Voutilainen Unveils The 28GML SOUYOU, Where Eastern Art Meets Swiss Mastery

The Voutilainen 28GML SOUYOU is more than a watch—it is a symphony of cultures, a dialogue between Japanese artistry and Swiss horological excellence. Conceived in collaboration with lacquer master Tatsuo Kitamura, this platinum-cased timepiece embodies both aesthetic poetry and mechanical precision.

The dial is a canvas of Urushi lacquer, requiring over 1,000 hours of work. Inspired by the word SOUYOU, it unfolds in two narratives: “SOU,” expressed in luminous blue-green waves, evokes the sea; “YOU,” with its fiery hues of gold and red at the centre, symbolizes solar energy. Crafted with raw materials including tree sap, gold powder, abalone shell, and cut gold leaf, the surface shimmers like a living artwork—an eternal dance of water and fire.

Beyond its artistry, the 28GML SOUYOU is designed for world travellers. A central 24-hour disc discreetly marks home time, while the main hour hand adjusts seamlessly to new destinations. The mechanics, built entirely in-house, feature a large balance wheel for impeccable stability, and a rare dual escapement wheel system delivering direct impulses to the balance for energy efficiency, longevity, and precision. Its balance spring marries a Phillips overcoil with the rarely seen Grossmann curve, elevating accuracy to rarefied heights.

Through the sapphire caseback, the caliber reveals its hand-finished beauty: bridges in German silver adorned with traditional decorations, mirror-polished screws, and wheels gleaming with flawless precision.

Completed with a 39 mm platinum case and hand-stitched strap, the 28GML SOUYOU is at once jewel, artwork, and technical feat—a rare masterpiece where time becomes both craft and philosophy.