Chronomètre 27

Voutilainen Chronometer 27

Timekeeping was once a domain dedicated to the pursuit of pure accuracy, and to this end, so-called ‘observatory watches' were created. These watches possessed exceptional accuracy concerning all the important technical areas of movement functionality; however visual finishing was of secondary importance. The surfaces of pinions and wheels were completely true and highly polished with exceptionally accurate tolerances; balance and winding springs were pre-tested and hand chosen, the dimensions of shafts, bearings and pivots perfectly realized. Watches such as these, created solely for accuracy and nothing else, are capable of a mean accuracy of only tenths of a second per day in test conditions, something virtually unheard of even in 21st century mechanical watchmaking. Observatory watches were in general never offered for sale to the general public since they were destined solely for timing trials, a gesture of competitive spirit amongst watch companies jousting to prove their individual merit through the attainment of the greatest possible accuracy.

After the introduction of so-called ‘high-beat' mechanical movements followed by the perfecting of electronic, quartz based timekeeping during the 1970's, the culture of official observatory testing declined and slowly died out. This was replaced by a method of electronic batch testing uncased movements en masse as a method of quality control for large production numbers. With ever-larger amounts of movements being offered for testing each year, an institution called COSC was created to handle the chronometric measurement of movements in large quantities.

The resurrection of the Observatory Timekeeper

As chance would have it, Kari Voutilainen had a stroke of luck and found several observatory movements fabricated by Longines, based upon a less common rectangular layout that had never been finished since their initial production. After closely examining them, he made the decision to create a very limited series of wristwatches using these remarkable calibers. Each movement has been taken completely apart, many new parts are fabricated, technically adjusted and tested before being hand finished with anglage, perlage, gilding and frosting to bring it to the highest levels of visual and technical perfection possible. After this work is completed, each watch is foreseen with a finely turned dial, casework and hands in the distinctive style of the Voutilainen workshop.

Grosmann internal curvature of the balance spring

Befitting such exceptional and historic calibers, Kari Voutilainen decided to use a very rare and unique system of balance spring curvature in their final production. In this special system the exterior trajectory of the spring uses a hand set Breguet overcoil as found in the finest watches, whilst the equally important internal curve uses the little known Grosmann curve. Grosmann codified a technique that gives the same amount of attention to the internal curvature of the balance spring as to the external overcoil. Virtually unknown and fallen into disuse, the OBSERVATOIRE wristwatch marks the first use of the Grosmann curve in the 21st century, underlining the fact that many of the older watchmaking techniques still have their place of honor in the present day.

Grand Prix de Genève 2007

All this horological activity was quite amazing for the Voutilainen workshop in 2007; yet there was to be a surprise in store. Out of a pre-selection of 9 watches submitted by major and minor brands for the men's watches category of the Grand Prix de Genève, the Kari Voutilainen OBSERVATOIRE wristwatch was chosen as the ultimate laureate. It represents an extraordinary recognition of Kari Voutilainen's independent workshop as well as his distinctive yet classic visual designs combined with a superlative attention to mechanical details. This prestigious achievement, voted upon by top Swiss watch industry insiders, is a public acknowledgement of horological mastery and a commitment to the creation of exceptional timekeepers. The Caliber 27 wristwatches, new for 2008, continue the tradition set by that prize.