Voutilainen - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII Geneva Friday, November 3, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Voutilainen
    Year: 2006
    Movement No: 00/25
    Model Name: Chronograph Masterpiece "Prototype"
    Material: 18K white gold
    Calibre: Manual, Cal 25, 28 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Voutilainen pin buckle
    Dimensions: 39.5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by fitted and unique box, Certificate signed by Kari Voutilainen confirming the watch is a unique prototype, guarantee and service booklet, polishing cloth, extra Voutilainen strap, outer packaging
    Literature: Kari Voutilainen and his works are featured in Kari Voutilainen Horlogerie d'Art by Theodore Diehl as well as in Watchmakers, The Masters of Art Horology by Maxima Gallery pp. 228-247 and in Twelve faces of Time, Horological Virtuosos by Elisabeth Doerr and Ralf Baumgarten pp. 90-105

  • Catalogue Essay

    It is always an incredibly exciting moment when offering a timepiece from Kari Voutilainen, one of the world's greatest artisanal watchmakers who infuses his watches with technical prowess, aesthetic greatness with a pinch of magic.

    Imagine the sense of exhilaration when not only offering the very first Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph to ever come to the auction market but a unique prototype bearing number 00 that Voutilaien used as a showpiece at Basel Fair 2006 to present the model to collectors and press.

    Even though the present chronograph is a masterpiece, Voutilainen meant to give it the historical definition of a piece of work by a craftsman accepted as qualification for membership of a guild as an acknowledged . The present watch was the very first chronograph ever built by Voutilainen, he had started working on the idea of a chronograph in 2004 and completed the present prototype just intime for the 2006 Basel Fair.

    The construction of the movement is purely inhouse with a visually arresting mix of gold plated frosted plates and bridges with highly polished and angled components displaying he master's incredible finishing aiming for the highest levels of visual and technical perfection possible.

    Inspired by the designs of masters of the 18th century such as Breguet and Jurgensen, Voutilainen designed an off center chronograph/time display to give the dial more life, with the hours and minutes in the bottom part of the dial, the continuous seconds at11 o'clock and the minutes counter at 3 o'clock. Signature elements such as the hollowed hands, delicately guilloché sub dial and tear drop lug case complete the picture.

    The present example - numbered 00/25, 00 as it is a prototype and 25 being the caliber number - differs from the production pieces as the back plates and keyless works are different, the dials is also slightly different to the production pieces.

    This watch also is delivered with its full set of accessories including a letter from Kari Voutilainen confirming that it is a unique prototype but is delivreed in a unique wood/metal box that is a work of art unto itself.

    The Masterpiece Chronograph was made in only 10 pieces, Voutilaien further launched another series named Masterpiece Chronograph II that also featured a moonphase display and a big date.


    According to the Oxford Languages a masterpiece is "a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship", the present unique chronograph definitely ticks all the boxes.

144

A unique and superb white gold chronograph prototype wristwatch

2006
39.5mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF120,000 - 240,000 
€125,000-249,000
$132,000-264,000

Sold for CHF254,000

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

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The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII

Geneva Auction 3 - 4 November 2023