Voutilainen 28 GML SOUYOU

The Voutilainen 28GML SOUYOU is a true masterpiece that unites the extraordinary Japanese lacquer art of Mr. Tatsuo Kitamura with the Voutilainen workshop’s dedication to longevity, precision and classical watchmaking tradition. This timepiece offers a perfect balance of aesthetic and mechanical excellence, harmoniously blending Eastern and Western influences.

The mesmerizing dial draws inspiration from the motto, “SOUYOU” — a coined word that is reflected in the striking contrast between blue, green, gold and red colours. “SOU” evokes, in the outer part of the dial, the sea represented by the deep, clear blue-green hues, while ‘YOU’, with its shades of gold and red in the center, signifies a natural organic form symbolizing solar energy. Created using the Urushi lacquering technique, it requires over a thousand hours of meticulous work. This extraordinary creation incorporates raw materials such as “Urushi” (tree sap), “Kinpun” (various gold powders), “Kirigane” (cut gold sheets), and “Kirigai” (cut shell from New Zealand abalone and the great green turban).

Perfect for world travellers, this unique piece displays hours, minutes, and a central second time zone via a disc that completes a full 24-hour rotation, designed to indicate the home time. Subtly integrated into the gold motif on a red background, the second time zone pointer is easy to read at first glance. Meanwhile, the central hour hand can be easily adjusted to the local time of the destination with a simple push on the crown.

The mechanism was designed, built, fabricated, hand-finished and assembled to the highest standards by the expert artisans of the Voutilainen workshop with the utmost precision, care and passion. Technically, the caliber of the 28GML is equipped with a very large balance wheel crafted in-house, ensuring precise rate stability and accuracy within strict tolerances. Additionally, a rare and unique balance-spring system has been used. The exterior of the spring has a typical Phillips overcoil, while the internal curve uses the little-known Grossmann curve further increasing accuracy. It is also particularly remarkable due to its two escapement wheels, which provide a direct impulse to the balance through the roller/jewel. This innovative construction improves efficiency by requiring less energy than the Swiss lever escapement and allows for notable benefits, for everyday use, such as longevity, stability and a longer power reserve.

The case back offers a captivating view of the caliber 28GML ’s intricacies that is meticulously finished to the highest standards by the expert artisans of the Voutilainen workshop. The surfaces of pinions and wheels are completely flat and polished with exceptionally uniform tolerances. The main plate and bridges, made from German-silver, are decorated by hand to achieve the utmost levels of surface finish. Screws and all steel parts are also finished and polished by hand.

Completing the overall design, the 39 mm timepiece in platinum features an elegant hand-sewn strap.