Four Kari Voutilainen Watches Surpass $1 Million at Phillips New York Auction
The recent two-day Phillips auction in New York produced several notable results for independent watchmakers. While much of the attention focused on François-Paul Journe, whose Chronomètre à Résonance Souscription No. 007 sold for a record-breaking $13,922,000, another celebrated master also enjoyed an exceptional sale.
Four watches created by Kari Voutilainen each crossed the $1 million mark, making them among the standout lots of the auction.
The four watches included a rare chronograph created for a group of California collectors, an unusual Vingt-8 ISO with a distinctive display system, and two former Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève winners.
Voutilainen Masterpiece Chronograph II
The highest-selling Voutilainen of the auction was the Masterpiece Chronograph II, which achieved an impressive $1,841,500 against an estimate of $120,000 to $240,000.
Produced around 2012, the watch was developed as a special project for a group of collectors in California. It features a large date display and a moon phase indicator, both adjusted through the crown. The 39.5 mm white gold case houses a manufacture movement finished to exceptionally high watchmaking standards.
The watch offered by Phillips was the first of only ten numbered examples produced. Collectors may also recall that a prototype of the model appeared at Phillips in November 2023.
The highest-selling Voutilainen of the auction was the Masterpiece Chronograph II, which sold for $1,841,500 against an estimate of $120,000 to $240,000.
Source: www.phillips.com
Voutilainen Vingt-8 ISO
Another standout result came from the Vingt-8 ISO, which sold for $1,206,500 after carrying an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000.
This watch was the second Vingt-8 ISO ever produced and only the second example of the model to appear at Phillips. Its most distinctive feature is an unconventional display in which the minute hand completes 13 revolutions per hour rather than the traditional single rotation every 60 minutes.
Dating from approximately 2017, the watch is housed in a 39 mm white gold case.
Another standout result came from the Vingt-8 ISO, which sold for $1,206,500 after carrying an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000.
Source: www.phillips.com
Voutilainen Vingt-8 Inversé
The Vingt-8 Inversé achieved $1,155,700, comfortably exceeding its estimate of $100,000 to $200,000.
The model received international recognition in 2019 when it won the Men's Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. Production of the series has since ended, with only 26 examples created in total.
The watch offered in New York was one of just eight examples produced in platinum. Its defining characteristic is the inverted movement architecture, which is fully visible through the open dial.
The Vingt-8 Inversé achieved $1,155,700, comfortably exceeding its estimate of $100,000 to $200,000.
Source: www.phillips.com
Voutilainen Observatoire
The fourth Voutilainen to exceed the million-dollar threshold was the Observatoire, which sold for $1,041,400.
Originally introduced in 2007 as a limited series of 50 pieces, the model won the Men's Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève in the same year. The watch is particularly notable for its use of the historic Peseux 260 observatory calibre from the mid-20th century.
The movement is housed within a 39 mm white gold case crafted entirely by hand in Kari Voutilainen's workshops.
The fourth Voutilainen to exceed the million-dollar threshold was the Observatoire, which sold for $1,041,400 against an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000.
Source: www.phillips.com
Four Million-Dollar Results
While François-Paul Journe's record-setting result dominated headlines, Kari Voutilainen's performance was also among the most impressive outcomes of the Phillips sale.
Each of the four watches comfortably exceeded its pre-sale estimate and crossed the $1 million mark. The results demonstrate the strong collector interest in rare and limited-production examples from one of independent watchmaking's most respected contemporary masters.
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