Kari Voutilainen
Kari Voutilainen is an independent watchmaking brand founded by the Finnish watchmaker of the same name and based in Môtiers, Switzerland. It produces limited numbers of handmade mechanical timepieces.
| Founder | Kari Voutilainen |
|---|---|
| Independent since | 2002 |
| Workshop | Môtiers, Switzerland |
| Speciality | Handmade mechanical watches |
| Recognition | Ten GPHG prizes |
| Website | voutilainen.ch |
What is Kari Voutilainen?
Kari Voutilainen is the independent watch brand of the Finnish watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, born in Rovaniemi in 1962. Since 2002 he has run his own workshop in Môtiers, in the Swiss Jura, where the brand makes small numbers of handmade timekeepers.
History
Voutilainen graduated from the Finnish School of Watchmaking in 1986 and continued his studies at WOSTEP. From 1990 to 1999 he worked at Parmigiani Mesure et Art du Temps, restoring complicated and rare watches, and he then taught at WOSTEP until 2002, when he started his independent business. In 2021 he and a group of investors acquired Urban Jürgensen, where he became chief executive.
Products and positioning
The brand works at the top end of independent watchmaking, with output measured in limited numbers rather than series production. Notable milestones include:
- A decimal repeater introduced in 2005
- Chapter III, created with Andreas Strehler in 2012
- Watches with Japanese lacquer dials made with Tatsuo Kitamura since 2013
Why it matters
Ten of Voutilainen's watches have won prizes at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève, making the brand one of the most recognised names among independent watchmakers and a reference for collectors of hand finished watches.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kari Voutilainen based?
The brand's workshop is in Môtiers, Switzerland. Kari Voutilainen himself was born in Rovaniemi, Finland.
When did Kari Voutilainen start his own brand?
He began his independent watchmaking business in 2002, after working at Parmigiani and teaching at WOSTEP.