10:101stBRANDSBRANDS LIFETekitoiW'NEWSWhoAreU

‘WhoAreU’ interview with Kari Voutilainen

Temps de lecture : 2 minutes
Amandine et Kari Voutilainen photo titre pour l'interview Tekitoi

My name is Amandine, I am now 13 years old and keen on watchmaking. Since the age of 7, when asked what job I want to do, I answer “watchmaker-designer at Bulgari”… In the meantime, I interview people in the industry

By Amandine, the youngest Swiss Watch Passport columnist
Amandine’s portrait | Insta SWP | Insta JSH® | Insta Amandine | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin

In 2024, aside Watches & Wonders in Geneva, during an evening with the AHCI (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants), I had the chance to meet the watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. He kindly agreed to answer my “WhoAreU” interview.

Kari, who are you at the office ?

I am the watchmaker and owner of my company

And in real life?

I am a member of my family and the father of my childs, they are already adults.

How did you fall into watchmaking ?

I loved to do things with my hands and we had family friend, who was a watchmaker. Through him I saw his universe

What do you remember about your first watch?

A Leijona sport watch, with a black dial and turning bezel.

And which watch has the most sentimental value for you today?

Perhaps the pocket watch tourbillon I made during my free time between 1991 and 1994.

Leijona Divers watch Heritage
This Heritage Forsti Diver model from the Finnish brand Leijona, in collaboration with watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, is inspired by the first watch he ever wore.
A tourbillon pocket watch made by Kari Voutilainen in his spare time from 1991 to 1994.
A tourbillon pocket watch made by Kari Voutilainen in his spare time from 1991 to 1994.

Do you make watches for young people?

Our watches are timepieces, for everybody

What would you say to a young person under 15 years old to make him/her interested in mechanical watchmaking rather than his/her Apple Watch?

Mechanical watch has macig inside, there is live, balance is beating.

And what are the assets of your brand to seduce them?

We can make the dream watch, we do customize, after customers desire, almost apwas, sometimes no…

There is a lot of talk about sustainability, what does that mean to you?

Mechanical watch is good, it is not throw away object, it is for the next generations.

Are you more of a TikTok, Instagram or LinkedIn person?

Non of those,

Kari Voutilainen's LinkedIn profile
Kari Voutilainen's LinkedIn profile

What advice would you give me to be able to live my passion and work in watchmaking?

To fulfill dreams, this is something you should follow the red line and make decisions to get there by always thinking that your decision will bring you more close to your goals and dreams

Any message to pass on, anything to add?

It is important to have good life, and this comes when you Monday morning is your best morning, you are excited to start you new week, Friday evening is nice plus…

Shall we take a selfie for my album?

Selfie with Amandine and Kari Voutilainen for the "WhoAreU" interview
Selfie with Amandine and Kari Voutilainen for the "WhoAreU" interview

Recents posts

Book “Le Cadran”, by Dr. Helmut Crott

The work of a lifetime, the book "Le Cadran" by Dr. Helmut Crott (edited by Joël A. Grandjean), the history of the dial in the 20th century, the prestigious history of the Stern dials and of a family that took over the Patek Philippe brand
©JAG/TaGPress41

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