Breaking the Finnish Silence with Rönkkö Watches

I spent four winters in Finland.  Two in Turku, two in Helsinki.  Winter is indeed a quiet time ; )

Most Finnish artists and craftspeople tend to let their work speak for itself, and in the case of Antti Rönkkö, the quality of work nearly screams at you!

Courtesy of  Rönkkö Watches

This  is the Steel Labyrinth from Rönkkö Watches.
And just who is Antti Rönkkö?  Well, for the 5% of the watch world who are not regular readers of the excellent Monochrome site, let me bridge the gap. 

Courtesy of Rönkkö Watches 

Anti Rönkkö was a highly accomplished Judoka, or 柔道家  (meaning "one who participates in Judo), and had won several medals in national competitions.  The Finnish School of Watchmaking was his next stop, and then Anti did what so many Finns do, he went to work for NOKIA.  But the watchmaker in him while silent, was not far from the surface.  Fast forward to 2012 and Rönkkö Watches are here!

Courtesy of Rönkkö Watches

The Steel Labyrinth AR 1 was the result of his meditations. 

Courtesy of Rönkkö Watches

So here are the specifics, straight from Espoo -

MOVEMENT AR 1 -

• Manual wind
• Hours, minutes, small second at 7 o'clock
• 36h power reserve
• 18000 vibrations per hour (2.5Hz)
• 17 jewels
• Breguet balance spiral
• Movement diameter 35mm and height 3.5mm
• Plates are made of non-plated German silver, except pallet lever bridge and escape wheel bridge made from stainless steel
• Finishing of the movement: bottom side circular graining (perlage), top side straight line grinding, edges are hand bevelled and polished with many interior and exterior angles
• Movement is connected directly to the casing without movement-ring by two screwpins 

CASE  -

• Dragon foot design - diameter 41mm and height 11.5mm
• Hand finished, Stavax ESR hardened stainless steel case with satin finished surfaces and polished edges, completely nickel free
• Dial side curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflection coating inside, back side flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflection coating inside
• Stainless steel crown with AR logo
• Water-resistant to 3 ATM 

DIAL -

• Complex labyrinth textured dial with black DLC coating
• Stainless steel index ring with 4 screws 

HANDS -

• Hands made from stainless steel 

BUCKLE -

• Hand finished, Stavax ESR hardened stainless steel buckle with satin finished surfaces and polished edges, completely nickel free 

STRAP -

• Various types of leather