Introducing: A Nod To Finnish War-Time Aviation In The New S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G Pinefrost
Introducing the S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G Pineforst, a new limited edition from the Finnish brand. This time, the pilot’s watch, inspired by a WWII-era Finnish fighter plane, comes with a lovely Pinefrost green dial. There is plenty to unpack here, so let’s dive straight in.
The new S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G Pinefrost is limited to just 50 pieces and priced at €2,470 excluding VAT.
S.U.F. Helsinki
Before we get into the watch, perhaps doing a quick refresher course on S.U.F. Helsinki makes sense. S.U.F Helsinki was founded in 2003 by Finnish watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva. The name stands for Suomalainen Uhrinvalmistus Fabrikki, or Finnish Watchmaking Factory. While Sarpaneva’s namesake second brand focuses on highly artistic, handcrafted pieces, S.U.F. is positioned as a more accessible line, sharing the same design values, but with more pragmatic execution.
S.U.F. assembles all watches in small batches in Helsinki. Cases are machined locally, from Outokumpu SUPRA 316L steel. The Outukumpu steel factory is famous for using 90% recycled metals and delivering highly consistent alloys. The final assembly will take place in Sarpaneva’s own workshop. Swiss-made movements—usually from Soprod—are adjusted and customized in Finland before being cased.
Key models include the Vetehinen dive watch and the 180 collection. Sarpaneva, a watchmaker trained in Finland and Switzerland, works in relatively small batches to keep the creative juices flowing. On his website, he explains how he prefers continuous development and change over simply selling more. That’s a philosophy I can get behind!
Image: plane-encyclopedia.com
The S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G’s source of inspiration
Creativity starts with inspiration, and in this case, it comes from WWII. The S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G draws its name and inspiration from one of Finland’s most unlikely war heroes: the VL Myrsky fighter plane. Conceived in desperation on the brink of the 1939 Winter War, it was Finland’s first domestically developed aircraft.
The Winter War saw the Soviet Union invade Finland in an effort to move the border to offer more protection around Leningrad. The Finns offered fierce resistance. However, with foreign aircraft unavailable and aluminium scarce, Finnish engineers had to improvise. The VL Myrsky was built using plywood and fabric, held together by glue that didn’t always agree with the northern cold. Even so, the plane reached speeds of over 530 km/h and featured surprisingly advanced aerodynamics.
As you may know, despite the strong resistance, the Finns had to admit defeat after about three months, losing around 11% of their territory to the Soviet Union. Nonetheless, the Finns regard the unlikely story of the Myrsky airplane as a prime example of Finnish Sisu, or bravery.
The S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G
Okay, I took a fairly long detour to introduce what is basically just a new dial color. However, I feel S.U.F. Helsinki is a fascinating small watch company that requires a little more than surface-deep understanding. That said, this is still the Myrsky watch some of you may already be familiar with.
That means you still get a case measuring 42mm across by 51mm lug-to-lug and 10.4mm thick. Yes, that is substantial, but remember this is a pilot’s watch after all. We find sapphire crystals up top and in the case back. S.U.F. rates the exterior’s water resistance at 5ATM.
Inside ticks a Soprod A10 caliber, oiled and regulated in S.U.F.’s Helsinki-based atelier. The automatic caliber runs at 28,800VPH and offers 42 hours of autonomy on a full wind. S.U.F. uses the no-date version for this Pinefrost edition.
The new dial color
I usually don’t copy from press releases, but this one contained some poetry I don’t want to deprive you of. How about this: “Its vivid green dial draws from the soul of the forest — where summer breathes life into young pine, and light dances across fresh needles. The finely brushed dial shifts with every glance, echoing the forest’s quiet evolution.” There’s a nice, peaceful image for you to contrast with the model’s wartime backstory, right?
In more down-to-earth terms, I would say this sunburst Pinefrost color sits between teal and petrol hues. S.U.F. aptly named it, as the combination of blued hands and white printing with the green background indeed invokes feelings of coolness as well as pine.
Speaking of the blued hands, I feel they should not work with the dial. They feature a similar tone and saturation to the dial, but in a hue that is too different to be complementary and too similar to contrast. Somehow, though, it works. Perhaps the extra frostiness they add to the pine brings it all together. I like it, is what I am saying rather clumsily.
Initial impressions
Overall, I think the S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G in Pinefrost is a very attractive proposition. I have yet to go hands-on with one, so I cannot attest to the fit and proportions at the time of writing. However, I can say that I have always been impressed with the construction and finish of S.U.F. creations I have handled.
I can see why some might feel it is expensive for its specs. I think, however, that this would be to miss the point of the company. You buy into the idea of a product made by a tiny renegade team in Helsinki, from largely locally sourced materials and parts. Whether that’s worth something to you is completely subjective, but I can attest that such an off-the-beaten-tracks approach quickly adds up in the cost. I also feel, however, that it loads the watches with more relevance and character than most value-first offerings.
This, then, is a watch (and a brand) that has to resonate with you. I can say that it does with me. I see some Finnish Sisu in the way Sarpaneva follows his internal compass and nothing else. And the S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G in Pinefrost is a prime example of how this results in a different and rather handsome watch. It sure isn’t for everyone, which is good since S.U.F. only makes 50 anyway.
What do you think of the S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G in Pinefrost green? Let us know in the comments section below!
