Kari Voutilainen's Masterpiece: Reimagining the Longines Caliber 360

Cozmopak · 2023-07-25T17:12:08Z

Explore Kari Voutilainen's stunning timepiece featuring the historic Longines Caliber 360. Discover its precision, finishing, and Voutilainen's craftsmanship.

Cozmopak's post unveils a horological marvel: a timepiece crafted by Kari Voutilainen, featuring the legendary Longines Caliber 360. This article explores how Voutilainen's artistry breathes new life into a movement celebrated for its groundbreaking accuracy, which Longines itself rarely cased in wristwatches. Cozmopak highlights the movement's historical significance and its enduring precision, even by contemporary standards.

Kari found a batch of new old stock Longines 360 ebauches and decided to design a watch around them. The result, in my opinion, is breathtaking. He finished the movement to the nines.

These were among the most accurate movements of their time, and to this day are astoundingly accurate even by modern standards. Longines never housed them in a wristwatch, except for one notable example that resides in their museum. They paved the way for high frequency calibres.

A very in-depth article on the movement can be found here: https://watchesbysjx.com/2021/10/longines-cal-360-observatory-chronometer.html

Key Points from the Discussion

Kari Voutilainen has expanded his manufacturing capabilities, now producing all his cases in-house, a significant development for his brand.
Voutilainen also acquired a dial factory, enabling him to produce dials for his own watches and supply them to other brands, showcasing his growing business acumen.
Before Voutilainen's in-house case production, many of his cases were reportedly made by Les Artisans de Boitier (LAB), which is associated with the Parmigiani/Sandoz group.
The overall design, combining technical expertise with creative case and dial work, results in a complete and exceptional package.
The exquisite finishing of the watch is evident to the naked eye, even for collectors who no longer use loupes for inspection.

The Discussion

amanico

Jul 25, 2023

Yes, observatory movement and super accurate. A marvel.

patrick_y

Jul 25, 2023

Very nice!

361. Which case manufacturer is that? Just wondering who made this nice gold case for Kari.

Cozmopak

Jul 25, 2023

I will ask him!

The case is stunning

patrick_y

Jul 25, 2023

Exquisite!

Thank you! Sorry for the trouble! Kari is going to say, "that Patrick from California asks so many questions, yet never buys a watch, how annoying!" I'm joking, he's a very nice fella.

itsbeenalangeday

Jul 25, 2023

it's Bruno Affolter

which I think became or merged with Les Artisans de Boitier (LAB) part of the Parmigiani/Sandoz empire. I think made most of the Kari cases before Cattin. Great watch - congrats!

patrick_y

Jul 26, 2023

Ahhh! Thank you!

And welcome! A very informative first post! Thank you!

Kari Voutilainen's Masterpiece: Reimagining the Longines Caliber 360

Key Points from the Discussion

Continue the conversation