Elite Traveler November-December 2017

DISCOVER

elite traveler NOV/DEC 2017 34

BRAND PROFILE VOUTILAINEN

One of the industry’smost beloved independent watchmakers, Kari Voutilainen is as well-known for his artistry and dedication to métiers d’art as he is for his innovative, and sometimes mind-bending, timepieces featuring in-housemovements. Voutilainen uses traditional horology techniques, but the resulting timepieces are anything but traditional thanks to design and a liberal use of color. Contact voutilainen@voutilainen.ch, +41 32 861 4832, voutilainen.ch

2. Aki-No-Kure Blending traditional Japanese lacquer with high horology, Voutilainen collaborated with Unryuan, the famed lacquer studio in Japan, to create this incredible bespoke watch. The decoration alone took over 1,000 hours. Gold dust, gold leaf, mother-of-pearl, abalone shell and Yakou-gai (green turban shell) depict a masterpiece of Japanese grass gracefully waving in the wind. On the inside case, there is a dragonfly and ripples of water, and the movement and caseback are also decorated. $350,000 3. GMT-6 One of the most elegant GMT watches currently on the market, the GMT-6 features a fine guiochelléd dial with several examples of the craft. The GMT is indicated with a subdial at 6 o’clock and includes a day/night indicator in transparent grand feu enamel. The integrated in-house movement has two escape-wheels for increased precision and a 65-hour power reserve. It is easily adjusted — by simply pressing the crown, the GMT disc advances by and traditional guillochéd dial is a perfect encapsulation of this brand. $89,000 1. Vingt-8 ISO Here, telling time is not as easy as a quick glance at the wrist, but that’s not the point. The unique method of telling time requires a bit of thought, which creates a deeper relationship because it’s not simply a reflex. Each hour, the minute and hour hands overlap, and every half hour the hands are opposite each other, forming a straight line. At 15 minutes and 45 minutes, the hands are at a right angle (90 degrees and -90 degrees). The combination of unusual movement

Zenith unveils Defy Lab, what it calls the world’s most accurate mechanical watch. This is possible because of a new oscillator: a single piece of 0.5mm-thick silicon that replaces the traditional sprung balance. This innovation allows it to oscillate at a frequency five times higher (15 Hz) than a standard movement, and results in tremendous accuracy for up to 95 percent of the 60-hour power reserve. Its certified daily rate is approximately 0.3 seconds, and is classed as a chronometer by Besançon Observatory. The 10 watches feature an Aeronith case — a new patent-pending hybrid material made of aluminum foam and a special polymer that is 2.7 times lighter than titanium — but each watch has a different color. While all 10 unique versions have been pre-sold, new pieces will be released next year and we are excited to see how Zenith incorporates this technology into future movements. Approximately $31,000, zenith-watches.com DEFYING TIME

one hour. $98,000

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