Stepan Sarpaneva’s utilitarian line of dive watches gets a touch of flamboyance thanks to a collaboration with tattoo artist and designer Mo Coppoletta

By Justin Mastine-Frost

Though you might not have realised, SUF Helinski has actually existed just as long as Sarpaneva Watches itself. Stepan?s more utilitarian and approachable sister brand has a very austere yet interesting design aesthetic, which according to Stepan was designed to be distinctly Finnish. Though the brand remained very under the radar for quite some time, more recent creations like the Vetehinen seen here have started garnering the brand some significant international praise. Having always had a soft spot for dive watches in general, and also being a fan of all things Sarpaneva, when the opportunity for some hands-on time with this special edition of the Vetehinen came about there was no way it could be passed up. 
Produced in a limited run of only 25 pieces, the Vetehinen Mo Coppoletta is a rare bird to say the least. Stepan first crossed paths with the famed tattooer and watch collector back in 2012, and before long the idea of a collaboration was destined to come to fruition. Stepan has been tattooed by Coppoletta, with a design of his iconic moonphase complication adorned with a crown that mimics the layered cutaway dial design found on many Sarpaneva watches. In the case of the new Vetehinen, the tables have been turned, and Coppoletta?s unique design work has been thoughtfull...