Voutilainen 28 KOHAN Unique Piece Wristwatch
Lake Saimaa Timepiece Tribute
PRESS RELEASE | 1225 WORDS | 12 MINUTE READ
Created and developed especially with a Finnish private client to celebrate the love he holds for his wife for her birthday, the Voutilainen 28 KOHAN Unique Piece embodies the symbiosis of Tatsuo Kitamura's extraordinary lacquer Japanese artistry, the traditional hand-engraving techniques and enamel with the Voutilainen workshop's philosophy of longevity, precision and classical watchmaking tradition. This one-of-a-kind timepiece is a complete work of horological art, inspired by the autumn foliage of Lake Saimaa, with numerous details reflecting Finnish national symbols.
Photo Courtesy: Voutilainen
Voutilainen 28 KOHAN Unique Piece
The one-of-a-kind timepiece highlights a mesmerizing case, a distinctive dial made using Urushi lacquering technique along with a movement whose bridges and ratchet wheel are crafted with the same meticulous art, requiring over a thousand hours of work. The raw materials used in this artwork include "Urushi" (tree sap), "Kinpun" (various gold powder), "Kirigane" (cut gold sheets) and *Kirigar (cut shells from the great green turban and New Zealand abalone).
According to the collector's wishes, the dial depicts scenes of archipelago of the Lake Saimaa, with a glimmering water surface and colours of Finnish autumn foliage. Hundreds of shell pieces hand-cut from different shells such as green-turban and abalone are meticulously sorted by colour, gleam and shape. They are then combined with hand-cut materials in fine gold, platinum and coloured lacquer and finely inlaid in dense compositions across multiple Urushi layers, applied repeatedly like a mille-feuille. Each piece is carefully hand-polished at every stage to create a textured surface reminiscent of a pebble-grained. The outermost layer's subtle asperities produce delicate plays of light and shadow, bringing the themed decoration to life-revealing its magic from different viewing angles. The dial also reveals a captivating sky that transforms with the light: under bright illumination, it becomes a vivid blue sky with white clouds appearing, while in the shade, it shifts into a deep night sky where only the water surface gently reflects a faint glow, reminiscent of moonlight. It is made with a unique technique that has been kept secret.
The white gold case is a true work of art featuring a cover decorated on both faces using artistic techniques. The outside is beautifully hand-engraved and enamelled, showcasing a Seven-spot Ladybird (the national insect of Finland) quietly resting on the leaf of the Silver Birch (the national tree of Finland). The inner side presents Lily of the Valley flowers (the national flower of Finland) and two Holly Blue butterflies (the national butterfly of Finland), shown in flight with open wings as they seek nectar from the blossoms. The flowers are made of hand-sliced mother-of-pearl, with each petal individually shaped. The colours of the petals, butterflies' wings, and background ornaments shift subtly depending on the viewing angle and light.
Subtle details enrich the case, including the birthday of the collector's beloved wife, a finely engraved map of Finland and a bear paw-the national animal-symbolising strength and power. In addition, the crown is set with a granite stone, Finland's national stone, whose red and black shades echo and enhance the watch's artistry.
The beauty of the movement can be admired at the back of the case, featuring a main plate and bridges crafted from German-silver and titanium, enhanced by hand-applied Urushi lacquer decoration using the Saiei Maki-e technique. In alignment with the collector's vision and Mr. Kitamura's guidance, the ratchet showcases a depiction of three leaves of the Silver Birch (the national tree of Finland) which turns into yellow with golden shades in autumn. Cut gold sheets, cut shells, Urushi deep-blue lacquer, and gold-powder particles are put together to create such a work of art. Additionally, a power reserve has been added on the movement with a white gold indicator shaped like a Vichy water bottle.
The Voutilainen 28 KOHAN is equipped with an in-house caliber that incorporates a very large balance wheel crafted internally, allowing a perfect regulation of the watch within strict tolerances. To equip such a timepiece, 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.
Furthermore, the movement is particularly remarkable due to its two escapement wheels, which provide a direct impulse to the balance through the jewels. 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 mechanism 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 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 timepiece features a stylish and elegant 37 mm white gold case paired with a hand-sewn green crocodile strap.
The Kitamura Studio and Urushi Lacquer Tradition
The Kitamura Studio, one of the world's foremost Urushi lacquer studios, is located in Wajima, Japan. Under the guidance of Mr. Tatsuo Kitamura, it produces Urushi lacquer art that represents the pinnacle of Japanese tradition, carrying a craft that has endured for centuries into the modern era. Each piece embodies a profound respect for preserving the soul, spirit, and cultural identity of traditional Japan, as it was expressed during the Edo period (1615-1868). Among the various Urushi lacquering techniques, such as "Maki-e" and "Raden" in true classical tradition, Kitamura particularly excels in his own original one, "Saiei Maki", which imparts a contemporary feel. This outstanding know-how uses various kinds and colours of special shells and fine gold inlay to recreate "Somada" technique - an extremely detailed, burnished maki-e art established in the 17h century but lost by the 19 century. Besides making his artworks, in recent years, the studio has also devoted energy to restoring traditional items once used by Edo-period feudal lords. Crafted hundreds of years ago, they retain their pristine beauty today, thanks to their durability and the ability to be restored, even when handled directly. This superlative artistry engages the viewer on a physical level, inspiring awe for the dedication, patience, and mastery essential to their creation.
About Urushi lacquer's techniques
MAKI-E is a lacquer work and a decoration technique in which designs or patterns are drawn in Urushi lacquer, over which gold-powder is sprinkled (scattered) while the lacquer is wet, securing the design on the surface.
RADEN is a mother-of-pearl inlay work and a decoration technique in which designs or patterns are drawn in Urushi lacquer, gold-powder, cut gold sheets, turban and abalone shell.
About the Voutilainen workshop
Independent since 2002, the Voutilainen workshop creates timepieces that reflect its founder's philosophy with refined and robust mechanisms made internally with high-level of finishing, distinctive cases as well as hand-guilloché dials, a well-known signature of Voutilainen's meticulous savoir-faire. Its unique approach to watchmaking (style, knowledge and working methods) is a harmonious blend of Finnish and Swiss influences, giving it a distinctive place in the world of horology. From minute-repeaters, tourbillons to repurposing vintage, new-old-stock movements and in-house mechanisms such as the well-known caliber 28, the Voutilainen workshop has mastered a wide range of expertise. Those remarkable skills in these areas have rightfully earned it the prestigious reputation it holds today.
For further information visit voutilainen.ch