Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph Series II

Gary G · 2013-01-21T17:56:00Z

Gary G unveils his Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph Series II. Explore unique customizations, movement details, and Eddy Jaquet engraving.

Gary G

WPS member · Independents forum

66 replies26526 views5 photos

Gary G introduces his highly anticipated Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph Series II, a limited edition of 10 watches with significant customization. His initial post provides a rare glimpse into the collaborative process between a collector group and an independent master watchmaker, highlighting the unique features of his personal rose gold piece with a rhodium-plated movement and an Eddy Jaquet engraving.

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Greetings to all!

Well, the course of true love never did run smooth -- I was anticipating being able to post photos of this watch earlier, but the need for an adjustment meant that I had to wait a bit. But, now I have the profound pleasure of introducing the Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph Series II!

Much more to post on these watches over the coming days and months, but for now I'll provide a very brief overview of the series and then introduce my personal piece. The Masterpiece Chronograph II is produced in a limited series of 10 numbered watches. Two are in PT, two in RG, one in SS, and the remaining five in WG. Our group of six enthusiasts from Northern California commissioned six of this series of ten watches in February of 2010, and have been actively involved in the fine points of customization of our individual watches over the past three years.

The movement architecture is based on the original Masterpiece Chronograph series, and adds a large date and moon phase display. Both minutes and date are semi-instantaneous jumping.

It's sneaking up on 3 am here in Switzerland and tomorrow/today is going to be a full day, so I'll just get on with a few photos! First, the dial side of my personal watch -- Rose Gold with a two tone "dark" dial:

Next, something quite special (at least to me): the officer case back, unique in its presence among the Chrono II series watches. The engraving is by the wonderful master Eddy Jaquet. Eddy is the one who did the engravings on some of Kari's earlier watches (including the Seven Daughters of Atlas on the Masterpiece 7 decimal repeater) and who has also done some of the movement engravings on PSM's new Renaissance minute repeater.

The engraving (as you Greek scholars will immediately note) is of Chronos, god of time -- who is also depicted as "father time" with his hourglass and scythe and who enters our collective consciousness in the US as he makes his ceremonial exit on New Year's Eve each year. I provided Eddy with some initial thoughts, and he turned them into a wonderful creation myth, with erupting lava and forming galaxies in the background:

With the caseback opened, we see the movement -- this watch of mine is the only one in the Chrono II series (and as far as I know, the only one in either Chrono series to date) to feature a rhodium plated (rather than gold plated) movement. Really pops with the RG case:

That's all for now! As noted above, you can expect more posts over the time to come as I'm able to photograph the other watches in the series -- I'll also endeavor to construct a post about the history of the series and our process of working with Kari to finalize the designs.

All the best,

Gary G

This message has been edited by Gary G on 2013-01-21 17:57:12 This message has been edited by Gary G on 2013-01-21 18:03:54

About the De Bethune DB25 Ref. DB25

De Bethune DB25 Reference DB25

The DB25 represents De Bethune's entry in the 44.5mm manual-wind category, distinguished by its silver dial configuration within the DB25 series. This reference launched in 2006 and continues the brand's approach to contemporary haute horlogerie complications.

The 44.5mm case is crafted from 18k white gold with a fixed bezel and sapphire crystal. Water resistance extends to 30 meters. The manual-winding caliber DB2105 movement provides a substantial 120-hour power reserve. The watch features a leather strap attachment.

This reference appeals to collectors seeking De Bethune's technical approach to timekeeping in a precious metal case. The extended power reserve and manual-wind operation position it for enthusiasts who appreciate hands-on interaction with their timepieces. The 44.5mm sizing places it in contemporary proportions within the independent watchmaking segment.

Specifications

Caliber: DB2105

Case: 18k White Gold

Diameter: 44.5 mm

Dial: Silver

Water Resist.: 30m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The Masterpiece Chronograph II movement architecture is based on the original series but adds a large date and moon phase display, with both minutes and date featuring semi-instantaneous jumping.
The movement, while based on the geometry of Patek movements derived from the Valjoux 23, features all parts made from scratch by Kari Voutilainen, with many pieces sufficiently different to suggest no ebauche was used.
Gary G's personal watch is unique in the Chrono II series for its rhodium-plated movement, which contrasts strikingly with the rose gold case.
The officer case back features a unique engraving by master Eddy Jaquet, depicting Chronos, the god of time, with a creation myth theme.
The Carbontime balance, initially planned for Series I chronos, proved unreliable and was replaced with a more conventional balance wheel in all watches.
The watch measures 14mm thick with the domed crystal and custom caseback; other Chrono IIs are 13mm thick (12mm case + 1mm crystal).
The rose gold and grey dial combination, especially with contrasting silver subdials, is praised as a stunning aesthetic choice.
Gary G shared his travel photography setup: a black cloth, white copier paper, a small pocket flashlight, a black watch display stand, and a specific camera, lens, and remote shutter release, often using 'light painting' techniques.

The Discussion

Quan

Jan 21, 2013

Huge Congrats Gary

Fantastic clean dial....bravo

Gary G

Jan 24, 2013

Thanks, Quan!

Wait until you see the various steps in the dial design -- over two years of going back and forth on details large and small... Best, Gary

elliot55

Jan 21, 2013

Oh... My... G-d...

... Oh My G-d... Oh My G-d... Unreal. Go ahead and cross off the rest of the items on your bucket list. - Scott

Gary G

Jan 24, 2013

It does shorten the bucket list somewhat!

Thanks, Scott -- things like getting a custom engraving from Eddy and (especially) doing a made to measure "friendship" watch with 5 of my closest buddies certainly rate high on that list! Best, Gary

sidneyc

Jan 21, 2013

Biggest congrats!

Love your version. Rose gold and grey dial is almost a guaranteed stunning combo! Add the contrast silver subdials! Congrats to your group of NorCal gang too! Keep them coming, your groups collection is stunning and have been growing faster than the Chinese economy :) One question Gary, how the hell did you manage to take photos like that while travelling? Did you have a travel light tent? Kari truly is the Master. I can't see anyone else like him at this moment. I can't wait till my turn to mee

Gary G

Jan 29, 2013

Thanks, Sidney! My Geneva Studio...

...is as shown below :-) A black cloth, some sheets of white copier paper, a small pocket flashlight, a black watch display stand, and the right camera, lens, and remote shutter release. I was very lucky to get the shots I did, as this is of course not an optimal arrangement, especially in the middle of the night when you are using the room lamps for most of your illumination, with the attendant white balance problems! Glad you liked the photos... Best, Gary