AHCI - I completely understand your feeling about

I completely understand your feeling about

beauty which must be seen, and I know that I might be in the minority but I feel differently because what I’m looking for in a watch first and foremost is an understated, familiar, elegant, time-telling device. For that reason, I don’t want the technical ingenuity and beauty to come in the way and I almost always prefer solid dials. For example, I love the 1142 chronograph caliber of my Cornes de Vache, but I wouldn’t like it at all to be visible through an open dial: looking at it when I take my watch off is a great joy which is enough for me. And it’s the reason why I feel attracted to the PP 5101 or, perhaps even more strongly, to the yellow gold LF Tourbillon Double Spiral.

That said, I still like this Kaj Korpela tourbillon and I’m glad you like it too. It happens sometimes, imo, that independent watchmakers want to do a little too much in order to display the full range of their skills, but it’s not at all the case here: I love the subtle and restrained design.

Best, Emmanuel

Hand-Made Tourbillon

By: quattro : March 24th, 2026-16:07

Back in 2016 , Kaj Korpela , a watchmaker with a Finnish name but born in Sweden in 1982, created his “ Timepiece No. 1 ”. This rectangular Tourbillon wristwatch, inspired by some timepieces of the 1920s by Rolex or Patek Philippe , was made entirely by h...

If you have a tourbillon, it belongs in the front

By: Bruno.M1 : March 24th, 2026-17:09

well that'w what I think. It’s comparable to having a very beautiful painting and not hanging it on a wall, but keeping it in a cabinet so you never see it ... only when you open the cabinet, or in other words, when you take off your watch and turn it ove...

I definitely understand this way of thinking, even if I personally feel differently.

By: quattro : March 25th, 2026-06:55

Best, Emmanuel

The shape reminds me of ALS Cabaret

By: brauner : March 24th, 2026-17:59

Yes, absolutely, the Cabaret comes to mind!

By: quattro : March 24th, 2026-19:19

Best, Emmanuel

I quite like the aesthetics, quattro.

By: bruckner4 : March 24th, 2026-19:11

Dial, stripes, cage. This is a watchmaker I'd be happy to support if he were in my neighborhood.

Same for me. I find it a pity that he was unsuccessful and “vanished”.

By: quattro : March 24th, 2026-19:21

Best, Emmanuel

Our Friend is Around 😊

By: SALMANPK : March 24th, 2026-19:53

And Keeping Busy These Horological Ronin are helping many brands realize their objectives ...

Good to know, thank you! “Horological Ronin” is well said!

By: quattro : March 24th, 2026-20:00

Best, Emmanuel

Beautiful...especially the second dial. I'm sure I can't afford it : )

By: mdg : March 24th, 2026-19:20

I can’t either!

By: quattro : March 24th, 2026-19:22

And I have a hard time deciding which dial I prefer! Best, Emmanuel

My problem with it is the tourbillon takes up too much real estate on the dial.

By: Blansky : March 24th, 2026-19:29

Almost like the actual time display is secondary which is sort of strange because the time display is the purpose of the watch. And then when you consider that tourbillons aren't even necessary for proper timekeeping it becomes an exercise in misplaced pr...

Yes, I understand your feeling,

By: quattro : March 24th, 2026-19:31

but there’s no point of doing a small tourbillon, is there? And I personally like the design and balance between upper and lower part. Best, Emmanuel

I think the time display is jammed too far to the top for any kind of balance.

By: Blansky : March 24th, 2026-19:34

I don’t feel that way, but I definitely understand

By: quattro : March 24th, 2026-19:39

your feeling here.

Beautiful first achievement.

By: hora12reborn : March 24th, 2026-23:41

I think so too!

By: quattro : March 25th, 2026-06:52

Best, Emmanuel

Other than a being a tad big for my wrist, I still no faults at all with this watch. Nothing. Just perfection.

By: jmousey : March 25th, 2026-08:26

Have you had the chance to see it in real life?

By: quattro : March 25th, 2026-08:37

I think that a curved case of shorter lug-to-lug or anything helping the case to wrap a little more around the wrist would be welcome. Other than that, a truly wonderful piece indeed. Best, Emmanuel

I've not seen it in real life. I agree with with more curve would make it more elegant, but I imagine it would be very hard (if not impossible) since the movement has a huge singular plate with a tourbillon sticking out...

By: jmousey : March 25th, 2026-23:26

Indeed, curving the case would probably be impossible.

By: quattro : March 26th, 2026-06:58

So maybe just shortening the lug-to-lug a bit.

Kai’s watch is a stunner

By: Tim Jackson : March 27th, 2026-05:42

Thanks for featuring my pics, which I took in Baselworld many moons ago. It had the pleasure of meeting Kaj then and seeing this amazing watch. Not built for commercial purposes, rather an exercise in demonstrating his horological art. Clearly a serious w...

Thanks for sharing your experience and

By: quattro : March 27th, 2026-06:52

shedding some more light on this talented watchmaker. His Tourbillon really appeals to me and I’m sure he keeps doing a great job. Cheers, Emmanuel

In the minority, but..

By: Ronald Held : March 27th, 2026-16:12

A tourbillon can ruin a nice dial.

I contacted Kaj several years ago

By: Cozmopak : March 27th, 2026-19:53

To see if he would be willing to build me one of these watches. I think it is absolutely stunning. I did hear back from him. It took a lot of legwork to get his contact information. Unfortunately, nothing came of our very brief discussions. But this watch...

How frustrating! And I definitely understand why

By: quattro : March 27th, 2026-20:14

this watch is still haunting you! It is so rare to see such an original and wonderful design... Best, Emmanuel

Independents

I completely understand your feeling about

Hand-Made Tourbillon

If you have a tourbillon, it belongs in the front

Exquisite ♥️😍♥️

Indeed! 🌼🙏🏼🌼

I completely understand your feeling about

My thoughts exactly 👍🏻

I definitely understand this way of thinking, even if I personally feel differently.

The shape reminds me of ALS Cabaret

Yes, absolutely, the Cabaret comes to mind!

I quite like the aesthetics, quattro.

Same for me. I find it a pity that he was unsuccessful and “vanished”.

Our Friend is Around 😊

Good to know, thank you! “Horological Ronin” is well said!

Beautiful...especially the second dial. I'm sure I can't afford it : )

I can’t either!

My problem with it is the tourbillon takes up too much real estate on the dial.

Yes, I understand your feeling,

I think the time display is jammed too far to the top for any kind of balance.

I don’t feel that way, but I definitely understand

Beautiful first achievement.

I think so too!

Other than a being a tad big for my wrist, I still no faults at all with this watch. Nothing. Just perfection.

Have you had the chance to see it in real life?

I've not seen it in real life. I agree with with more curve would make it more elegant, but I imagine it would be very hard (if not impossible) since the movement has a huge singular plate with a tourbillon sticking out...

Indeed, curving the case would probably be impossible.

Kai’s watch is a stunner

Thanks for sharing your experience and

In the minority, but..

I contacted Kaj several years ago

How frustrating! And I definitely understand why