Independents
Alex's enthusiastic report on the Sarpaneva Moonshine provides a compelling look into the world of independent watchmaking. His account not only celebrates Stepan Sarpaneva's unique design philosophy and horological talent but also captures the personal connection between collector and artisan, culminating in the creation of a distinctive timepiece.
is starting to become one of my favorite independent watchmakers: he manages to merge viciously cool designs immediately identifiable as his, interesting complications, real horology in conception and implementation (he may not be Swiss but this man was working in the Parmigiani’s complication and bespoke workshops where only one other watchmaker had the talent to work in: Kari Voutilainen. He also worked in prototyping and assembly at Christophe Claret whose least complicated movement is a tourbillon chronograph!! Believe me Sarpaneva is a not a good watchmaker but a GREAT one) and at prices where you don’t need to sell an organ to finance his watches and probably one of the best bang for your buck for someone looking for a horological watch, with a bold design and something you won’t see on some one else’s wrist.
At Basel fair this year I was visiting Stepan he showed me this really cool watch with a testosterone injected version of his signature moon face covering almost 4/5th of the dial, the time being read via wandering hours at the bottom.
My first words were “I want to order one “followed by “hi Stepan how are you”. This is the conversation that followed:
Him: it’s just a test, I don’t think I’ll make one
Me: don’t play with my nerves, then why the hell are you showing this?
Him: It’s a conversation piece, I’m just testing reactions, don’t think I will make it.
Me: but I want one
Him: Get out of my booth weirdo
I did get out but returned the next day with my friend Alberto, Stepan had been out partying with his buddies from AHCI and was in a lets say more “open to discussion” state and we even started talking about how to implement a funky moonphase display in the watch.
My friend Alberto had ordered a special unique version of the Harvest Moon and was due to pick it up in August. I mailed Stepan saying that I was coming to Helsinki to pick up the watch with the big moon face, later to be named the Moonshine. Stepan wasn’t sure that he wanted to make one and he didn’t want to make it in steel.
Aaaarrrrrrgggggg!!!!!
To make a long story short we went back and forth and Stepan accepted to make a Moonshine in steel -RG with the dark grey moon would also be a killer IMHO – but I wanted a steel case with a sand blasted finish (don’t ask him to make you a steel sand blasted case coz it’s mine J ) and we all agreed to meet up in Helsinki to pick up our watches.
I hadn’t been this excited about a watch since my Simplicity in 2004! I was literally counting the days to get there and had even asked Stepan NOT to send pictures to keep the surprise.
Time had come and ready to fly:
Stepan's workshops are at what used to be a Nokia cable factory turned into offices and workshops
On Stepan's floor there are many artists and designer who have their workshops and some exhibit
Stepan is a one man show who makes only 20 watches a year! His workshops look like anything but a traditional watchmakers' workshop.
A Harley emblem made into a lamp!
components for his watches, Stepan works mostly on Soprod ebauches which he completely reworks from A to Z
DLC plated mainplates
his garage? no where he does the sand blasting!
milling the plates
My friend Alberto had graced us with some amazing bottles so before seeing our watches we decided to celebrate the moment.
Alberto's unique Harvest Moon all black, with black grills and hands. The case is DLC coated and look graphite color not black. Gorgeous!
the box
My Moonshine
a prtototype of a DLC Moonshine
Black Moonshine and Harvest Moon
The new KO diving watch
A Rose gold/DLC K1
The stunning Supernova which is now sold out
K3
Stepan meditating
We decided to continue celebrating with another amazing wine, Italian this time, sweet with a slight taste of apricot and safron!
the wine was the same color as the dial of Stepan's K2!
I didn't know Stepan was in the Guiness Book of Records
We decided to continue celebrating in a nearby restaurant
with scrumptious Finnish food
two happy owners
and as they say, "What goes on in Helsinki, stays in Helsinki" 
42mm sand blasted steel case: The movement of the Moonshine is a heavily modified Soprod A10. The canon pinion and senconds axis have been shortened and polished as to have the regular hand replaced by an hours disk with an incredible 0.15mm thickness. The mainplate has been modified to fit the moonphase wheel (consisting of 2 semi-circular sections filled will luminous material) which is bigger than the movement itself and placed under the hours disk. The moonphase indication is linked to what
.... this Big Moon Face deserves to exist !!!! Thanks Alex for this complete and appealing report ! Congratulation to both Alberto and Alex for their (not that) audacious orders !!! Alberto, this Sarpaneva will help you to wait for your very special Antiqua you asked Vianney to make for you (He didn't say no but he didn't say when ;-) !!!) Cheers. Philippe
Hi Alex, congrats on this stunning piece ! It just looks amazing. The concept is pretty unique and there isn't much more i can say about (still a bit drooling over my keyboard right now) . I believe you will enjoy this one for a long period ! Cheers, Filip
What a beautiful watch and I cannot imagine a better way to receive a new watch than directly from the creator in his atelier. So what else happened in Helsinki? LOL. Best, respo
Good to see another watch owner with a beautiful Sarpaneva on his wrist. I hope to see many wristshots... and a lumeshot Congrats and wear it in good health! PS. did Stepan offer you gasoline to drink?
looks like an amazing time you had. Thanks for this story.
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