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WATCH REVIEW S.U.F (SarpanevaUhrenFabrik) Flying Finn

Editor's opinion
71.5 / 100
Independent watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva has given himself a challenge that seems a little crazy: to deliver a watch both exclusive and original, while still financially accessible. TWO investigates.
Straight to the Point

S.U.F (SarpanevaUhrenFabrik) Flying Finn

Ref.: FF.C
$2,842.00 US retail price February 17th, 2011
Pros
  • the characteristic “Sarpaneva” design
  • the high-quality design of the case, and the care evident in the details
  • an exceptional value for the price
Cons
  • a relatively unknown brand name outside of a small circle of fans
  • a potentially high devaluation on the secondary market
Brand S.U.F (SarpanevaUhrenFabrik)
Model name
Flying Finn
Reference
FF.C
Case material
Steel with DLC coating
Case diameter (without crown)
44 mm
Case diameter (crown included)
48.64 mm
Movement type
Automatic
Caliber
Soprod A10
Base Caliber
Soprod A10
Functions
Date
Hour
Minute
Second
Crystal
Single-face crystal with anti-reflective coating
Power reserve
42h
Transparent back
Yes
Lug width
21.91 mm
Length from lug to lug
52.90 mm
Case thickness
9.74 mm
Strap material
Alligator
Clasp type
Pin buckle
Clasp material
Steel
Total weight
88 grams
Retail price USA at February 17th, 2011
$2,842.00
Comfort (/15) 13
Movement (/20) 8.5
Movement Optimisation / Garnishment (/5) 2
Ease of handling and adjustment (/5) 5
Movement control proceeded by the Manufacture / horlogical awards (/3) 0
Power reserve (/2) 1
Complications (/5) 0.5
Finishing (/20) 14
Dial finishing (/6) 4
Case finishing (/6) 5
Quality of garnishment / caseback engraving quality (/2) 1
Crystal quality (/4) 2
Clasp finishing (inner and extern) (/2) 2
Functionality (/20) 14.5
Diurnal legibility (/5) 4
Night legibility (/4) 4
Water resistance (/3) 0.5
Strap : ease of size adjustment + ease of substitution (/4) 3
Clasp : quality and safety (/4) 3
Additional items (/10) 6.5
Limited edition (/3) 3
Watch delivered with several straps (/2) 0
Quality of the watch box (/1) 0.5
Portability with shirtsleeves buttoned (/2) 2
Goodies included (/1) 0
Understandability of the brochure (/1) 1
Value for money (/15) 15
When to wear it ? For a ride on your Harley-Davidson!
Users opinion
73%
like this watch
Do you like this watch?

Foreword

It’s impossible to discuss the SarpanevaUhrenFabrik (S.U.F.) without first introducing its creator, Stepan Sarpaneva.

A Finish graduate of the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program (WOSTEP) at Neuchâtel (an independent watchmaker’s training institute), Stepan Sarpaneva has worked with some of the greatest Swiss watchmakers (Michel Parmigiani, Vianney Halter, and Christophe Claret) before working as an independent starting in 2003.

Stepan Sarpaneva has been influenced by many, but he has, by his own admission, a soft spot for Harley-Davidson.
For example, he used a kickstarter gearwheel as a case for his first creation, the Time Tramp.

With their manufacturing production limited to a few dozen copies a year, the Sarpaneva watches have a very good reputation with collectors, particularly the Korona model, with its moon phase’s enigmatic smile.

The only downside, given the extreme care given to its design and manufacturing, is its stiff price, starting at about 10,000 Euros.
Subtantially more than what most watch enthusiasts would be willing to pay!

A production of high quality

In 2006, Stepan Sarpaneva created a second line of watches, the SarpanevaUhrenFabrik (S.U.F.). More reasonably priced, the S.U.F. gives the hardcore fans without the financial means an opportunity to enjoy its high-end characteristics.

An interesting particularity is that the S.U.F.’s are not made in Switzerland, but are instead manufactured in Helsinki, in an old cable factory that once belonged to Nokia before the phone era.

The automatic watch we reviewed for this article is a S.U.F. Flying Finn, made out of steel that’s been treated with Diamond Like Carbon (DLC), a chemical coating that is more scratch-resistant than a regular PVD.

The first pleasant surprise is that the unique Sarpaneva style is still very much present, even though this is a lower-end model.
The bezel, with its very unique and peculiar shape, seems to come straight out of an engine or some other industrial machine.
Its execution is perfect, with a very clean manufacturing quality, and a high-level finish that is somewhat unexpected for a watch in this price range.

The same is true for the crown which seems identical to the one on the Korona model: it is both original, and very pleasant to the touch.

The case’s mat DLC treatment also contributes to the watch’s industrial look.

Movement

In order to keep the cost down, the movement used is a Swiss-made Soprod A10, a large production movement equivalent to the classic ETA 2892.

While this movement is not handmade, it is nevertheless still extremely solid and reliable. Incidentally, Stepan Sarpaneva also uses it as a standard in its Korona models.

Its design, while industrial-looking, is still very clean and doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of when compared to other, more reputable brands with a similar price.

With a reasonable 11.5 line diameter, it is well integrated within the watch and doesn’t seem to “float” in its 44mm casing, thanks to a well-designed case ring.

Stepan Sarpaneva was particularly attentive to details when he included in this Flying Finn a metal date disk with openings usually reserved for more expensive models.

THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER BRANDS

A comfortable watch

With a thickness that is less than 10mm, and despite a generous diameter, the S.U.F. sits well on the wrist, and can be worn on any occasion.

The alligator wristband, flexible and comfortable, is of a much higher quality than what one would usually expect from a similarly-priced watch.
The pin buckle is also well-designed – a perfect score!

What to remember

The S.U.F. will delight the enthusiasts looking for originality: not everyone is so lucky as  to own a watch made in Finland by a Harley-Davidson fan who was trained in Switzerland!
Let’s be particularly grateful that Stepan Sarpaneva did not just put his name on any generic product to make a buck with a high-volume production watch: he saw his creative vision to its end, and the care that went into the creation of this Flying Finn can be found in all the aspects and details of its design.
While this may be a “low-end” Sarpaneva, it is in no way a model from the cheap bin!

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