GMT, Pièce Unique, Titanium

An exceptional and vibrant pièce unique from Voutilainen, this GMT was commissioned by a collector with particular reverence for his home country. While ostensibly a GMT by collection, it features several meaningful alterations from any other GMT Voutilainen has ever created. Its subdial has moved from 6 to 1:30—never before done—fully executed in rich enamel depicting the Sol de Mayo. This required a fundamental change to the architecture of Voutilainen's calibre 28, which took months to rework and ultimately achieve. This vision, first drawn on tissue paper in 2021, was four years in development and will never be replicated.

The dial of this creation is its raison d'être. While the GMT Sol de Mayo commands focus, its less obvious details are meaningful. This sky-blue dial is split into two guilloché sections—the upper half references the ray-like sun in the sky, while the lower texture has a sea-like wave quality which the sun overlooks. Both stand in contrast to the traditional guilloché texture on the white dividing ring and separate blue hour track. This dial involves four separate guilloché textures, a feat in itself. To balance the enamel sun at 1:30, at 10—a significant number in the history of Argentina’s football history—three faceted, applied gold stars shine. The ‘Observatoire’ handset remains, each hand requiring a day of a watchmaker's skilled labor to create.

The GMT complication is integrated seamlessly through a tactile push-crown. Each step advances an hour of rotation. The three-body case was executed in titanium at 39mm with signature soldered teardrop lugs. Titanium was a recommendation of Mr. Voutilainen himself in order to suit the character of the design. The bezel and caseback feature convex, highly polished profiles.

The movement seems familiar from Kari's own calibre 28, but has been thoroughly reworked in areas unseen to accommodate the subdial placement. The GMT mechanism integrates 70 components not visible by caseback. Its oversized balance measures 13.6mm and features a proprietary hairspring design that integrates a Grossmann interior curve and Phillips exterior curve. That precision is captured by Voutilainen's own take on the double-wheel direct impulse (natural) escapement. A single barrel, it offers an impressive 65 hours of power reserve.

Bridges are frosted, terminating in beautiful anglage, with countersunk jewels and black-polished screws. Its crown and ratchet wheels feature hand-bevelled and chamfered teeth, while the finger bridges each house an interior angle. The balance bridge itself is a masterpiece, with conical polished arms and a contrasting jewel. The balance itself is beautifully black polished.

Independent watchmaking has classically afforded its patrons the ability to bring dreams and symbolism to reality. This artist-patron relationship has created many of the greatest, most memorable watches of Voutilainen's career. As Voutilainen's order books are effectively full beyond a decade and on pause, few opportunities of this nature exist now. Although this pièce unique GMT echoes the pride of a nation, it also remains objectively beautiful as an object of design and skill in itself.

This Piece Unique GMT presents in exceptional overall condition. Its case shows only the very lightest signs of having ever been worn. The calibre 28 is running well in specification. It comes with its original box and papers, with a second blue Voutilainen strap.

This example is modelled on an average-sized 7-inch wrist.