Independents

As a warm-up to the BaselWorld fair Kari sent me some pictures of his latest pieces. Unique piece, dial is made in Japan by lacquer artist. V-8R. power reserve indication, limited series of 25 watches. Everything made in house, 228 components. It has visi...  

Simply magnificent the mosaic I'm out of words

I especially like the 2nd one. :)

That last picture... Simply sublime. Kari delivers, again. 25 pieces, that will be about half of Kari's production for the year to come. 13 employees producing 50 pieces a year and with Kari behind every one of their thoughts and movements Better hurry Z'... 

exclude the stuff that he does on limited editions like the watches he made for Gary Getz and company. to be frank, these days, I take production numbers with a pinch of salt. nobody tells the truth anymore. best, Horo

Fortunate those who own one. Why is the PR watch limited to 25, Don?

I am not Don, but Kari told me he wants it so, He has other projects in the pipe-line. The standard unlimited models are the vingt-8 and the 2-Eight, both highly customizable, off course. Best Z'

NT

Gary G blew my mind with his unique piece, and now this.... this is just absolutely beautiful, I have a massive amount of respect for Kari's work, more and more every day. Hope one day to see one in the flesh

Is that he does welcome select other artists to participate upon request. Not a big hallmark of his work to date (with the exception of Eddy Jacquet's engraving work on pieces such as my Chronograph), but I'm hoping to see more in future. Glad you like my... 

Don't love the V8 R at all. The dial looks confounded, busy, and objective-focused functional. Give me the normal Observatoire any day (now that's a beautiful watch). But I can criticize all I want, because with only 25 watches, beauty is in the eye of th... 

25 this metal, then 25 in another, and another, and another? then in two different sizes thereafter? again in 25s? who knows.... like you, I think the Observatoire is just beautiful, much more then the V8-R. maybe I need time to warm up...we shall see....... 

You are correct Horo. One can never expect to be able to hold them to strict limitations. That's how these things are. Limited Editions are only as limited as the next one. But I really don't like this one. Although I haven't seen this one in the metal, t... 

Dear Hororgasm, 25 this metal, then 25 in another, and another, and another? May I ask you where you hold this from? I find your opinion unnecessarily deprecative, uncomplimentary. I met Kari a few times since the launch of the V8R. He told me clearly the... 

There is nothing wrong in not numbering one's limited editions. I should bow down to the wisdom of someone who own a Observatoire. I know nothing about KVs...whilst you on the other hand has a weath of knowledge...including a NEW figure of 60 Observatoire... 

Dear moderator, off course you are entitled to voice your opinion. But I do not like being at the receiving end of your continued sarcasm and take therefore my leave from this thread. Z'

You responded to my post in the open, and pm me complaining about a fellow moderator and YOU ARE THE RECEIVING END???!!!! You called me "deprecating and uncomplimentary" and YOU ARE THE RECEIVING END!!!!!!!!!!??????!!!!! Do you work for KV? If not, how ar... 

It is very hard for us to fully appreciate dials like these in the West, with this one in particular created by one of the most famous lacquer artists in Japan using several techniques combined together. Kari told me this dial takes months to create - and... 

Thanks for posting.

Really, really pretty. If my wife were inclined toward watches of this size I'd be nudging her toward one (in a different pattern, of course, as this one is unique). And, if the photo is any indication, it looks as if Kari's movement finishing continues t... 

To me personally, it looks rather "disharmony" to have lacquer on Kari watch. Kari watch is a beauty on its own, no decoration from other sources is required. Imagine you have a skeletonised Kari watch! V-8R is not my cup of tea. Regards Ling

...but I would love to have an open dialed watch from Kari! I'm playing around with mockups to see whether at some point it might be possible to commission an open dial for my Chrono II... Best, Gary

.... would love to see this collaboration between swiss' fine watchmaking and Japanese traditional art in person..... Sigh.... Thanks, Don! Ken

looks very promising to me. Only a few more days until I can see it ... :-) Thanks, Don & Kari! Oliver

And those movements are gorgeous in every way. Thanks. Vte :)

...having had a good look at it at Basel, and having a nice chat with Kari (with a friend), all I can say is that photos simply do not do justice to the lacquer dial...it's just unbelievably beautiful. The V-8R, imho, looks better with a pure white dial..... 

I am naturally a big fan owning an Observatoire. Kari continues to amaze in a considered and stylish manner. Thanks for sharing Regards Oztimelord

... the watchmaker himself. I was so happy to see Kari's work, as well as the work of his "booth mates", the Gronefelds and Stepan Sarpaneva. Right next door was a display of watches made of wood. Simply unreal. And Romain's Logical One? Jaw dropping. No ...