Independents

Greetings to all! Well, the course of true love never did run smooth -- I was anticipating being able to post photos of this watch earlier, but the need for an adjustment meant that I had to wait a bit. But, now I have the profound pleasure of introducing...  

Fantastic clean dial....bravo

Wait until you see the various steps in the dial design -- over two years of going back and forth on details large and small... Best, Gary

... Oh My G-d... Oh My G-d... Unreal. Go ahead and cross off the rest of the items on your bucket list. - Scott

Thanks, Scott -- things like getting a custom engraving from Eddy and (especially) doing a made to measure "friendship" watch with 5 of my closest buddies certainly rate high on that list! Best, Gary

Love your version. Rose gold and grey dial is almost a guaranteed stunning combo! Add the contrast silver subdials! Congrats to your group of NorCal gang too! Keep them coming, your groups collection is stunning and have been growing faster than the Chine... 

...is as shown below :-) A black cloth, some sheets of white copier paper, a small pocket flashlight, a black watch display stand, and the right camera, lens, and remote shutter release. I was very lucky to get the shots I did, as this is of course not an...  

Learn something new again! Great tricks up your sleeves :) I love the torch idea! Thanks for showing us how you did it! All travelling Purists should take note from this post hehe!!

...was a trick from my teacher, who said that I could use a cone-shaped filter to throw a spot of light on the dial of a watch and also that I could "light paint" using a flashlight/torch to add some light to straps and other dark elements of the watch. I... 

Hard to say enough good things about that one. Can't wait to see dozens more scans and to read about the history of this project. Always loved Kari's work, and this is him at his very best. Thanks for posting. Darren

...including a retrospective of the entire three-year project! But for now I'll just concentrate on responding to kind messages such as yours -- many thanks. Best, Gary

for sharing your journeys!! I can't wait to hear the behind the scene stories.

Will look forward to sharing more as I can... Best, Gary

while the look of this is not in my vein, I think from a movement pov, it appears interesting enough. Did kari work off some ebauche here or did he totally developed it base up? Also, when you say semi-instantaneous, that means? Thanks for posting and enj... 

Great questions, Arthur! First of all, I recognize that no watch is to everyone's taste, and appreciate your honesty in saying so -- a bit boring if everyone loved everything! I will follow up with a new post on the origins of the movement -- pretty clear... 

...to have the confidence and the support of the NorCal 'gang', and to have this latest piece exposed by an emerging master of the reveal. What sensational engraving also! Regard closely the blade of the scythe; the way it has been polished you could beli... 

...than to share a commission with you! Truly wonderful to have you join us for a small portion of our expedition -- you were both warmly regarded by one and all and a candidate for "quote of the week" at our Friday dinner. Warm regards, Gary

What a fantastic time it should have been to collaborate with the master during this period. The made to measure is another world with a lot of involvment of both sides. Fabulous piece for what it is and what it means for the owner. Wear it in good health... 

Still some tweaks being made, as a chrono is a fairly complex thing and the big date and moon phase add their own complexity -- but I'm already in love with this piece. Thanks for your note! Best, Gary

nt

Amazing piece and customization! Congratulations Looking forward future series of posts about this piece(s) Did any of them went to Australia ;) Best Damjan

...THIS time! But it is now apparent that a small group of NorCal collectors speak Australian, so who knows what will be possible one day in this shrinking global village of ours? Cheers, pplater.

I was going to post a notice alerting you not to damage your eyes on these photos :-) None of these is going to Australia quite yet, but pplater has a knack for ending up with some of "my" watches so one never knows. Of course, as is well known he is not ... 

Congrats Gary! Fantastic Timepiece! Enjoy it!

Looks great on the wrist, and changes appearance depending on the light -- a real pleasure to wear. Best, Gary

nT

Glad you like it -- I'm very pleased, and I'm a pretty picky guy... Best, Gary G

Congrats my friend! It is a killer piece

All in due time, my friend -- hope to see you soon! Best, Gary

... look forward to hearing more your wearing experience and seeing your photographs soon :-) stefan

Always great to hear from you, and I appreciate the kind words. All the best, Gary

Just one word... Stunning!! Enjoy! Andrew

I suspect you might like it in person nonetheless :-) Best, Gary

Congrats to you and the others in the group on your newest Voutilainens! Bill

Can't add too many watches in a single week, I suppose :-) This one is keeping me occupied, for sure! Best, Gary

What a dial, what a ovement - I am normally not one to appreciate engravements but this one is really lovely. Huge congrats!! Andreas

I realize that engraving and openworking are not to everyone's taste, but I am pleased that you like this one! Best, Gary

nt

Huge congrats again...till the next time. Best, Horo

I think this is spectacular and the engraving is so apropos. Well done Gary! OpC

I really wanted an engraving by Eddy and pondered for a long while before the idea of Chronos hit me. This was a couple of years ago, by the way -- before some others started using Chronos in engravings of their own... Appreciate your note! Best, Gary

Amazing how the caseback on its own is beautiful, and beneath it is even more beauty. Congratulations.

...of the movement. With the caseback there, it's harder than you think to get a clear shot! Best, Gary

Nt

Really appreciate your weighing in on this one... All the best, Gary

Another great creation from KV! Your design choices are quite lovely! Looking forward to the NorCal group shot with all the chronos together! Cheers, Daos

Great to have this piece in hand at last! It may be a while before we can get a group shot of all six pieces -- some final movement tweaks are underway on some, some cosmetic things on another -- but as soon as all is in readiness I will snap away. Such i... 

Congratulations and apologies if you commented on the technical features of the movement elsewhere. I noticed the balance wheel is definitely a bit different from the transparent balance wheel shown for the "stock" Masterpiece chronograph - was there an i... 

The Carbontime balance proved to be unreliable in use so was eventually scrapped by Kari -- as far as I know none of the Series I chronos actually have that balance, so all watches have a more conventional balance wheel. Just measured my watch, and with t... 

Thanks for posting the pictures of this amazing watch and congratulations. I was fortunate to meet Kari at Salon Qp when he showed me some of his collection he had on display. I hope one day i might have the means to own one of his creations. Best wishes ... 

I have the good fortune to have been able to save up for this piece (over 3 years!). I wish you well in achieving your own horological goals! Best, Gary G

Hi Gary, First, congratulations on such a beautiful masterpiece. The engraving is superb. Although the next photo that reveals the movement makes the movement a bit dull! I know Kari's finishing, no doubt on that but what i meant is the artwork of the eng... 

Who knows -- some day I may go back to Kari and Eddy to engrave the bridges on this movement! I did purposely ask for a rhodium treatment rather than gold in order to provide a contrast to the RG case. For me it looks quite nice, but I do understand that ... 

Nice score - would love to see this live at some point.

Hope life is treating you well these days -- will hope to see you sometime soon. Best, Gary

The sad news is that the watch was still with Kari (movement adjustment) when I saw you on Monday -- but next time I see you I'll be sure to have this one and the Observatoire in hand! All the best, Gary

Wow Gary, what a nice journey you undertook there .... Kari's watches are quite unique in the watch world, not only by the finish quality, but this chrono is surely something special in your already unusual and beautiful collection. Maybe as it stores ins... 

Brilliantly put! If one reason that we love watches is our obsession with the passing of our own time, the idea that a chronograph serves to capture small portions of that time mechanically is a wonderful one -- and beautifully said. I love the watch even... 

Of course, my opinion is reserved until I see this in person. Some day. One day. Please.... :) Until then, suffice to say I am green with envy. Regards, Richard.

How much more personal can you get? Like the actors who played the hobbits, each being presented one of those special rings! Never to be replaced and always cherished.

First time in a while that I have been compared to a hobbit :-) but I enjoy the reference! Thanks very much for your kind note. Best, Gary

Your Perth countryman has already taught us a few key Australian modes of speech -- we are eager to put them into practice! Until then I will attempt to keep up a steady flow of photos... All the best, Gary