GPHG BEST MEN´S WATCH PRIZE 2013
WORLD’S FINEST WATCH RUNS ON FINNISH SKILL

“Finnish-born horologist Kari Voutilainen made the world’s nicest men’s watch. His ‘V-8R’ watch won the Men’s Watch Prize in the esteemed Grand Prix d’Horlogerie competition. The news was reported by the Finnish business daily Kauppalehti.

The base calibre for the V-8R is Voutilainen’s own creation. Instead of the single wheel seen in traditional anchor escapement design, Voutilainen’s watch is powered by two escapement wheels, which give a direct impulse to the balance. As a result, the V-8R’s escapement is much more efficient than traditional escapements.

This is not the first time Voutilainen’s work is recognised. He won the same series in 2007 for his watch ‘Observatoire’. A limited edition of 25 pieces of the V-8R have been made. The winning watch comes with a price tag of roughly EUR 66.000, not including tax.

Voutilainen was born in Rovaniemi, completed his watchmaker training in Espoo, and moved to Switzerland in 1989 to attend the International Watchmaking School, where he completed the WOSTEP watch course, later also teaching at the school. In 2002, he began creating his own brand of watches. One watch takes a week to make.

The annual Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève was held 15 November 2013 in Geneva. The independent competition is run by a foundation set up specifically for the purpose. It is widely considered to be the ‘Oscars’ of the watch industry.” (Article: © HA | Finnfacts)