Geneva, October 2024 – With the Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads, Czapek & Cie plays its signature game of stylistic alchemy, erasing the boundaries between sport and elegance, classicism and modernism. Combining the ultimate in sporting indications with refined craftsmanship, the new timepiece epitomises the Maison’s philosophy of respecting tradition while transcending its confines.
“We wanted to refocus on the Faubourg de Cracovie collection because it is the only continuative chronograph model in our current collection and its case design – with hollowed-out lugs and pushers integrated into the crown guards – epitomises our philosophy or modern classicism,” says Czapek CEO, Xavier de Roquemaurel. “Introducing a tachymeter gave us a perfect opportunity to play with highly traditional métiers d’art in a counter-intuitive way, combining guillochage with the quintessential sporting indication.”
A tachymeter scale – marked around the dial perimeter or on the bezel – enables the calculation of speed based on travel time (or vice-versa, measures distance travelled based on speed) by using mathematical formulas and the chronograph’s time measuring indications.
Long associated with motor sport, tachymeters began to appear on some Swiss chronograph watches around the turn of the 20th century, when they had a great practical value for racing drivers and early aviators. Today, as with many watchmaking complications, modern technology offers alternatives to its purely functional purpose but that in no way reduces its appeal – with the opportunity to savour the spirit of racing or check whether your car speedometer is accurate. (Since a tachymeter measures average speed over distance, it would be redundant on the motorway with cruise control but great fun on a twisty country road.)
Dynamic Dials with a new Guilloché Pattern
The dial of the Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads epitomises the Maison’s pursuit of Beauty – in colour, detail, harmony and with intricate texturing to capture and reflect the light. Reducing the diameter of the main section of the dial to accommodate the tachymeter scale was a case of “easier said than done” and to maintain the balance and symmetry of all elements, the chronograph sub-dials also had to be reduced in the same proportion. A more pronounced flange was created, to ensure that they maintained a strong presence in the composition – a subtlety of detail that is a signature of Czapek.
For the guillochage, Czapek worked with its dial-making partner Metalem, to create a new pattern that would project a sportier and more modern image – a counter-intuitive use of such a deeply traditional craft. A reinterpretation of the ‘Double Soleil’ guilloché created for Quai des Bergues last year, the new Crossroads pattern has straighter lines that are more widely spaced and deeply etched. A passing resemblance to tyre treads alludes to the racing heritage of tachymeters. Its name, Crossroads, describes the pattern of intersecting lines as well as symbolising Czapek’s position at the crossroads of watchmaking tradition and a modern approach. Dynamic, alive and exciting, the dial is indeed an “invitation to race”.
The dial has been created in two colours: Deep Blue with contrasting counters, and ‘Secret Alloy’ – a monochrome grey dial with counters matching the colour of the raw dial material. Used as the base material for both dials, the precious metal alloy is a mix of soft and hard materials – platinum, gold, silver, palladium and other metals – chosen to achieve ideal tensile strength and because, when polished before guillochage, it creates intense reflections that emphasise the crispness of the engraved lines. The Secret Alloy dial will be a limited edition of 50 pieces and the Deep Blue dial will be unlimited.
A Benchmark Chronograph Calibre
The Calibre SXH3, powering the Faubourg de Cracovie line, was developed in 2018 by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier and adapted to Czapek’s specific requests. A benchmark in automatic integrated chronograph movements, it unites the most desirable features of chronograph calibres: a column wheel (for more precise functionality, felt through the crisp action of the pushers); a vertical clutch for precise control of the chronograph’s start/stop/restart functions; a linear zero-resetting hammer to ensure seamless resetting of all chronograph indications. Its high frequency of 5Hz (36,000 vph) enables measurements accurate to 1/10 second and enhances stability and robustness. (Czapek’s CEO has worn his Faubourg de Cracovie chronograph for several snowboarding seasons without any mishaps!).
Czapek’s attention to detail is evident in the movement finishing: the bridges are sand-blasted and diamond-polished, their anthracite colour making a striking contrast with the 18-carat pink gold rotor. The watch is presented in a 41.5mm steel case with alligator or Alcantara strap.
The Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads will be available at the Maison’s official retailers worldwide, the Czapek boutique in Geneva, Switzerland, and at Czapek.com. Deliveries will start in May 2025.
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