SARPANEVA KORONA K1 - Part Three

It seems to have been a Scandinavian weekend, and to keep the feeling going here are the latest Korona K1s from Sarpaneva -

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

SARPANEVA KORONA K1
The third edition of Sarpaneva Korona K1 with a simplified, 
purer design. 

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

Movement -

Modified Soprod A10 calibre, 11.5 lines, 28800 vph (4 Hz) 

Mechanical, automatic winding 25 jewels
42-hour power reserve
Stainless steel winding mass with 18K white gold masses and single 18K white gold moon face
Rhodium plated, finished with perlage 

Case -  

Stainless steel, 42 mm in diameter, 9.85 mm thick
Curved sapphire crystal with
multi anti-reflection coating inside and phantom SARPANEVA signature
Double secured water-resistant SARPANEVA stainless steel crown
Water-resistant to 5 ATM 

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

Dial - 

Three part stainless steel. Diamond coated in various colours 

Hands -  

Hours, minutes. Rhodium plated, red gold plated or black 

Strap -

Leather in various colors

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

A Few Minutes with Stepan Sarpaneva

Finland...


Just let that settle in for a few moments.


I myself lived and worked in Finland for four years 
in the late 90's.  Some of the most cutting edge 
design out there - the birth place of the Aaltos
and Saarinen, but not necessarily the place you 
would look for the next wave of master watch makers.  
Beautiful endless summer days, and dark, (seemingly) 
endless winter nights, it seems fitting that such a place 
would have given birth to one of the most talked about 
watch makers today.  And safe to say, he has a great
sense of humor!

And now, a few minutes with Stepan Sarpaneva - 


James Henderson - What was your first watch?  
Was it a gift, is there a story behind it?


Stepan Sarpaneva - The first one was a pocket watch 
made from the old part of my motorcycle (kickstart pinion) 1999. 
l made the watch from it because it just looked so beautiful 
( the pinion that is). 


JH - A bit about yourself please - You come from a family 
of craftsmen.  Can you share a bit about "the family business"?


SS -  My father was a jewellery designer, my great grandfather 
was a blacksmith.  It is safe to say that I feel that I have the 
"must to do something" in my blood.

JH - When you were a boy - what did you want to be when you "grew up"?


SS -  A Spaceman




JH - Where did you go to school - what did you study?


SS - I did the standard schools in Finland, and attended watchmaking 
school (1989-1992) in Finland.  I attended Wostep courses in 
1994 and 1997 in Neuchatel,  Switzerland.




JH - Who else is making watches that excite you?


SS - For me it is more a preference for some particular models 
rather than specific brands and watch makers.  
Having said that, I do of course appreciate the 
AP Royal Oak, and Patek Philippe's Nautilus......






JH - You still live and work in Finland, correct?  
Any thoughts about re-locating to Switzerland?


SS - That would be a Very good idea...


JH - What do you like to do in your "down-time"?


SS - I have an old house that has to be repaired, 
I have a motorcycle but no time to ride it.  I have a family too.

JH - What are some of the biggest challenges you 
face in being independent?


SS - It is always difficult to survive when the 
company is very small,  at least it is here in Finland.  
Among other challenges we have BIG TAXES!




JH - No thoughts of ever working for someone else?


SS - I am open for everything.




JH - So what exactly is it that makes a Sarpaneva watch unique?


SS - Maybe you better tell me?




JH - and of course I have to ask - greatest Finnish runner 
of all time - Paavo Nurmi or Lasse Virén?


SS - Neither!  It would be my grandfather, he just did not 
have a chance because he did have to spent his best years at war.


JH - If you weren't doing this, what would you be doing?


SS - A Spaceman


JH -  Is there another young Finnish master waiting in the wings?


SS - Who knows?  Time will tell.


JH - What advice do you have for the next wave of young independent watch makers?


SS - It's too late!  Better apply to NASA!

Check out Stepan's YOU TUBE Movie -


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXTjAbCstUQ