, patterns. Good luck with the composition of your personal symphony.
Overwhelmed by so many options.
Thank you for sharing glimpses of your journey in commissioning a bespoke GMT 6 from Kari. You said it yourself, do not make decisions by going into too much details. Do not make decisions based on options. Imho commissioning a watch from a watchmaker like Kari should not be a trip from you to yourself. I personally best like watches that are not too idiosyncratic but have instead a universal appeal. Do not substitute Kari by yourself. Give him clear guidelines and let him design, work and surpr
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