The Observatoire was introduced in 2007 and awarded “Best Men’s Watch” at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève that same year. It is estimated approximately only 50 examples were made before eventually being replaced in 2011 with the Vingt-8 model, featuring his new, in-house caliber 28. Powered by the caliber 260 from Peseux, an observatory-grade caliber from the mid-20th century, it is estimated only 3,300 examples of this movement were ever produced, never available for public purchase.
The heavily modified Voutilainen caliber is a breathtakingly beautiful and precise movement with extreme attention to detail.
The present variant features a rich caramel brown guilloché dial with a mixture of patterns creating incredible depths and tones. Decorated with elegant applied Roman numerals and blued steel Breguet-style hands, the timepiece has a quiet sophistication. A similar brown dial example was sold by Phillips Hong Kong in November 2021, and upon close inspection one notes small differences in the pattern and texture of the guilloché on the dial. The present Observatoire is preserved in excellent overall condition and is complete with its certificate and Swiss Maplewood presentation box made from the Guyenne palm tree.