The inception of the
Masterpiece Chronograph II series was a group of six enthusiasts from Northern California, who commissioned six of this
series of ten watches in February 2010, and were actively involved in the customisation of the individual watches over the course of three years. In total, ten watches were produced, with five in white gold, two in platinum two in pink gold, and one, the present example, in stainless steel.
Based on the original
Masterpiece Chronograph series, the
Chronograph II added a large date and moon phase display, with date adjustment through the crown. The two-tone dial displays design cues and finishing which are typical of Kari’s watches, but with an unconventional decentralised arrangement of the displays. The hours and minutes are displayed at 6 o’clock, with printed red triangles and applied numerals. Above this, Kari’s
Breguet-style hands with blued-steel rings enhance the legibility of the watch. On the top right corner, the running seconds sub-dial counterbalances the hour and minutes indication. A subtle moon phase display, discrete minute indicator for the chronograph, and an off-centred date complete the dial. The masterful use of empty space creates an overall sense of balance and refinement.
As expected from Kari’s watches, the movement was
developed and manufactured in-house, with purported inspiration from the traditional geometry of the iconic
Valjoux 23 and its
Patek Philippe variants, as noticed by a collector of the original series. This said inspiration is understandable, considering both the quality of the architecture of these movements, and the fact that Kari is known to have restored a vintage
Patek split seconds chronograph.
Crafted from gold and steel, the aesthetics of the movement are as impressive as the mechanics. One of the hallmarks of
Kari Voutilainen’s manufacture is their superlative hand-finishing; with expert anglage and a mixture of polished, brushed and frosted surfaces. The movement provides both depth and endless detail to get lost in, from the subtle tapering of the frosting as it nears the edges of the plates to the curved shape of the balance cock and stud holder. The blue hairspring with
Voutilainen’s characteristic
Breguet overcoil and
Grossmann inner curve, provides an added dose of colour to the movement.
We would like to extend our recognition to
Gary Getz, who has compiled much of the information publicly available on the
Masterpiece Chronograph II series.
A Collected Man is the exclusively
approved reseller of pre-owned Voutilainen watches. Viewings can be arranged in Central London by appointment.
