Interview « Être Horloger aujourd’hui »
vu par Kari Voutilainen
for horlogerie-suisse.com
As a child, what was your dream job ?
I dreamt of a profession where I could use my hands and become an independent, whilst being able to express myself.
How did you enter watchmaking ?
I became familiar with watchmaking when I was a young boy, as a family friend had a watch shop in town, and he did all the repairs in his workshop which was connected to the retail store. I would go once in a while to his workshop, to observe what he was doing, and it was totally fascinating for a young boy.
Were the training years difficult ? Did you have any moments of doubt ?
Watchmaking school was the first school which I felt was for me, and it has been a pleasure since that. I haven’t had a difficult moment at all, and have been enjoying my profession and professional life since.
Looking back, what advice would you give young watchmaking trainees today ?
At the beginning of one’s career, it is important to accumulate an experience as large as possible; to work in a retail store is therefore a good start in my opinion.
Quality of the work comes first, the speed comes afterwards by itself. The right beginning is fundamental to be able to build something on it.
The pros and cons of your craft ?
To be able to do a restoration work for historical timepieces gives you the feeling that you are really part of its history. It is tough sometimes, because wecreate machines to measure time, but we don’t master time.
So as we can’t slow down the rate of time, we have to speed up!
As you set up your own brand, you have become the most well known watchmaker from Finland. But there are many Finns at a very high level in watch-making, mostl working for the greatest brands and movement manufacturers. How do you explain this concentration of high-end Finnish watchmakers in such a Swiss craft ?
Finnish watchmaking school has an excellent past, and they still have good programs, good teachers, and enough people at the entry tests to be able to select the best ones. The Finnish school is the only school in the world, which is private, owned by the watchmakers association. Also the average age is higher that elsewhere, it is around 25 years old.
In the light of the millions of mechanical movements produced every year, the Swiss watch industry probably needs close to 500 new watchmakers trained every year, but only 50 to 60 come out of our schools. Why ? And how to improve on this major problem ? Would there be a solution in the Finnish approach ?
I think that our industry should wake up, take the situation more seriously. But this duty doesn’t belong only to the industry, I think that the environment should be more attractive for the companies that train internally.
Those who have internal educational and training programs, should benefit from important financial and pedagogical support.
Watchmaker and constructor, two different crafts, but are they naturally linked ? How do you go from to the other ?
I think it is a very personal situation. For me it was natural, and I always look at old and antique watches with the eye of a watchmaker but also as constructor.
What made you set up your own brand ? Qu’est-ce qui t’a fait monter ta propre société ?
The dream to create my own watches.
Watchmaker and manager, how compatible is that ? What are the greatest challenges ?
Time, I have to be very strict how I use my time, which is a great paradox. I need to be very efficient with my daily work.
One of your most beautiful horological souvenirs ?
The moment when I finished my first tourbillion watch, for me it was great to see that after two years hard work, finally the watch was ready and it was running beautifully.
What sets « Voutilainen horology » apart from other independent creators ?
This is something that my customers can tell.
You master with the same maestria the phenomenal « Decimal Repeater » , of which you only craft one a year, and the simple hand winding hour-minute-second movement. Which piece gives you the most pleasure ?
The Technical watch. I love mechanisms such as a repeater, a chronograph or calendars.
Many were surprised by your featuring the Carbontime regulating system in your stunning chronograph. What was the rationale behind that decision and why did you not incorporate it in your latest hour-minute-second hand winding movement ?
It is important to progress slowly but surely. The Carbontime system is progressing, and its characteristics make it a perfect fit for my chrono calibre. The three hand watch is different: it uses an extremely large balance wheel, with great inertia.
Your vision of watch-making in ten years ?
I think the tendency will continue, that there will be more beautiful watches on the market, but I hope that industry keeps a cool head, whilst still being creative instead of concentrating on increasing productions.
Sometimes and often, less is more….
Avec nos remerciements à Kari Voutilainen pour sa disponibilité !
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