After spending a decade restoring the finest horological creations of the past three centuries, Kari Voutilainen became a rising star in the watchmaking scene in the early 2000s. His earliest creations were soon followed by the Observatoire and Vingt-8 series, incorporating movement finishing of the highest level.

Voutilainen’s dial treatments and finishing, all created completely by hand, are typically instantly recognized by horological connoisseurs, having become something of a brand signature. The present Vingt-8 is no different, fitted with a hand-guilloché two-tone dial in a darker teal-blue and a vibrant ultramarine. It features an optical illusion pattern, which the brain perceives the dial to be almost three-dimensional. While this pattern was featured in a series of Vingt-8s released in 2020, the present watch is unique in that it is cased in platinum, as well as the unique color variations. Reminiscent of the Op Art works of Victor Vasarely, it uses simple color and texture to achieve a psychedelic effect.

The caliber beating within the Vingt-8, with its extra-large balance wheel and direct impulse escapement, was fully developed in-house by Voutilainen. While it uses a traditional Breguet overcoil, the interior curve is the little known “Grossman curve.” The Grossman curve is a method of bending the balance spring in such a way that it compensates for any gravitational errors.

Preserved in splendid condition, the present watch is fresh to the market coming from the collection of the original owner. While Voutilanen has become an auction darling in the past few years, an optical illusion dial has yet to appear at public auction, marking this as an exceptional opportunity to own a unique Voutilainen timepiece – without the seven-year wait.

CONSIGNED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER