Something New: Voutilainen Tourbillon 20th Anniversary

What’s on my mind to wear this festive season is something that makes me feel overjoyed. And one recent launch has been lingering there — the Voutilainen Tourbillon 20th Anniversary. It is, quite simply, a magnificent watch.

Sure, it’s the look that got me, but the concept is equally fascinating. The off-centered dial and indicators feel whimsical and quirky, yet remain deeply classical. The design carries the spirit of disciplined watchmaking masters, such as Breguet, Derek Pratt and George Daniels, while still expressing a character entirely its own. Watches like this have an identity, and that’s what speaks to me. Because when we look back half a century from now, this will be one of those pieces that mark the history and spirit of independent watchmaking. It carries a story. It’s something to be remembered.

This watch is not only proof of what great independent workshops can achieve, but also holds particular meaning for Kari Voutilainen himself. It’s based on a tourbillon pocket watch he built in the 1990s to prove himself early in his career, long before he made his first wristwatch. Today, his mastery culminates in this creation. The depth of the guilloché dial and the refinement of the movement finishing are simply mesmerizing — I can’t stop thinking about it!

Something Special: MIH Gaïa Series I

Ah, the special category. There are so many remarkable watches in the world that it’s impossible to name just one as “the best” or “most special.” So I’ll go with one that’s close to my heart. Just as enjoying driving doesn’t mean loving speed, a special watch needn’t be the rarest or most complicated. For me, that watch is the MIH Gaïa.

MIH Gaïa Series I

The MIH, or Musée International d’Horlogerie, is home to the world’s largest time measurement museum, quietly tucked away in Switzerland. Founded in 1865, alongside the La Chaux-de-Fonds Watchmaking School, it holds over 10,000 clocks, watches, automatons and tools. Maintaining and restoring such a collection is no small task, which is why the museum has occasionally created special edition wristwatches to fund its preservation efforts.

The first appeared in the early 2000s: a clever annual calendar that looked deceptively simple. Nearly 15 years later, the MIH Gaïa followed — a watch I found particularly intriguing.

Its dial is minimalist, with a rotating disk at the center for the minutes and a fan-shaped window for the hours. The rest is left blank, a pure blue expanse, calm and clear like a lake in Switzerland. The unusual case and lugs take cues from the museum’s Brutalist architectural style, and the crisp construction brings the design to life.

Each MIH Gaïa comes with a full breakdown of its components, origins and costs. Every part is documented, including the remaining profit, which goes directly toward clock restoration. How cool is that? And if you missed the Series I, the Series III with guilloché dials carries on the same idea, offering another chance to pick up a lovely Christmas gift while supporting a good cause.

Something Old: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Day Date Moonphase Ref. 25594SA

I have a habit of wandering into every old watch shop I pass, always hoping for a little surprise. Recently, I found one that held me there for a moment — too good for me to own, but one I still dream about.

It’s a Royal Oak from the 1980s: small, two-tone, with a look and feel that’s nothing short of magical. What I love most is that it isn’t just any Royal Oak. It’s not the quintessential all-steel or all-gold time-only classic, nor the show-stopping perpetual calendar. It’s a modest little watch with a quirky character waiting to be discovered.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Day Date Moonphase Ref. 25594SA

The twin counters for the day and date are particularly captivating. They give the watch the air of a chronograph, but with more character thanks to the markings on the rings. The moonphase tucked at 6 o’clock adds just the right touch of romance.

The 36mm case wears beautifully. It feels perfectly balanced, neither too small nor large, and the two-tone gold and steel give it a playful, luxurious edge. The yellow gold here has a soft, mellow glow I can’t resist — it brings warmth and nostalgia to the ice-cool silver dial. And, oh boy, dare I say it, I love it more than the all-steel version. It has that unmistakable ’80s charm, yet somehow feels youthful and alive. I’d wear it every day.