VOUTILAINEN – 28LQU Kohan - Unique Piece

 

VOUTILAINEN – Current [Vingt-8] 28LQU "Kohan"Japanese lacquer Dial Kitamura Studio - Unique Piece - 2025

 

A unique Voutilainen timepiece

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Created and developed especially with a Finnish private client to celebrate the love he holds for his wife for her birthday, the Voutilainen 28 Kohan Unique Piece embodies the symbiosis of Tatsuo Kitamura's extraordinary lacquer Japanese artistry, the traditional hand-engraving techniques and enamel with the Voutilainen workshop's philosophy of longevity, precision and classical watchmaking tradition. 

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This one-of-a-kind timepiece is a complete work of horological art, inspired by the autumn foliage of Lake Saimaa, with numerous details reflecting Finnish national symbols.

Voutilainen 28 Kohan Unique Piece

The one-of-a-kind timepiece highlights a mesmerizing case, a distinctive dial made using Urushi lacquering technique along with a movement whose bridges and ratchet wheel are crafted with the same meticulous art, requiring over a thousand hours of work. The raw materials used in this artwork include "Urushi" (tree sap), "Kinpun" (various gold powder), "Kirigane" (cut gold sheets) and "Kirigai" (cut shells from the great green turban and New Zealand abalone).

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According to the collector's wishes, the dial depicts scenes of archipelago of the Lake Saimaa, with a glimmering water surface and colours of Finnish autumn foliage. Hundreds of shell pieces hand­ cut from different shells such as green-turban and abalone are meticulously sorted by colour, gleam and shape. They are then combined with hand-cut materials in fine gold, platinum and coloured lacquer and finely inlaid in dense compositions across multiple Urushi layers, applied repeatedly like a mille-feuille. Each piece is carefully hand-polished at every stage to create a textured surface reminiscent of a pebble-grained. 

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The outermost layer's subtle asperities produce delicate plays of light and shadow, bringing the themed decoration to life-revealing its magic from different viewing angles. The dial also reveals a captivating sky that transforms with the light: under bright illumination, it becomes a vivid blue sky with white clouds appearing, while in the shade, it shifts into a deep night sky where only the water surface gently reflects a faint glow, reminiscent of moonlight. It is made with a unique technique that has been kept secret.

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The white gold case is a true work of art featuring a cover decorated on both faces using artistic techniques. The outside is beautifully hand-engraved and enamelled, showcasing a Seven-spot Ladybird (the national insect of Finland) quietly resting on the leaf of the Silver Birch (the national tree of Finland). The inner side presents Lily of the Valley flowers (the national flower of Finland) and two Holly Blue butterflies (the national butterfly of Finland), shown in flight with open wings as they seek nectar from the blossoms. The flowers are made of hand-sliced mother-of-pearl, with each petal individually shaped. The colours of the petals, butterflies' wings, and background ornaments shift subtly depending on the viewing angle and light.

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Subtle details enrich the case, including the birthday of the collector's beloved wife, a finely engraved map of Finland and a bear paw-the national animal-symbolising strength and power. In addition, the crown is set with a granite stone, Finland's national stone, whose red and black shades echo and enhance the watch's artistry.

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The beauty of the movement can be admired at the back of the case, featuring a main plate and bridges crafted from German-silver and titanium, enhanced by hand-applied Urushi lacquer decoration using the Saiei Maki-e technique. In alignment with the collector's vision and Mr. Kitamura's guidance, the ratchet showcases a depiction of three leaves of the Silver Birch (the national tree of Finland) which turns into yellow with golden shades in autumn. Cut gold sheets, cut shells, Urushi deep-blue lacquer, and gold-powder particles are put together to create such a work of art. Additionally, a power reserve has been added on the movement with a white gold indicator shaped like a Vichy water bottle.

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The Voutilainen 28 Kohan is equipped with an in-house caliber that incorporates a very large balance wheel crafted internally, allowing a perfect regulation of the watch within strict tolerances. To equip such a timepiece, a rare and unique balance-spring system has been used. The exterior of the spring has a typical Phillips overcoil, while the internal curve uses the little-known Grossmann curve further increasing accuracy.

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Furthermore, the movement is particularly remarkable due to its two escapement wheels, which provide a direct impulse to the balance through the jewels. This innovative construction improves efficiency by requiring less energy than the Swiss lever escapement and allows for notable benefits, for everyday use, such as longevity, stability and a longer power reserve. The mechanism is meticulously finished to the highest standards by the expert artisans of the Voutilainen workshop. The surfaces of pinions and wheels are completely flat and polished with exceptionally uniform tolerances. The main plate and bridges are decorated by hand to achieve the utmost levels of surface finish. Screws and all steel parts are also finished and polished by hand.

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Completing the overall design, the timepiece features a stylish and elegant 37 mm white gold case paired with a hand-sewn green crocodile strap.

The Kitamura Studio and Urushi Lacquer Tradition

The Kitamura Studio, one of the world's foremost Urushi lacquer studios, is located in Wajima, Japan. Under the guidance of Mr. Tatsuo Kitamura, it produces Urushi lacquer art that represents the pinnacle of Japanese tradition, carrying a craft that has endured for centuries into the modern era. Each piece embodies a profound respect for preserving the soul, spirit, and cultural identity of traditional Japan, as it was expressed during the Edo period (1615-1868). Among the various Urushi lacquering techniques, such as "Maki-e" and "Raden" in true classical tradition, Kitamura particularly excels in his own original one, "Saiei Maki", which imparts a contemporary feel. 

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This outstanding know-how uses various kinds and colours of special shells and fine gold inlay to recreate "Somada" technique - an extremely detailed, burnished maki-e art established in the 17th century but lost by the 19th century. Besides making his artworks, in recent years, the studio has also devoted energy to restoring traditional items once used by Edo-period feudal lords. Crafted hundreds of years ago, they retain their pristine beauty today, thanks to their durability and the ability to be restored, even when handled directly. This superlative artistry engages the viewer on a physical level, inspiring awe for the dedication, patience, and mastery essential to their creation.

About Urushi lacquer's techniques

MAKI-E is a lacquer work and a decoration technique in which designs or patterns are drawn in Urushi lacquer, over which gold-powder is sprinkled (scattered) while the lacquer is wet, securing the design on the surface.

RADEN is a mother-of-pearl inlay work and a decoration technique in which designs or patterns are drawn in Urushi lacquer, gold-powder, cut gold sheets, turban and abalone shell.

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Technical Characteristics

Categories: Current Collection

Model:  28LQU - Unique Piece

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Movement
Unique, in house designed movement with hours and minutes, two escapement wheels with direct impulse
Design, construction, fabrication, finishing and assembly in the Voutilainen workshops
- Diameter : 30.00mm
- Number of components : 223
- German-silver main plate, steel rachet wheel and bridges made from titanium with art decoration hand-made by the legendary Japanese lacquer Kitamura Studio
- Wheels made from gold
- Main plate and bridges manufactured from German silver.
- Wheels manufactured from gold.
- 30 jewels
- Integrated retrograde power reserve indication.
- Power reserve: 65h
- Free sprung balance wheel with rose gold timing weights
- 18.000 variations / hours
Balance diameter 13.60mm,
The exterior of the spring uses a typical Phillips overcoil,
while the internal curve uses the little known Grossmann curve.
Case
Case and crown made in-house from white gold 
Size ø 37 mm
Thickness 12.60 mm
Crown with granite stone
Case cover with hand-engraving and enamel on the outside and inside with art decoration hand-made by the legendary Japanese lacquer Kitamura Studio
Waterproofness 30 m 
Functions
Hours, minutes 
Dial
Unique dial hand-made and decorated by the legendary Japanese lacquer Kitamura Studio
lacquer technique by Tatsuo Kitamura comprising Kinpun (gold dust)
The techniques of lacquering with Urushi lacquering techniques, such as ‘Maki-e’ and ‘Raden’ in true classical tradition(abalone shell from New Zealand).‘
Urushi’ (tree sap), ‘Kinpun’ (various gold powder), ‘Kirigane’ (cut-gold) and ‘Kirigai’ (cut-shells from great green turban and New Zealand abalone).
Hands  Made from gold and blued steel
Strap
Hand-sewn green crocodile strap with gold buckle

хештег #voutilainenwatches хештег #pieceofart хештег #urushilacquer хештег #kitamurastudio хештег #tatsuokitamura хештег #wajima хештег #japan хештег #monteverest  

@voutilainen.japan 
@voutilainen_cattin @comblemine

Additionals
All design, manufacturing, construction, fabrication, hand finishing and assembly in the Voutilainen workshop.
Year 2025

🔰Edition ✅Only ❱❱❱ 1 piece.

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Press Release - 2025
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Kari Voutilainen
Voutilainen Horlogerie d’Art
Comblémine 2
2112 Môtiers | Switzerland
Tél +41 32 861 4832
Fax +41 32 861 4833
voutilainen@voutilainen.ch
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www.Voutilainen.ch