Independents

Our visit last week with Kari started with dinner the evening  before, at a brasserie in Lausanne.  On display: a Voutilainen Chronograph, property of a Gentleman Purist:

Morning already!  The drive over to Motiers complete, we were first treated to the sight of several boxes containing vintage repeater ebauches.  Hard to believe that sometime in the future, this will be converted into one of Kari's masterpiece decimal repeaters:

An example of one of the boxes containing plates, bridges, and lots of other parts

Speaking of spare parts, here are the contents of one tiny envelope:

One of the great things about visiting with Kari is that he always seems to have some interesting artifacts to show -- and his deep passion for horology and the traditions of the past is very clear.

Now to the present!  Down in the lower level, a variety of parts made on the CNC machines and lathe:

This pinion is really tiny --  believe me

Kari was wearing this Vingt-8.  I like this more subtle manifestation of the watch quite a bit -- and the blued hands with silver circles are really cool as well.  You can see an identical WIP dial to the right

Stainless steel hands being made for a special series for a retailer.  Again, the difference between the unfinished and finished parts is astounding

Upstairs, a Vingt-8 movement being assembled.  Love that perlage and striping!  The anglage ain't so bad, either

Here's part of a selection of machine tools that Kari bought (along with the machines) when a local manufacturer closed its doors -- otherwise these traditional tools would have headed for the scrap heap

Finally, some watches nearing completion!  I won't show the dial sides, but they are gorgeous as well.  First, a decimal repeater -- you would not believe how pure this finishing looks in person -- photos can't do it justice

A restoration project: a student watch

Finally, Colin's unique tourbillon as posted recently by him (this is my photo).

There was more going on, but we were asked not to take photos or discuss details.  I can, however, say that there is more to come, so stay tuned!

Best,

Gary G

After Geneve, putting your last 3 post together, for me it is just too many good things at the same time.
I'm saving you post for later.
Meden agan.
Ztirual

I hope that you enjoyed the post when you returned to it -- it is a joy for me to be able to experience these visits and to be able to share them with you here on PuristS.

Best,

Gary G

Thank for the wonderful summary of the visit.

Kari's finishing keeps getting better and better!  I wish that I could take a photo that would capture the quality of the work -- just one of those things that one has to hold in one's mind's eye, I suppose.

Best,

Gary

Great insights, great photos. I always look forward to your posts!

Keep em coming Gary !

I will definitely keep 'em coming as time permits over the coming week -- for now I need to get back to work to afford watches!

Best,

Gary

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nt

What an experience to visit Kari's workshop!

...include the dial sides of the repeater and tourbillon, which I thought best not to show as Kari may be taking those watches to Basel.  There was one unique piece in the early stages of being worked on (a really interesting ebauche) that if the owner ever agrees to let it be seen should be phenomenal, and then there's my upcoming watch, which appears to be a few months away but which is also the subject of a vow of silence for now.

Probably some other stuff as well!

Best,

Gary

When I think beautiful watches with great horological tradition, Voutilainen and Speake-Marin come to mind.  Nothing like them.  Merci bien!  =:^{D>

We did visit PSM as well, and I should be able to post a brief synopsis this week...

Best,

Gary

Nt

A watchmaker's paradise, I would suppose!  It was really cool to see the repeater ebauches in their raw forms, and also the collection of rescued machine tools -- great complements to the array of Haas CNC machines downstairs...

Best,

Gary

A place I absolutely have to avoid, for my mental health... Which us already very compromised...

Best,

Nicolas

When it suits you, of course.  I can tell you that Kari's work is better and better -- the repeater and tourb were to die for from a finishing perspective.

Best,

G

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nt

nt

Thanks for sharing the insight!

Stephen

Is beautiful.

...to believe it.  I've seen a lot of Kari's pieces, including two of his repeaters, and this took the cake...

Best,

Gary

One great thing about visiting Kari is that you always see a variety of projects in progress and also get a history lesson along the way.

Thanks for your note!

Best,

Gary