This week Erik & Max are thrilled to be joined by legend of independent watchmaking Kari Voutilainen. We explore the early days of branching out on his own, what makes him excited in watchmaking, the challenges of being independent, why big brands don’t innovate, and of course how things are going reviving Urban Jürgensen. It was an honor and delight to capture Mr. Voutilainen’s thoughts on watchmaking this point in his career, which we hope you enjoy. 

Links Mentioned: 

Voutilainen’s Early Story:

https://www.acollectedman.com/blogs/journal/watchmaking-journey-kari-voutilainen

The 2013 V-8R with Power Reserve:

https://watchesbysjx.com/2013/04/baselworld-2013-voutilainen-v-8r.html

Comblémine SA:

https://comblemine.ch

Observatoire:

https://hairspring.com/blogs/finds/brown-guilloche-dial-voutilainen-observatoire-1

Urban Jürgensen Relaunch:

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/introducing-urban-jurgensen-returns-2025

Pratt Oval Pocket Watch:

https://www.phillips.com/article/149733060/derek-pratts-oval-pocket-watch-voutilainen-urban-jurgensen-phillips-reloaded

Watch Mr Voutilainen is Googling Recently:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/andreas-strehler/190853

Last Watch which Impressed Mr Voutilainen in Person:

https://www.alange-soehne.com/us-en/timepieces/zeitwerk/zeitwerk-decimal-strike-honeygold

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-a-lange-and-sohne-1815-gets-a-34mm-case

The 3 Watch Roll:

https://watchesbysjx.com/2025/11/breguet-1890-four-minute-tourbillon-sothebys.html

https://quillandpad.com/2016/07/21/let-eat-cake-intriguing-story-marie-antoinette-legendary-breguet-pocket-watch-no-160/

https://watchesbysjx.com/2017/09/the-fake-rivalry-that-created-the-worlds-most-expensive-timepiece.html

Only Wrist:

https://hairspring.com/products/16528-daytona-floating-cosmograph-gold-dial-yellow-gold

https://hairspring.com/collections/exclusives/products/2915-2-omega-speedmaster-steel

https://www.acollectedman.com/blogs/journal/longines-13zn-still-collectible

https://hairspring.com/blogs/finds/885104-01-universal-geneve-space-compax-1