Voutilainen ‘OBSERVATOIRE’ Wristwatch

As chance would have it, Kari Voutilainen had a stroke of luck, and found several movements, which had never been assembled after being fabricated. He made the decision to create a very limited series of wristwatches using theses remarkable Peseux base calibers. Each movement has been technically adjusted and tested before being finished with hand anglage and perlage to bring it to the highest levels of visual finish possible.

Befitting such exceptional timepieces, a very rare and unique system of balance spring has been used. The exterior of the spring uses a typical Breguet overcoil, whilst the internal curve uses the little known Grosmann curve. Grosmann was a teacher at the watchmaking school at Le Locle in the late early 20th century, and he codified a technique that gives the same amount of attention to the internal curve of the balance spring as the external overcoil. Virtually unknown and fallen into disuse, the OBSERVATOIRE wristwatch marks the first use of this 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.

 

Technical Characteristics :

  • Observatory caliber Peseaux, created solely for observatory trials and never commercialized for the production. Hand finished with Geneva stripes, anglage and perlage.
  • 30mm x 5mm movement.
  • Ruby cap jewels for the escapement wheel.
  • 21 jewels.
  • Free sprung balance wheel with Platinum timing screws beating at 18,000 v.p.h.
  • Balance diameter 13.3mm with Breguet/Grossmann balance spiral.
  • 38mm x 10.5mm thick 18-carat gold case and crown.
  • Engine turned gold dial, with Arabic applied numerals and gold hands.
  • Hand sewn, crocodile strap with 18-carat gold buckle.

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