Building on Kari Voutilainen's time-only Vingt-8, this “inverse” series flips the movement, inverting the calibre to show the escapement and large balance wheel on front. In total, 28 watches were produced in series, with 10 in platinum, 10 in tantalum and 8 in titanium. This is a unique example that features different lugs made at the request of the collector – transforming the typical teardrop lugs of the Vingt-8 to a more angular, elongated appearance. The style was one of the first variances from Voutilainen's manufacture.
The dial is entirely openworked, featuring a light grey chapter ring and cartouche bearing Voutilainen's signature. The hands are in a typical Breguet style, with the shaft in white metal and with blued polished rings. In the left corner, an oversized balance wheel is revealed, with two blued escape wheels placed discreetly beneath. The reverse of the watch also features openworked bridges for the seconds and power reserve indications, showcasing both the style and exceptional level of finishing usually concealed beneath the dial of the Vingt-8. Further to this, the crown found on the watch is unusually large, making the winding experience quite satisfying.
Additional gearing allows for the hands of the 28 Inverse to travel clockwise around the dial, and for hand-setting to occur through the winding crown. The open dial displays design cues and finishing which are typical of Kari’s watches, but with an unconventional arrangement of the indications. The subtly complicated movement on the reverse side creates an overall sense of balance with the dial side, combining a unique balance-spring system with a typical Phillips overcoil and a Grossmann interior curve, and the signature direct impulse escapement with two large escapement wheels.
If sold within the United Kingdom, this Voutilainen Inverse 28Pi will be subject to 20% VAT