The New Voutilainen CSW or Cushion Shape Worldtime

Kari Voutilainen’s work has long resulted in highly desirable watches of extreme refinement, often associated with two distinctive elements: hand-guilloché dials of great complexity and round cases adorned with elegant teardrop-shaped lugs, such as this example. Today, the Finn watchmaker reveals a surprising new model. Bolder, more contemporary, with a slightly sportier attire, the new model is named Voutilainen CSW, which stands for Cushion Shape Worldtime. But do not worry; it is still a Voutilainen from head to toe. 

What sets this new watch apart is fully explained by its name: CSW or Cushion Shape Worldtime. Forget about the classic round case with its distinctive, refined, individually soldered lugs. Kari has decided to produce a watch for the 21st century. Younger, more casual and crafted in stainless steel, it could almost be considered a weekend watch (relatively speaking, of course). Such considerations apart, the new CSW introduces a new case shape, a rounded square/cushion with short lugs and reasonable dimensions of 39mm x 39mm, with a depth of 12mm. To separate it from other, more classic models in Kari’s portfolio, it has been adorned with four functional screws on each corner with the brand’s signature three-hole design – screws replicated on the back of the watch to secure the case assembly. And if you think about it, this new Voutilainen CSW isn’t entirely new, as Kari already featured this shape and these screws in a unique pocket watch made for Only Watch 2019 – the first collaboration between Kari Voutilainen and his daughter, Venla, back then freshly graduated from watchmaking school.

This new and sportier case is home to a dial that has been crafted in a typical Voutilainen style, displaying a world time complication that is dear to the Finn watchmaker. Yet, if the technique behind its creation is highly traditional, the execution follows the direction taken by the case. A contemporary guilloché pattern has been created to enhance legibility, with the engine-turning process applied to a solid silver base echoing the function and 24 engraved divisions matching the world time sectors. The centre is home to a delicate trivague wave motif.

Plated in ruthenium resulting in a modern anthracite colour, the display consists of central hours and minutes, indicated by Kari’s superb handmade white gold and blued steel hollowed hands. The world time function relies on a rotating 24h disc with day and night sectors, as well as a peripheral city ring where you can see Môtiers as the reference time for Central Europe – a small Swiss village that is home to Kari’s workshop – and Kemi, the Finnish town where he grew up. Voutilainen CSW Cushion Shape Worldtime is also a clever watch, as the world time function is corrected by pressing the crown, avoiding the need for additional push pieces.

Powering the Voutilainen CSW is the calibre 216TMZ. This large hand-wound movement features a new escapement with two direct impulse escape wheels linked to an oversized, 13.5mm free-sprung balance wheel with a Grossman interior curve and Philips exterior curve, beating at 18,000 vibrations/hour. The power reserve is also a comfortable 60 hours now. As you’d expect from Kari, the decoration is classic Haute Horlogerie. The German silver mainplate and bridges are hand-finished with large bevels and sharp internal angles. The wheels are solid rose gold, with bevelled spoke,s and the rest is… well, simply superb (just look at the bercé balance bridge.)

Worn on a sleek hand-sewn leather strap, the Voutilainen CSW Cushion Shape Worldtime will be released in a limited run of 10 watches. The price will be CHF 198,000 (excl. taxes). For more details, please visit www.voutilainen.ch.