S.U.F Helsinki (Sarpaneva Uhren Fabrik), the watch line founded by Finnish watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva to offer a more accessible expression of his design philosophy, introduces the Vetehinen Blue Spectrolite, a limited-edition interpretation of its Vetehinen model featuring a dial made from Finnish spectrolite, a rare variety of labradorite found naturally only in the Ylämaa region of Finland.
Spectrolite was discovered in 1940 during the construction of Finland’s extensive defensive line in the east. Hidden within the country’s ancient bedrock, the stone is distinguished by its pronounced play of colour, which changes according to the light.
On the Vetehinen Blue, the selected stones range from deep blue tones reminiscent of Finnish lakes to darker, almost midnight shades, with occasional flashes of colour recalling the northern lights. As each stone is naturally different, no two dials are identical.
The 42 mm stainless steel case is made from high-grade Finnish Outokumpu steel, specified as SUPRA 316L/4435. It measures 11.45 mm in thickness and 51 mm from lug to lug.
A 2.05 mm-thick sapphire crystal with multi-layer anti-reflective coating on the inside protects the dial, while the case is water resistant to 30 ATM (approximately 300 metres / 1,000 feet).
The case is fitted with a unidirectional rotating bezel incorporating a luminescent dot at 12 o’clock made of Swiss Lumicast material for enhanced legibility.
A screw-down Sarpaneva crown completes the construction, while the stainless steel caseback keeps the overall design relatively restrained.
The spectrolite dial is paired with two-tone steel Sarpaneva hands treated with Super-LumiNova and silver-coloured printing.
The stone’s natural variations provide the dominant visual element, with the blue surface changing in appearance as the watch is viewed from different angles and under different lighting conditions.
Powering the Vetehinen Blue Spectrolite is a modified Soprod A10 automatic calibre. The 11.5-line movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), contains 25 jewels and provides a power reserve of 42 hours.
Its finishing combines rhodium plating with perlage and Côtes de Genève decoration. The movement drives central hours, minutes and seconds.
The watch is delivered on a handmade black Nordic elk-leather strap with a heavy-duty construction, together with an additional blue Grassbay strap. Both options use an 18 mm S.U.F Helsinki-engraved buckle, while the case has 20 mm lug spacing.
The S.U.F Helsinki Vetehinen Blue Spectrolite is limited to 30 pieces. It is priced at €4,700 excluding VAT. sufhelsinki.com
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