When the craftsmanship of one of the greatest living watchmakers, Kari Voutilainen, meets the legendary performance of the Caliber 135-O, one of the rarest timepieces in horological history emerged in recent years.
Kari Voutilainen, one of the greatest living watchmakers, often says that dials are the face of a watch—they should enhance its beauty and add a pleasant character. Having signed hundreds of watches to date, the master has also revived dozens of vintage timepieces. Yet his story differs from many watchmakers we know. For instance, he was born not in Switzerland—the heart of horology—but in Finland. His passion for watchmaking began in childhood while spending time at a family friend’s watch shop. After finishing high school there, the young Voutilainen moved to Helsinki to pursue formal watchmaking education.
After completing his training in Helsinki in 1986, Voutilainen worked for two years at a watch shop in Kemi. Seeking further education, he left Kemi for Neuchâtel, where his story would continue in the heart of Swiss watchmaking. Thanks to his talent and passion, he crossed paths first with Michel Parmigiani and later with another master, Charles Meylan. Combining his passion with the expertise gained from these masters, he began designing watches under his own name in 2002. Since then, he has been creating timepieces in his workshop in Val-de-Travers, Neuchâtel. Producing around 60 watches per year, the Finnish master occasionally collaborates with other brands.
The Kari Voutilainen Touch on Caliber 135-O
One of the watches to bear Voutilainen’s hand is the Zenith Caliber 135 Observatoire, produced in collaboration with Phillips. It is rare for an auction house to produce a new watch series; however, in 2022, Zenith and Phillips teamed up to design a new series using original components of the brand’s famed Caliber 135-O. Manufactured in the 1950s, Caliber 135 won over 230 chronometer prizes, setting a record in horological history. The Zenith Caliber 135 Observatoire watches incorporated restored original components of the Caliber 135-O (one of two versions of Caliber 135) produced between 1950 and 1954. These watches were offered at Phillips auction for CHF 132,900 each and sold quickly due to high demand.
