This is a building that will soon return to its former domain. Nearly 130 years ago, a watchmaking school was inaugurated in the premises located at Avenue Daniel Jeanrichard 4 in Fleurier. By this summer, the company of watchmaker Kari Voutilainen will be completely established there. After acquiring the Chapeau de Napoléon in October 2020, the Finn based in Val-de-Travers needed a new location to expand his activities. Guilloché work will be in the spotlight, in approximately half of the building. “It will be a skills center and perhaps the only guilloché workshop in the world, which is of such size with these various machines and skills,” comments Kari Voutilainen. Around twenty machines, weighing between 400 and 600 kg, will be installed there.
The painting is almost finished inside, while the windows have been changed to improve insulation. Outside, the walls took on a turquoise color: “We could no longer return to the original appearance, because the previous work somewhat destroyed the stones that were visible,” explains the watchmaker from Vallon. “The only option was to make it modern.” Solar panels will be installed on the facade, as soon as the weather permits.
Guilloché, a lost technique
With this extension of his business to Fleurier, Kari Voutilainen hopes to develop guilloché work. “I would say that it is a lost technique today, because there is no more training. Industrialization means that this technique has not disappeared, but nothing replaces the beauty of the line created during hand guilloché work. The watchmaker recently made a brooch for Cillian Murphy, which was worn by the Irish actor during the last Oscars, when he received his best actor award for his role in the film “Oppenheimer”. A piece made in the Voutilainen workshops.
In addition to guilloché work, a mechanical workshop as well as a workshop for creating unique pieces are planned on the floors of the Fleurier building. Entry into the premises is planned for this summer. /swe
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