The S.U.F. Helsinki 180 N and 180 NN Area Watches

Indie watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva, alongside along with his fellow Finn Kari Voutilainen, put Finland on the map as a watchmaker’s nation; each their names are on the prime of the record of latest unbiased masters for a purpose. S.U.F., or SarpanevaUhrenFabrik, was created in 2003 and, since then, produces restricted version watches with a particular design. This unbiased enterprise of Stepan Sarpaneva is well-known to observe collectors past Northern Europe and enjoys its slightly unique standing as a result of small variety of watches obtainable and the comparatively excessive value when in comparison with “comparable” fashions. Two new 180 Area Watches have simply been offered.

The 180 assortment gives what the corporate calls “probably the most Finnish watch but”, clearly taking delight in that S.U.F. was created by one of many well-known watchmakers with Finnish roots, and never simply that. The watches are assembled in Helsinki, Finland’s capital and designed to seem like a product from the North, the place nature is harsh, the sky is gray, and the persons are chilly blooded and sensible. And that could be a good factor. 

On the assortment’s core is a area watch – a time instrument made to serve the final word function. The brand new technology of the 180s has no date indication, a lot to the pleasure of many date-haters, however stays the “minimal utility” product with hours, minutes and seconds. Two just lately launched fashions, the 180 N (Noki) and the 180 NN (Noki Nero), are twins; the one distinction is the black DLC coating on the NN reference. Their 38.7mm instances are manufactured from Finnish chrome steel and are 9.4mm thick, with a lug-to-lug size of 46.4mm. The darkish silver fumé dials look engaging and minimalist but elaborate concurrently.  Utilizing proprietary Scandi-noir typeface numerals in silver print, the intelligent mixture of indices, with a triangle at 12, rectangular blocks at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock and corresponding dots on the white printed railway-style minute monitor, reveal the nostalgic nature of the watch. The brand and the gathering’s identify are in gray, matching the numerals. The hour and minute arms are polished and crammed with Tremendous-LumiNova, whereas the blued central seconds hand has a lollipop design. The dial is legible in all gentle circumstances due to the lumed indices. Very sensible.

The caseback is open, and the motion inside is a slim, automated Swiss-made Soprod A10, rhodium-plated and embellished with round engraving and Geneva stripes. It could seem like an ETA 2892, however it’s not, and actually, it competes with the Swatch Group motion, being an ideal alternative. The A10 is a sophisticated calibre primarily based on the Seiko 4L design and manufactured in Switzerland underneath license. This calibre beats at 4Hz and goes on for 42 hours when absolutely wound. A workhorse, to repeat the acquainted phrase.

The S.U.F. Helsinki 180 N and 180 NN are delivered on a black Nordic elk leather-based strap with a pin buckle, with an extra Grassbay strap made by Erika’s Originals, a small artisanal firm situated in Spain. This strap comes with an engraved S.U.F. Helsinki buckle. The 180 Noki will set you again EUR 3,100, and the DLC-coated 180 Noki Nero is EUR 3,720, together with taxes. The S.U.F. Helsinki pricing coverage is usually mentioned on-line and sometimes as compared with different manufacturers’ area watches. Simply test the corporate’s web site for the sold-out record of fashions. When it’s exhausting to dispute that the 180s every price a median Finn’s month-to-month revenue, there isn’t a lack of these prepared to grow to be proud house owners of a S.U.F. Helsinki.

For extra particulars and orders, please go to sufhelsinki.com.