In 2024, the Antarctique Green Meteor introduced collectors to the particular beauty of meteorite as a dial material: its Widmanstätten pattern, formed over millions of years as molten iron-nickel alloys cooled in the void of space, creates an optical illusion of infinite depth that no hand or machine can replicate. The Frozen Meteor continues this exploration, shifting the colour register from the warmth of forest green to something altogether cooler and more austere — a blue that calls to mind raw denim, polar ice at dusk, and the metallic grey of a winter sky.

From the Gibeon Crater, via GT Cadrans
The dials of both the Frozen Meteor and Antarctique S Frozen Meteor are produced by GT Cadrans, near Lausanne, from slices of the Gibeon meteorite — a mass of octahedrite iron-nickel that fell over what is now Namibia in prehistoric times, estimated at approximately 600 million years ago. Each disc must be acid-washed and polished by hand to reveal the full geometry of the Widmanstätten lines before any tinting is applied; the precise angle of those lines, determined by the plane on which the raw mass is cut, is different in every slice.

For the Frozen Meteor, the meteorite’s natural silvery-grey surface has been transformed by a light blue lacquer — applied in successive layers and polished to a precise finish — that shifts in tone as the light changes angle. The denim quality of this blue is deliberate: less saturated than Czapek’s Cosmic Blue, colder than a the Aqua blue tone, it resonates with the brushed surfaces of the stainless steel case in a way that feels entirely coherent. The faceted trapezoid indexes and sword-shaped hands of the Antarctique are kept to their characteristic simplicity, leaving the meteorite’s crystalline architecture to carry the dial.

Because the Widmanstätten pattern is a function of natural crystal formation — not a repeatable manufacturing process — no two dials present the same geometry. Each of the 38 pieces in the 40.5mm edition, and each of the 25 in the Antarctique S, carries a dial that is genuinely singular.

A New-Generation Integrated Bracelet
The Frozen Meteor editions feature the new V2 generation of the Antarctique integrated stainless steel bracelet, produced in Switzerland by STL Swiss and RD Manufacture, two specialists whose expertise in bracelet manufacturing allow Czapek to achieve the level of geometric precision and finishing consistency the collection demands. As with dials, and certain specialised components, bracelet production requires dedicated industrial processes and tooling that for now fall outside the scope of the manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, which remains focused on movement production and case manufacturing. The principle of établissage applies here as it does elsewhere: working with Switzerland’s finest specialists ensures both independence and quality.

The V2 bracelet is not a stylistic revision. The design language of the Antarctique bracelet — its C-shaped polished central links and brushed outer surfaces — remains intact. What has changed is the precision of execution. Tighter machining tolerances throughout the manufacturing process produce greater consistency link to link, sharper transitions at edges and angles, and a more solid, defined feel on the wrist, with reduced play between components. Certain surfaces on the underside of the bracelet have been refined from a brushed to a satin finish, a detail that preserves the intended geometry more faithfully and improves the overall visual resolution of the piece. The bracelet is now fully disassemblable, simplifying refinishing and servicing considerably during after-sales interventions.

The clasp has been completely redesigned and is manufactured by the same Swiss suppliers responsible for the new bracelet generation. The V2 quick-change system replaces the previous rotating locking mechanism with an ergonomic push-button release operable directly with the thumb, without tools. The system is already starting to be implemented across current Antarctique S, steel and titanium models. Owners of a V1 bracelet who wish to benefit from the new system may do so by purchasing a new V2-equipped bracelet through Czapek’s authorised service network at a special “owner” price.

In-House Calibre SXH5
Visible through the sapphire caseback, both models are powered by Calibre SXH5 — the first movement conceived entirely in-house by Czapek, introduced with the Antarctique collection in 2020, and still the emotional and technical signature of the line. At 30mm in diameter and 4.2mm in height, the movement holds 193 components across 28 jewels. It runs at 4 Hz (28,800 vph) via a Swiss lever escapement with a variable-inertia balance wheel regulated by four gold inertia-blocks, and delivers 60 hours of power reserve from a single barrel at a torque of 8.8 Nmm. The off-centre micro-rotor in 100% recycled 950 platinum winds bidirectionally; platinum’s density ensures optimal inertia in an extremely compact footprint.

Seven skeletonised bridges — their silhouette drawn from the architecture of François Czapek’s 19th-century pocket watches — arrange the gear train for maximum visual transparency. The finishing throughout is commensurate with haute horlogerie: sandblasted black bridges, straight-grained bridge flanks, open ratchets, and six hand-chamfered inward angles. Through the sapphire caseback, it reads as a composition as much as a mechanism.

The post STEEL-BLUE FROM THE UNIVERSE 
CZAPEK INTRODUCES THE ANTARCTIQUE FROZEN METEOR IN TWO SIZES appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

Mother-of-pearl, or nacre, has long captivated watchmakers and collectors with its iridescent shimmer and organic depth. This natural material, formed from the inner shell layer of molluscs, reflects light in constantly changing patterns, ensuring that no two dials are ever identical. In these new releases, Czapek partners with GT Cadrans, a specialist dial manufacturer near Lausanne, to realize two distinct approaches to mother-of-pearl decoration—each requiring exceptional skill and precision.

Antarctique S Ice Cloud: Clouds Captured in Nacre
The Antarctique S Ice Cloud presents a poetic interpretation of cloud formations in an icy landscape through a rare technique known as nacre brouillée, or scattered mother-of-pearl. This uncommon decorative method, rarely seen in contemporary watchmaking, creates an ethereal effect reminiscent of wisps of clouds drifting across a pale sky.

The process begins with a base of polished white mother-of-pearl, which is then worked to an incredibly thin 0.2mm—roughly the thickness of two sheets of paper. The artisan then applies varnish to the underside of the nacre using a horsehair brush, creating random, cloud-like patterns by hand. Each brushstroke is unique, ensuring every dial possesses its own distinctive character. For the Ice Cloud, a cool, blue-tinted varnish evokes the icy atmosphere of Antarctic skies, perfectly complementing the watch’s sporty-elegant aesthetic.

The technical challenges are considerable. The varnish application requires exceptional control—too little and the effect is lost; too much and the dial becomes too thick for proper assembly. The artisan must also ensure visual consistency across the series while embracing the inherent uniqueness of each piece. Once the decoration is complete, the dial is fired in an oven at over 100°C for hours to permanently set the varnish. Prior to this curing process, mistakes can be corrected by cleaning and restarting; afterward, the work becomes irreversible.

At GT Cadrans, only one specialist artisan possesses the skill to execute this delicate nacre brouillée technique among their workshop of specialized craftspeople. The rarity of this expertise underscores the exclusivity of these timepieces.

The Antarctique S Ice Cloud will be limited to 10 pieces.

Promenade Midnight Pearl: A Patented Innovation
The Promenade Midnight Pearl represents an even more complex achievement—a patented sandwich construction that layers aventurine glass over Tahitian mother-of-pearl. This innovative technique, protected by a patent and executable by only two specialists at GT Cadrans, creates a dial of extraordinary depth and mystery.

The foundation is Tahitian nacre, chosen specifically for its distinctive grey colouring and naturally occurring violet and green iridescent reflections. This 0.2mm-thick mother-of-pearl is then overlaid with blue aventurine glass—a man-made material containing fine metallic particles that create a starlit sparkle. The aventurine is thinned to approximately 0.2mm as well, creating a total dial thickness of around 0.4mm—thinner than a standard credit card.

Achieving this delicate balance presents formidable technical obstacles. The assembly of these two fragile materials must be done entirely by hand, with extraordinary precision. The subsequent machining—cutting the dial’s outer diameter, centre hole, and appliqué positions—demands careful programming on CNC equipment to avoid damage. The greatest challenge comes during the creation of the small seconds subdial at 4:30, where a groove must be precisely milled into the aventurine layer without compromising the underlying nacre or the tight thickness tolerances.

The aventurine layer’s extreme thinness makes it highly susceptible to breakage during the thinning process, requiring patient skill and experience. The reward for this painstaking work is a dial that glows with an otherworldly luminescence—the Tahitian nacre’s natural shimmer filtered through the starry aventurine creates an effect evocative of midnight skies reflected in still waters.

Within the 38 pieces limited edition, each of the Promenade Midnight Pearl dial is unique, as both the aventurine’s sparkle distribution and the mother-of-pearl’s iridescence vary from piece to piece. While the artisans ensure that the nacre’s fire—the angle at which its luster becomes most visible—remains consistent across watches, natural variations in the materials guarantee that no two dials are identical.

“These two timepieces represent Czapek’s commitment to creative craftsmanship and artistic innovation,” says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek. “The Antarctique Ice Cloud and Promenade Midnight Pearl each showcase different facets of mother-of-pearl’s captivating beauty, transformed through techniques that demand patience, skill, and an intimate understanding of natural materials. The expertise of the master artisans at GT Cadrans then brings our creative vision to life.”

Alexis Chevalier of GT Cadrans adds: “Working on these projects for Czapek has been both challenging and immensely rewarding. The nacre brouillée technique requires a delicate touch and years of experience, while our patented mother-of-pearl and aventurine sandwich construction pushes the limits of what’s technically possible. Each dial is a testament to the skill of our specialized craftspeople, and we take great pride in creating these unique pieces.”

Independent Manufacture Excellence
The Antarctique S Ice Cloud, presented in a 38.5mm stainless steel case, is powered by Czapek’s acclaimed in-house Calibre SXH5. This automatic movement, entirely conceived and developed by Czapek, features a distinctive off-center micro-rotor crafted from 100% recycled platinum 950. The movement’s seven skeletonized bridges—inspired by François Czapek’s 19th-century pocket watches—reveal an architecture of remarkable visual harmony and transparency. Beating at 4Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) with a variable-inertia balance wheel fitted with four gold adjustable weights, the SXH5 delivers exceptional precision and an impressive 60-hour power reserve from a single barrel. The movement showcases haute horlogerie finishing throughout, including hand-chamfered inward angles, bevelled edges, straight-grained bridge sides, and sandblasted black bridges.

The Promenade Midnight Pearl in 38mm stainless steel is driven by the Calibre SXH5.1, a refined variant of the manufacture movement that features a small seconds display at 4:30 rather than center seconds. This modification perfectly complements the asymmetric dial design while maintaining the same exceptional technical specifications: 30mm diameter, 4.2mm height, 127 components, 26 jewels, and the same 60-hour power reserve. Both movements embody Czapek’s commitment to creating visually stunning calibers that inspire both the heart and the intellect—movements that are as captivating to observe through the sapphire caseback as they are technically accomplished.

Since 2022, Czapek has established itself as a fully independent manufacture, developing its movements in-house while collaborating with Switzerland’s finest craftspeople for cases, dials, and specialized components. This approach allows the brand to benefit from the highest levels of expertise across all aspects of watchmaking while maintaining complete creative control and independence. With the manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds and headquarters in Geneva, Czapek stands as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary independent watchmaking.

The post EXPLORING NACRE: THE ANTARCTIQUE S ICE CLOUD AND PROMENADE MIDNIGHT PEARL appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

In fact, this chronograph, with its rare elegance and sporty accents, is produced in 316L surgical steel. Its 41.5 mm-diameter case is both timeless and particularly well-suited to this active complication, appealing to lovers of “versatile sportiness” and adaptable to literally any situation—“from marathon to evening wear,” as Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie, likes to say. To achieve this, the 5-atmosphere water-resistant case is lightened by the presence of lugs and flanks refined by delicately sandblasted recesses, and by the integration of the two chronograph pushers into the extension of the crown guard.

For this urban collection with a sporty-chic accent, the choice was made to place the tachymeter scale on the periphery of the dial, where the flange is usually located. Once the timing has been started, this discreet scale allows the average speed over a distance of one kilometer to be read. Very useful at the dawn of the twentieth century, it enabled the pilots of the first automobiles and aircraft to determine the speed of their “strange machines,” which were not yet equipped with modern instrument panels.
Today, despite the widespread use of electronic aids, this display remains one of the most appreciated by enthusiasts. Its presence required the diameter of the dial on which the guilloché is applied to be reduced. However, to preserve its harmonious proportions, the 30-minute and 12-hour counters have been reworked. Recessed in relation to the surface, their periphery has been diamond-polished and their centers have been given a discreet circular azurage treatment. These treatments, which are complex to execute—especially on a guilloché dial—provide both a strong presence and excellent legibility. Also present at 6 o’clock is the very sober small seconds indicator, which blends into the decor, as does the date aperture featuring a semi-instantaneous jumping date.

A “Signature” Dial
The Faubourg de Cracovie “Crossroads” Victory Green chronograph dial is once again engineered by one of the company’s historic dialmakers and partners: Metalem. As with the last two versions of this chronograph, a reinterpretation of the “Double Soleil” guilloché created for the Quai des Bergues 40.5 mm models has been favored here. For the Faubourg de Cracovie collection, however, the motif is straighter and more deeply engraved to evoke the “profile” of a sports car tire.

This decoration is also a subliminal allusion to Czapek’s position at the crossroads of tradition and modernity. This guilloché, with its “Victory Green” tint obtained by PVD treatment, allows the contemporary design to evolve according to different angles of observation, helping to enhance legibility by reducing incident light reflections.

An Integrated Reference Caliber
The Faubourg de Cracovie “Crossroads” Victory Green chronograph is powered by an integrated high-frequency (5 Hz) self-winding chronograph caliber. This movement, bearing the reference SXH3, was developed in 2018 by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier and adapted to Czapek’s specific requirements. The fruit of more than six years of research and development, it incorporates the very best technical solutions for both the movement and the chronograph functions.

Visible through the transparent sapphire crystal caseback, the movement is 30 mm in diameter (13 ¼ lines) and 6.95 mm thick. This ensures that the chronograph maintains a strong yet relatively contained presence on the wrist. In addition, the plate and bridges—sandblasted, anthracite-treated, and widely openworked—feature hand-beveled finishes designed to emphasize their profile.

The 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight is widely skeletonized and features a bi-directional winding system ensuring nearly 65 hours of power reserve. Moreover, the skeletonization of the oscillating weight reveals various components such as the circular-grained wheels, polished flat screws, the polished column wheel, and the high-frequency regulating unit.

The latter features a variable-inertia balance (with 4 gold adjusting screws) that oscillates at a rate of 36,000 vibrations per hour (5Hz). It uses a classic flat balance-spring made of a stable metal alloy with an unlimited service life. Compared to the vast majority of today’s mechanical movements, this high speed ensures 1/10th of a second timekeeping accuracy, better chronometric performance in action, and greater resistance to shocks. This chronograph proudly carries COSC chronometer certification.

Finally, to offer owners of these 18 pieces an exceptional experience, a vertical clutch has been integrated into the mechanism. This prevents the hand from “jumping” at the start of a measurement and allows the user to leave the central chronograph hand running permanently without affecting timekeeping accuracy. It also features efficient linear hammers which ensure the perfect return of the chronograph hands to zero.

The Faubourg de Cracovie “Crossroads” Victory Green chronograph can be worn on a hand-sewn calfskin or Alcantara strap with a deploying buckle. Priced at CHF 32,000 (exclusive of tax), it will be available at official Czapek retailers worldwide, at the Czapek & Cie boutique in Geneva, and at Error! Hyperlink reference not valid..

The post CZAPEK & CIE: FAUBOURG DE CRACOVIE “CROSSROADS” VICTORY GREEN CHRONOGRAPH: A CONQUERING COLOR appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

Reimagining the pocket watches created by François Czapek in the 19th century in playful, avant-garde style, the watch is centred on a jumping hour complication displaying 24 hours on two discs (a première with a patent-pending mechanism) and complemented by trailing minutes on a peripheral ring. On the half-hunter cover, a new, threedimensional guilloché pattern creates the optical illusion of a black hole, its event horizon taking the form of a loupe in the centre that reveals the open-worked complication. Flipping the cover open unveils the entire movement beneath a sapphire crystal glass.

“Our goal with the Time Jumper was to rethink the expression of time and bring something new and fresh to the table,” says CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel. “We have been keen to explore time indications without traditional hands and a jumping hour is one way to do that. However, the jumping hour displays that have been done until now tend to be quite similar and we wanted to express the complication in our own, different way.”

The result is an almost literal expression of Czapek’s ‘head in the sky, feet on the ground’ style of thinking: the former translated into a retro-futuristic ‘flying saucer’ case; the latter rooted in the traditional round shape derived from historic pocket watches.

Space Oddity: Calibre 10 and the Next Decade

For the 10th anniversary milestone, it might be assumed that Czapek would create a highly complicated calibre to show off its technical evolution and haute horlogerie credentials. However, given the delight it takes in going against the expected flow, Czapek chose simple functions – hours and minutes only, albeit with an unconventional display – to celebrate this first decade as a modern haute horlogerie house.

The conceptual genesis of Calibre 10 lay in the notion of exploring and dissolving the space-time continuum. The Maison’s previous nine calibres have been essentially traditional: contemporary reinterpretations of classical complications, expressing a modern Czapek style – philosophically, technically, visually – that has become increasingly recognisable over the past decade. Calibre 10, born from the desire to explore new timekeeping ‘space’ over the coming 10 years, has been designed as the foundation of a series of in-house movements that will host a wide variety of complications. Celebrating the true spirit of haute horlogerie, each evolution of Calibre 10 will be completely redesigned and re-engineered so that every complication is fully integrated – an entirely different philosophy from adding modular functions to a simple base, which is the standard approach in watchmaking driven by commercial or industrial optimisation.

To make this possible, the key criteria were that the movement should be self-winding, compact in both diameter and height – thus able to be housed in cases as small as 36mm in diameter – and with a highly adaptable architecture. As well as ensuring that every future iteration of the calibre will be aesthetically distinctive, this approach enhances mechanical efficiency – since conventional stacking of modules often increases friction, thus reducing both power reserve and precision.

“Elliott, that machine, what does it do?”

The starting point for the Calibre 10 architecture is a centrally mounted winding rotor in recycled 950 platinum, skeletonised to provide an unobstructed view of the movement. The overall design is harmonious and fluid – ‘very Czapek’ with its graceful curves, concentric circles and airy interplay of bridges, visually anchored by the strong, straight lines of the rotor’s ‘arms’, shaped like a geometry compass, which attach it to the central axis. The 5-spoke design of the wheels with their diamond-bevelled edges, an exclusive Czapek signature.

Calibre 10.1 – the first application of the Calibre 10 technical philosophy – combines the central jumping hours display on a 24-hour register, with trailing minutes on a rotating peripheral ring. The hours are marked on two sapphire discs – one for single digits, one for tens. With the flying saucer shape of the case suggesting an astronaut’s watch, a 24-hour register seemed a natural complication, as well as being a departure from the standard 12-hour register.

Haute horlogerie finishes, in combinations that have come to define Czapek’s signature aesthetic, add life and movement. The high shine of rhodium coated bridges contrasts with blackened plates to create a play of reflections and increase the sense of visual depth: light against the deep black of space. Traditional negative engraving on the winding rotor plays against the modernity of laser-engraved minutes and hours – the latter filled with Super-Luminova.

Representing another stage in Czapek’s technical evolution, Calibre 10.1 was not only designed, conceived and assembled in-house, but also machined 75% in-house. This is not to suggest that Czapek is striving for full vertical integration. The principle of établissage is a fundamental value that it will always defend. However, greater in-house capabilities allow agility and freedom: the ability to produce elements internally while also choosing and collaborating with the best specialist partners in any given area.

Beam Me Up, Scotty

Given the conceptual notion of dissolving the space-time continuum, a techno-futuristic habillage was the natural visual expression – hence the flying saucer shape, popularised by science fiction of the mid- to late-20th century (a topic fascinating to Xavier between the ages of 11 and 18 – as it was to many boys growing up at that time). The traditional round shape and half-hunter case loop back to the form of pocket watches and the 19th-century genesis of today’s Czapek. However, Czapek’s design partner for the project, Thomas Funder, has used curves and angles to express that tradition in a different and less-expected way. A key design element – also present in earlier Czapek watches – is the tension between balance and imbalance, symmetry and asymmetry, beauty and strangeness.

“We wanted an avant-garde and uncompromising design without being extreme – different from other Czapek models yet a clear expression of the brand’s signature elements and aesthetic codes,” explains Xavier.

The design was led by the jumping hour display, which determined the form and style of the minutes. These had to be in a guichet or aperture – hence the half-hunter idea, which in turn created an ideal canvas for guillochage. With the cover closed, all eyes are on the hour indication – under the bubble-shaped loupe in the centre of the case (the flying saucer cockpit), which is set directly over the dial crystal. With the cover open, the full reveal of the mechanism and the complications is there to understand and enjoy.

Straight lines and flat planes are almost non-existent. The case, produced by Czapek’s partner AB Concept, is as smooth as a pebble – and as aerodynamic as a spacecraft. Soft curves are present in every detail: the oval-shaped button to release the case cover, the polished and rounded ends of the lugs, the rounded crown with the notches required for grip half-hidden close to the case. Straight edges have been minimised even on the strap buckle.

The guilloché pattern on the case cover adds another visual layer. Czapek’s longstanding partner Metalem, which has been evolving the once-lost savoir-faire of guillochage in new ways, had proposed a new pattern that proved to be perfect for this piece and is now exclusive to Czapek. An evolution of the vortex-like Singularité guilloché created for the Antarctique Tourbillon, it creates the optical illusion of curves being drawn into a deep centre.
Completing the space-time story, the Time Jumper’s presentation box also takes the form of a flying saucer made of aluminium with a sandblasted finish and tiny polished details.

Czapek will produce only 180 pieces of Calibre 10.1 movements, to celebrate the 180th anniversary since the original founding of the maison in Geneva in 1845. The Time Jumper will be first introduced with a limited edition of 100 pieces in stainless steel and 30 pieces in 3N 18-carat gold. The rest of the calibres will be used for special projects, including an allocation of 10 bespoke pieces – that can be ordered immediately by contacting the Czapek boutique.

The post THE TIME JUMPER 10 FOR 10: CZAPEK & CIE CELEBRATES ITS 10th ANNIVERSARY WITH CALIBRE 10 appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

Since its relaunch in 2015, Czapek & Cie has built its creative approach around a simple but demanding idea: to bring traditional craftsmanship into dialogue with modern watchmaking. The Antarctique Plique-à-Jour continues this exploration, applying an ancient decorative art, normally reserved for jewellery or objets d’art, to a modern integrated steel watch.
“Czapek has always sought to explore métiers d’art and reinterpret them through contemporary design and novel techniques,” says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “This project is about preserving a rare artisanal know-how while giving it a new role in modern watchmaking.”

The Plique-à-Jour Technique
The plique-à-jour technique, whose name literally means “letting in the daylight,” is one of the most demanding forms of enamel work and was developed in the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century AD. It consists in applying layers of coloured enamel into open metal cells with no backing. The enamel is fired at around 900°C, fusing to the metal framework — typically made of gold— but leaving transparent sections that allow light to pass through. The result resembles a miniature stained-glass window, alive with reflections and variations in tone.
Only a few workshops in the world still master this art, due to the precision and patience it requires. The challenges lie in multiple dimensions.

First, each colour must be carefully formulated to achieve the desired hue and transparency once fired. Second, each cell on the dial must be filled individually, in the right proportion and sequence, to obtain harmonious gradients. Third, the enameller must control every stage of firing, ensuring the material does not crack under high temperature. Finally, the finishing process — polishing and adjusting the thickness — must be done, gently and progressively, to preserve the integrity of the enamel.
The transparency achieved in this dial reveals the inner architecture of the movement beneath, creating a direct visual connection between art and mechanics.

“What makes this dial so extraordinary and unique is precisely its transparency.”, explains Xavier de Roquemaurel. “Indeed, unlike traditional plique-à-jour enamel, which is often slightly opaque due to air bubbles that form within the enamel, the technique used for the Antarctique Plique-à-Jour allows for complete transparency. The subtle colour gradient adds yet another layer of complexity to what was already a true tour de force”.

Collaborative Craftsmanship
To realize this project, Czapek collaborated with several specialized partners. While MD’Art created the metal structure, Bagues-Masriera was responsible for the enamel work, including the colour application and high-temperature firing. PBMC carried out the delicate polishing and thickness adjustments, performed one by one and in progressive stages to avoid fissures in the enamel. The final steps — including pad printing, attachment of the dial feet, and surface finishing — were entrusted to MD’Art.
Every dial was the result of a continuous exchange between Czapek’s product development team and the artisans. The complexity of the process and the fragility of the material required absolute precision at each stage, making every dial unique.

The Antarctique Case and the SXH7 Calibre
The Antarctique collection represents Czapek’s vision of a contemporary haute horlogerie watch: a sport-chic timepiece with a finely executed steel case and integrated bracelet. Its design combines sharp lines with fluid ergonomics, alternating brushed and polished surfaces to catch the light.
Inside the Antarctique Plique-à-Jour beats the Czapek Calibre SXH7, a skeletonized automatic movement developed and assembled in the manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Derived from the SXH5, the SXH7 retains the same micro-rotor architecture with a 100% recycled platinum rotor mounted on ball bearings for optimal winding efficiency but introduces a fully open and three-dimensional construction. The skeletonized bridges, open worked barrel, and visible balance wheel create total transparency — in perfect harmony with the plique-à-jour enamel dial. The movement beats at 4 Hz and offers a power reserve of 60 hours. Finishing details include 18 internal (inward) angles, hand-chamfered edges, sandblasted bridges, diamond-cut sinkholes, and rhodium-plating that enhances contrast and depth.
The transparency of the enamel dial thus reveals the movement in an unprecedented way, allowing light to illuminate the mechanical landscape beneath the surface.

A Limited Edition for Ten Years
Only ten pieces of the Antarctique Plique-à-Jour will be produced, each one subtly unique due to the natural variations of the enamelling process. The series, as was the case for the Antarctique Tourbillon launched in April, carries the Czapek anniversary logo engraved on the case back, as it is part of the collections marking ten years since the rebirth of Czapek & Cie in 2015 — a decade defined by collaboration, passion, and the pursuit of independence and authenticity in contemporary watchmaking.

The post ANTARCTIQUE PLIQUE-À-JOUR: 
A LUMINOUS TRIBUTE TO 10 YEARS OF INDEPENDENT WATCHMAKING appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

A closer look reveals more details that distinguish the R.U.R. dial from previous Antarctique Rattrapante models: the white chronograph hand, the blue aluminium rattrapante hand with a white tip. On the peripheral chronograph seconds register and the two sub-dials, ‘XX’ symbols represent the robot’s language – a language invented for R.U.R. that takes its roots from the Predator movies’ Yautja alphabet (remember the count-down?) and plays with the X of Xavier (no prizes for guessing who was behind that idea!) The robot’s head, created by Czapek’s valued partner MD’Art is a miniature work of art and technology in its own right. Made of titanium, it was cut, hand-polished and laser-engraved; each of its eyes is micro-painted by hand using neon tones of the three colours.

“When we launched the Antarctique Rattrapante in 2021, one of our shareholders immediately suggested incorporating a robot into the movement, as a way of celebrating the beauty of the mechanism,” says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “Since the pursuit of mechanical and aesthetic Beauty is central to our philosophy of watchmaking at Czapek and we are always thinking about different ways of approaching it, we loved the idea of a robot – a playful mix of aesthetics and mechanics – but the real impetus for the robot idea came from further away…”

A century of robots…
The Czapek team’s discovery that the word robot had been introduced to the wider world exactly a century earlier by another man called Čapek (with the Czech spelling), made the rattrapante-with-robot idea irresistible. A prominent Czech intellectual, Karel Čapek was deeply concerned about the scientific materialism that emerged in the early 20th century. His play, R.U.R. – Rossum’s Universal Robots, about mechanical men that were built to work on factory assembly lines but that rebel against their human masters, was a critique of the dehumanising potential of science and technology. First performed in Prague in 1921, within two years it had been translated into 30 languages. (The original first edition is in the Museum of Science-Fiction in Yverdon, Switzerland.)

In early drafts of his play, Čapek named his creatures labori, after the Latin root for labour, then, at the suggestion of his brother, Josef, Čapek opted for the Czech roboti – robots in English. The word had, in fact, first been cited in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1839, referring to a ‘central European system of serfdom, by which a tenant’s rent was paid in forced labour’. Thanks to Čapek, ‘robot’ has come to mean the humanoid machines of science-fiction novels and films and his play paved the way for dystopian sci-fi scenarios such as Terminator and Blade Runner. A century after R.U.R., we hear echoes of Čapek’s worldview in current discussions about automation, artificial intelligence, the cloud-based network of power that increasingly governs our lives, the ethics of transhumanism… essentially the same profound and important questions about the relationship between humanity and technology that concerned Karel Čapek.

The beauty of turning inside-out
Created in collaboration with Jean-François Mojon of Chronode, Czapek’s Calibre SXH6 effectively turns the split-seconds chronograph movement inside-out to reveal the beauty of the rattrapante mechanism. While a chronograph mechanism is normally on the underside of a calibre, in the Antarctique Rattrapante the split-seconds mechanism takes centre stage on the dial side. A tripod bridge in the centre holds down a patented satellite minute train and split-second mechanism. Each half of the movement is visually anchored by a column wheel – one at 12 for the chronograph and one at 6 for the split-seconds mechanism. The entire operation of the chronograph mechanism is laid open for the viewer to enjoy: the engagement of the horizontal clutch, the action of the rattrapante clamps, and the way that the two column wheels work opposite one another and in tandem with the activation of the two pushers.

With a split-seconds chronograph, the viewer tends to focus on the movement of the hands. However, with the changing colours of the robot’s eyes on the Antarctique Rattrapante R.U.R., attention is drawn directly to the mechanical beauty and complex operation of the split-seconds mechanism. Following the design principle of integrating form and function, the robot is set on top of the chronograph column wheel so that, each click of the column wheel (triggered by activating the stop-reset-start pushers) directly translates into a changed eye colour.

However, like many of Czapek’s playful – and deceptively simple – ideas, the robot presented plenty of challenges. Finding the finish for the head that would best enhance its volumes and contrast with the surrounding elements took a great deal of experimentation with different techniques and textures. Choosing the right colour and finish to ensure the vibrancy of the eyes and contrast with the head also involved a lot of back-and-forth with materials and techniques. When working at such a level of detail, the slightest change to one element affects the balance of the whole. To ensure perfect mounting of the head on the movement, Chronode developed a special assembly jig to help index all the wheels and related parts to the head.

A hidden mechanism within the mechanism: the isolator
A split-seconds chronograph is one of watchmaking’s most prestigious complications – distinguished from regular chronographs by a pair of clamps that instantly immobilises one of the chronograph wheels when the split-seconds pusher is activated. Meanwhile, the other chronograph hand continues to count the time. When the clamps are released, the immobilised hand will ‘catch up’ (rattraper in French) with its companion.

In the bowels of its split-second mechanism, the Antarctique Rattrapante R.U.R. hides an ingenious mechanism: an isolator. Thanks to a lever, the isolator enables the split-seconds mechanism to completely decouple the two chronograph seconds wheels without generating friction in the rest of the mechanism. This sharply reduces the chronometric disturbances that may occur during use of the split-second function. With this additional function, the R.U.R. represents a step forward in the construction of the Czapek split-second chronograph.

Beauty, amplified…
Czapek’s calibres are distinguished by a wealth of haute horlogerie hand-finishing on the components, creating a play of light that amplifies the beauty of the movement architecture. On the dial, the mirror-polished heads of the screws and column wheels and the hand-bevelled levers and bridges contrast with the matte sandblasted finish of the main plate. On the reverse side, visible through the sapphire crystal caseback, an oscillating weight made of 5N recycled rose gold is complemented by matte bead-blasted bridges outlined by hand-polished chamfers and other finishes including circular satin-polished wheels and black-polished screws. The rotor winds a single barrel that provides the 4Hz movement with 60 hours of running autonomy. Complementing the sleek design of the 42.5 mm. case, the integrated bracelet echoes the movement finishing with its combination of brushed surfaces and highly polished C-shaped links.

The 77-piece Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’ edition will be available as of September 5th 2025 at authorised Czapek dealers worldwide, the Czapek boutique in Geneva at 18 rue de la Corraterie, and at Czapek.com.

The post ONCE WERE ROBOTS… THE ANTARCTIQUE RATTRAPANTE ‘R.U.R.’ appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

The new dial is a dazzling sequel to the original Goutte d’Eau, which captures the ripple effect when a drop of water (a goutte d’eau in French) falls onto the surface of a calm pond. The ripples emanate from the off-centred small seconds sub-dial, which serves as the impact point. Diamond Drops is a natural progression from that first expression of the idea, says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “When we sold out of Goutte d’Eau during its launch at Watches and Wonders 2024 (the watches are being delivered to clients this month) we immediately started playing with other thoughts about water in its various forms – how it looks when light dances on the surface, how dewdrops sparkle on a sunny morning, what happens when water freezes to become snow or ice… This invited us to play not only with design, colour and materials but also the craft of gem-setting, asking ourselves how we could express the original idea in new ways.
”

The answer was to reinterpret the ripple effect in diamonds and sapphires, using the snow-setting technique to
blanket the entire dial in differently-sized stones, creating an unbroken expanse of sparkle and reflection that
reveals almost none of the underlying metal – a glittering ode to nature.

Collecting rare talent

Czapek turned to its trusted partner, AB Products to meet the challenge of creating the Diamond Drops dial. For snow-setting, rather than creating uniform rows of gems held by gold claws, the gem-setter chooses differently sized stones – many less than 0.5 mm in diameter – which are placed into tiny wells hollowed out of the 18K white gold dial base. Each must be set as close as possible to its neighbour, like a microscopic jigsaw puzzle of gemstones. Adding to the challenge, a watch dial must be very thin with a perfectly flat surface, every stone had to be individually measured and the size of the well adapted to its exact size to ensure a perfectly flush finish.

While the snow-setting technique always demands an exceptional level of gem-setting skill, combining stones of different hardness and contrasting colours adds further complexity. Along with the diamonds, sapphires in different shades of blue are used, to make the final effect as naturalistic as possible. Setting the 360 diamonds (1.5 cts) and 319 sapphires (1.58 cts) requires six days of intensely focused work. Representing an additional two days of work, the bezel, flange and crown are set with a total of 173 diamonds (1.63 cts).

The post SHINEON, YOUCRAZY…..PROMENADE DIAMONDDROPS appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

When Czapek conceived the Antarctique as the quintessentially modern sporty-chic watch, it was always intended as a canvas for creativity, to be constantly revisited and renewed.

“Our collectors are always asking us ‘what’s next?’ with the Antarctique,” explains Czapek CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel. “After the Rattrapante, we decided to take a perhaps unexpected direction: creating a new and sophisticated expression of a two-century-old regulator: the tourbillon. Our starting point was, as always, to play with the clash between legacy and avant-gardism and this new in-house tourbillon calibre is the outcome.”

Taking advantage of the form of the new tourbillon, Czapek has introduced a daring movement architecture with slender bridges revealing the beauty of the underlying mechanics and coupled it with a dial that harnesses classical métiers d’art in a new and contemporary ‘vortex-style’ guilloché design.

The new in-house Calibre 9: defined by purity of line

Reflecting Czapek’s unwavering pursuit of Beauty, the purity of the mechanism became the main design driver for the new in-house movement, Czapek Calibre 9. The fundamental principle was that that the three key elements – tourbillon, gear train and barrel – should be revealed on the dial side, perfectly aligned on the vertical axis and appearing as airy and light as possible. The open-worked flying tourbillon appears to hover between the main plate and dial, directly connected to the gear train, which floats in the centre of the dial beneath an extremely long and finely curved minutes bridge. The barrel dominates the upper section of the dial, floating in an aperture beneath an open-worked bridge.

“Our pursuit of aesthetics drives us to create mechanical beauty,” says Xavier de Roquemaurel. “It’s an iterative process, where changing a line changes both mechanics and aesthetics, which can lead to an intense ping-pong between the constructor-engineer and the designer-artist …with me playing the wild card in the middle.”

The result is amplified by great visual depth, with curves and convex surfaces complemented by slender bridges; all angles are hand-polished and the top arms of the tourbillon cage are satin-polished, creating fascinating plays of light and shadow.

The new calibre also testifies to significant technical prowess from the new geometry for the tourbillon, which dictated a finely machined convex titanium cage, to the anticlockwise crown wheel that required the development of a new proprietary toothing.

Calibre 9 is the first Czapek calibre not only designed, conceived and constructed in-house but also machined mostly in-house. However, as Xavier de Roquemaurel points out, this does not signify a wish for full vertical integration. Emphasising that Czapek will always defend the principle of établissage, he explains: “We want freedom – hence the capacity to produce elements in-house. But we don’t want to make everything ourselves; for us, freedom also means the ability to choose and collaborate with the best specialist partners in any given area. That is what enables us to maintain agility and independence.” He also points out the invaluable sense of ‘family’ among the Maison’s regular partners. “These values are deeply embedded in the philosophy underlying our 10th anniversary celebration and our future,” he says.

The mechanics and aesthetics: an immutable bond

To amplify the beauty of the mechanics, Czapek called on Metalem, with whom Czapek has been collaborating since the beginning, to develop a new, trompe l’oeil guilloché design. The result is a dramatic vortex effect, giving the impression of infinite depth.

Czapek has named the new pattern Singularité – from the astronomical term singularity, meaning those places in the universe where the standard laws of physics break down, making space and time infinite and undifferentiated – best exemplified by black holes.

The pattern may look deceptively simple but is very difficult to execute: unlike a classical guilloché pattern, in which the guillocheur cuts lines at different angles that always start from a single point, in Singularité, the starting point moves with each passage of the lathe.

Enhancing the purity of the mechanical structure and the infinity effect of the guilloché, the hour markers are not set on the dial but are part of the flange. The bridges – including the soaring curve of the gear train bridge – are integrated to the main plate through the guilloché dial plate.

Since its very beginning, Czapek has always liked to offer collectors a certain freedom of personalization, so that they can wear a watch that’s just like them. That’s why,
the Antarctique Tourbillon will be offered in a choice of three dial colours: Glacier Blue, Photon Sphere (a 5N gold hue) and the mythical grey Secret Alloy, a limited-edition of 50 pieces. All iterations will be proposed in stainless steel.

Redesigning the case: an ode to transparency and curves

The case has been redesigned to echo the curvilinear aesthetic of the mechanism and dial. Taking the curved glass box principle of the Antarctique Rattrapante as the starting point, the front and back sapphire crystals have been subtly raised. On the reverse side, this creates the impression that there is no bezel and, indeed, the engravings that would normally appear on a caseback bezel are done inside the crystal by metallisation – executed in mirror style so as to read ‘true’ from the outside.

To amplify the trompe l’oeil effect and create the impression that it is floating in the air, the surface of the gold winding rotor is also convex. Moreover, Michèle Rothen, Czapek’s cherished independent master engraver, hand-engraved it with a black-hole-inspired pattern similar to the guilloché Singularité.

The Antarctique Tourbillon will be offered with the same stainless-steel bracelet as other models in the collection, with a micro-adjustment, a quick-change system and a second rubber strap included.

The post INTO THE VORTEX CZAPEK PUTS A NEW SPIN ON THE TOURBILLON REGULATOR appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

With a one-of-a-kind hand-varnished dial crafted by Swiss dial specialist Metalem, each Antarctique Purple Storm watch reflects Czapek’s commitment to self-expression, artistry, and its collaborative spirit.

The project began when Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie, discovered the work of an artist collaborating with Metalem who was creating uniquely hand-varnished dials. These dials were so original and distinctive that they did not dare offer them to any of the brands they worked with. One particular dial even resembled a nebula in the space. Later, Xavier met a collector known as ‘@Tranqated’ on Instagram during a dinner at Dubai Watch Week. They enjoyed a lively conversation about their shared passion for astronomy, and Xavier learned that this collector dreamed of a space-inspired dial.

In May 2020, Czapek was preparing to launch its Antarctique collection for the first time, and this conversation inspired the creation of the Antarctique Orion Nebula special series. This limited series of 10 unique pieces featured hand-varnished dials inspired by the galaxy and quickly sold out. It was followed by other unique designs, including the turquoise Abyss, the green Emerald Iceberg, and the Celestial. The latest release, the Antarctique Purple Storm, is the first to employ vivid violet tones using this distinctive dial-making technique.

Each dial features a mesmerizing violet gradient crafted with precision and artistry. Individually created to capture the mood and depth of a natural storm, each dial evokes a sense of mystery and movement. As light touches the surface, swirling, layered shades of purple are revealed, reminiscent of storm clouds rolling across the sky.

At the heart of this stainless-steel timepiece is Czapek’s in-house SXH5 caliber, a high-performance automatic movement that embodies both power and precision. The SXH5 caliber boasts a 60-hour power reserve and features a variable inertia balance wheel, designed to maximize timekeeping accuracy and efficiency. The microrotor, visible through the sapphire crystal case back, is crafted from recycled platinum, aligning with Czapek’s dedication to sustainability in fine watchmaking. The movement’s intricate architecture and handmade finishing provide a visual testament to the brand’s vision of contemporary haute horlogerie.

“This watch is a celebration of art, craftsmanship and individuality,” said Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “We’ve combined the exceptional talent of our partners at Metalem with the power and precision of our SXH5 caliber, resulting in a piece that truly stands out. The Antarctique Purple Storm is a reflection of our mission – creating unique watches for Rare People, with their own dreams and passions. We’re excited to be launching it at such a momentous occasion as The Horology Club’s anniversary, surrounded by those who share our love of horology.”

The Antarctique Purple Storm will be unveiled in avant première at The Horology Club’s 3rd Anniversary event in Hong Kong on November 20, 2024. It will be available on pre-order via the brand’s official retailers worldwide, the Czapek boutique in Geneva, and via czapek.com.

The post FROM ORION NEBULA TO PURPLE STORM: 
UNIQUE DIALS FOR RARE PEOPLE appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

“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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The limited edition Antarctique for GMT Great Masters of Time is a testament to Czapek’s dedication to superior watchmaking and GMT Milano’s unique position as a trailblazer in the Italian luxury watch market.
The watch features the Antarctique signature 40.5mm case in stainless steel, while its standout feature is its dial. Created by the long-time Czapek partner and renowned Swiss dial maker Metalem, the dial boasts a distinctive grainy matte texture made by stamping at the centre, and circular satin-finish under the minute track, both with 4N gold plating achieved by galvanic treatment.

A defining element of this limited edition is the use of 4N gold, that has become synonymous with GMT Milano’s exclusive editions. The almost champagne, or better, Franciacorta-colored hue of the 4N gold is not just a design choice but a symbol rooted in the history of GMT Milano. This subtle yet striking tone has been consistently featured in all of GMT Milano’s limited editions, underscoring the family-owned company’s commitment to maintaining a connection with its heritage.

At the heart of this timepiece is Czapek’s in-house SXH5 movement, state-of-the-art automatic caliber. It features a refined micro-rotor architecture, allowing a plunging view on the mechanism, a power reserve of up to 60 hours and exceptional finishing visible through the sapphire case back.

“We are particularly proud of this collaboration with GMT Milano, as it holds a special personal significance for me,” said Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “Having lived and worked in Italy for a renowned luxury menswear maison, I have a deep appreciation for Italian design and taste. This partnership represents a shared mission between two independent entities committed to promoting haute horlogerie. GMT Great Masters of Time is a family-owned business, and at Czapek, our shareholders are like family—our brand was crowdfunded, and we now have over 200 shareholders, many of whom are private individuals and watch aficionados. We are thrilled to count on the GMT Milano team as both partners and members of our ‘rare people’ family.”

“We have been at the forefront of high-end independent watchmaking for 20 years,” said Jacopo Corvo, owner of GMT Great Masters of Time, alongside his brother Mattia. “This is a niche that has consistently pushed the boundaries of creativity and craftsmanship. Our discussions about this collaboration with Czapek began some time ago. This timepiece not only builds on the success of the Antarctique model, which has been a standout for Czapek since its launch, but also pays homage to the lasting connection between Swiss precision and Italian elegance. We have a deep connection to 4N gold, a colour that is significant to our heritage and one we use in every limited edition we produce. By removing the date, we aimed to give more prominence to the grainy matte texture and to highlight this beautiful gold tone, which has been almost forgotten. As natives of Milan, we are especially proud and honoured to unveil this special edition during Milano Watch Week, a prestigious event that underscores the city’s global reputation for style and innovation.”

Unveiled at the Milano Watch Week event in the iconic Terrazza Martini, this limited edition of 30 pieces will be available exclusively at GMT Great Masters of Time, located on Via della Spiga 25, Milan’s luxury shopping destination. Deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of 2024.

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Smart, sparkling and utterly modern, this new interpretation of the Antarctique and its smaller sibling, Antarctique S, perfectly captures today’s stylistic Zeitgeist, where high mixes with low, formal with sporty, sober with exuberant – respecting the rules while reinventing them in new ways.

This is very much aligned with the spirit that has guided Czapek & Cie since its inception in 2015. Inspired by the beauty and technical sophistication of the timepieces created by the 19th-century watchmaker François Czapek, the founders’ vision was based on a deep respect for tradition while taking a playful approach to the pursuit of beauty and mechanical excellence.

For Czapek, beauty is expressed through colour, form and the play of light across different textures and surfaces, and the aventurine and diamond dials embody this ethos in a new way. The visual depth and subtle ‘starry sky’ sparkle of the aventurine contrast with the brilliance of the Antarctique-cut index markers which, in turn contrast with the polished surfaces and cool tones of the steel case, creating harmony from apparent contradictions.

“We released the Antarctique line in 2020 as the epitome of sporty elegance – and for us, the pared-down sophistication of its design makes it a natural platform for creativity,” says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “At Czapek we like to dream with our feet on the ground and our heads in the stars, and the sparkle of these new dials expresses that idea in a delightful and surprising way.”

Czapek has a longstanding love affair with aventurine, having harnessed its mysterious beauty for special editions of both Quai de Bergues (‘Midnight in Geneva’ limited edition to celebrate the first Geneva boutique opening, in 2019) and Faubourg de Cracovie (2022). “It’s a material that we love to play with, and it was a logical evolution to use it for the Antarctique – they were made to go together. Moreover, Antarctica is the world’s best spot for stargazing!” says de Roquemaurel.

Aventurine is a type of glass, developed by chance when a 17th-century Murano glassmaker accidentally dropped some metal shavings into a cooling glass mixture, creating a multicoloured sparkle as they crystallised (its name is derived from all’avventura – Italian for ‘by chance’ and it pre-dates by at least a century the discovery of the natural quartz gemstone of the same name). Working with aventurine requires considerable expertise, since it is naturally fragile and prone to cracking when being manipulated. Czapek’s collaborative approach – working with specialists in different crafts, in the traditional watchmaking spirit of établissage – proved once again to be a great strength when producing these dials. Czapek wanted the elongated trapeze-shaped diamond indexes to be invisibly set onto the aventurine and the great challenge for its dial-making partner GT Cadrans was to create a special setting to achieve this for each of the 13 diamonds on the dial of the Flying Diamonds models.

Introduced at the beginning of 2023, the Antarctique cut of the elongated index markers was an entirely new diamond cut, designed exclusively for Czapek and officially registered. With 24 facets (14 on the pavilion and 10 on the table) the Antarctique cut captures and reflects the light much more than a standard baguette cut, which may have as few as 14 facets. And the longer the diamonds, the more precious the dial.

Launched in May 2020, the original 40.5mm Antarctique was followed in 2022 by the 38.5mm Antarctique S – a smaller case size designed to be elegant and comfortable on slimmer wrists. Both Antarctique models are powered by Calibre SXH5, the first movement to be entirely conceived in-house by Czapek. Inspired by the 19th-century pocket watches of François Czapek, it is immediately recognisable by its distinctive architecture of seven skeletonised bridges. Taking the best from both the past and present of watchmaking, it features a variable inertia balance wheel and an elegant and highly efficient micro-rotor of recycled 950 platinum; the haute horlogerie finishes combine hand-bevelled internal angles with state-of-the-art laser engraving to create a beautiful play of contrasts: light and dark, textured and smooth, matte and polished.

The Antarctique with aventurine dial will be a limited edition composed of four references:
Antarctique Polar Sky, with a 40.5mm diameter and without diamonds, in 99 pieces;
Antarctique S Polar Sky 38.5mm without diamonds, in 77 pieces;
Antarctique Flying Diamonds 40.5mm with diamond indexes and optional diamond-set case and bracelet, in 8 pieces only;
Antarctique S Flying Diamonds 38.5mm with diamond indexes and optional diamond-set case and bracelet, in 18 pieces.

It will be available for pre-order at the brand’s authorised dealers worldwide, the boutique in Geneva, rue de la Corraterie 18, and at Czapek.com. Deliveries will start in Q4 2025.

The post CZAPEK ANTARCTIQUE POLAR SKY & FLYING DIAMONDS SPORTY CHIC MEETS BLACK-TIE ELEGANCE: THE JOY OF CONTRADICTION appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

Czapek & Cie’s vision of haute horlogerie – as well as that of François Czapek, whose eponymous 19th-century watchmaking house inspired the modern company – rests on two pillars: the pursuit of Beauty, and the spirit of sharing. With this foundation, the Geneva-based Maison is constantly open and listening not only to its fans and watch enthusiasts, but also to evolving directions in the wider world of art, fashion and society.

“The demand for an Antarctique model in a precious metal, and more specifically in gold, was so strong among a certain type of collectors that we could not ignore it,” says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “To create this new model, we went to explore not only the origins of this successful collection but also the geography of Antarctica.”

Located on Ross Island in the frozen continent, the Mountain from which the new Antarctique ‘Mount Erebus’ takes its name is the southernmost active volcano on Earth and one of the very few constantly active volcanoes in the world. It was named after one of expedition ships that discovered Ross Island in 1841, captained by Sir James Clark Ross, HMS Erebus – which, in turn was named after a deity in Greek mythology born of Chaos and personifying darkness. A remarkable feature of this volcano is the presence in its lava of gold, which is projected into the atmosphere at an estimated rate of 80 grams per day, dissolved in the escaping volcanic gases and therefore impossible to harvest.

The origins of Czapek’s Antarctique line are present in ‘Mount Erebus’ thanks to the lamé dial, a finish originally created for the first iteration of Antarctique, launched in May 2020 – the limited-edition Terre Adélie. Created in collaboration with Metalem, Czapek’s long-time manufacturing partner, it is crafted using a special kind of comb that creates an effect like a highly textured satin finish. Complementing the rose gold ‘Mount Erebus’ case, the dial offered in Deep Blue is made with a CVD (chemical vapour deposit) technique.

With a 40.5 mm in diameter and 10.6 mm height, the gold case shares all of the design codes that make the Antarctique steel case so distinctive: the flowing curves, finely honed angles and carefully judged balance of brushed and polished surfaces that bring the composition to life. The 5N rose gold case and the 2N yellow gold one are respectively complemented by a rose gold or a yellow gold bracelet. Alternatively, both models are proposed with a rubber strap in various colors.

The Antarctique Mount Erebus Deep Blue in 5N rose gold will be produced in a limited run of 100 pieces and available for pre-order at Czapek’s authorised dealers worldwide, its flagship store in Geneva and at Czapek.com. The 2N yellow gold version, limited to 50 pieces only, will be offered online at Czapek.com. Deliveries will start in the second quarter of 2024.

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In a family, there’s always a rebel, a black sheep as some say. The Place Vendôme, among the three families of Czapek & Cie watches, is the most refined and complex. Launched in 2017 with two models in limited edition in platinum and red gold, the collection boasts a proprietary caliber with a ‘suspended’ tourbillon, a GMT function and the indication of day and night in the second time zone, as well as of the power reserve. At Baselword 2019, Czapek presented two new entries in the collection: a sumptuous version in platinum with a baguette-cut diamonds setting, ‘Etincelles’, and a sporty model in titanium with a black enamel ring, ‘Ombres’. Today, at the Geneva Watch Days, the exclusive high watchmaking event of 2020, the Geneva-based brand unveils the ‘bad boy’ of the Place Vendôme collection, called ‘Dark Matter’.

The newly born timepiece is not only inspired by the Ombres tourbillon in titanium, but takes elements from other watches in the Czapek portfolio. The 43.5mm case, in 5-grade titanium, features a black ADLC coating as the Faubourg de Cracovie ‘Courage every second’ chronograph – the unique piece donated by Czapek to the Only Watch charity event and auctioned off by Christies for 110’000 CHF on November 9th 2019.

The fine-looking black bridges of the Dark Matter have been treated with PVD coating, ensuring the conservation of the colour over time, by the same company that crafts the blued gold Fleur-de-Lys hands in the Quai des Bergues collection.

“Within our Place Vendôme line, we started with the most luscious version and we are now launching the ‘rockest’ one”, says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “While the rose gold tourbillons are sold out, proving the public appreciation of those models, the Only Watch auction success showed us that collectors were eager to also have sportier models with unusual materials combinations, still made with best-in-class haute horlogerie craftsmanship”.

Manufactured in a limited edition of 10 pieces, the timepiece will be only available at the brand’s official retailers and on czapek.com. The rebellious brother in the Place Vendôme collection by Czapek has just been born, and its name is ‘Dark Matter’.

The newly born timepiece is not only inspired by the Ombres tourbillon in titanium, but takes elements from other watches in the Czapek portfolio.

The 43.5mm case, in 5- grade titanium, features a black ADLC coating as the Faubourg de Cracovie ‘Courage every second’ chronograph – the unique piece donated by Czapek to the Only Watch charity event and auctioned of by Christies for 110’000 CHF on November 9th 2019. Press Release Czapek Place Vendôme Tourbillon Dark matters Geneva, August 2020 – Czapek & Cie unveils the Place Vendôme Tourbillon ‘Dark Matter’, the ‘rockest’ version of its most luxurious collection.

Inspired by the Place Vendôme ‘Ombres’ in titanium, it features a black titanium case with ADLC coating and dark bridges with PVD treatment.

A limited edition of 10 pieces.The fine-looking black bridges of the Dark Matter have been treated with PVD coating, ensuring the conservation of the colour over time, by the same company that crafts the blued gold Fleur-de-Lys hands in the Quai des Bergues collection.

“Within our Place Vendôme line, we started with the most luscious version and we are now launching the ‘rockest’ one”, says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “While the rose gold tourbillons are sold out, proving the public appreciation of those models, the Only Watch auction success showed us that collectors were eager to also have sportier models with unusual materials combinations, still made with best-in-class haute horlogerie craftsmanship”.

Manufactured in a limited edition of 10 pieces, the timepiece will be only available at the brand’s official retailers and on czapek.com. The rebellious brother in the Place Vendôme collection by Czapek has just been born, and its name is ‘Dark Matter’

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How would you celebrate such an auspicious event whilst in the middle of a pandemic? Terrible times can though be defining moments. You reflect on who you are, what you are doing, and why? 

Czapek & Cie believes in the power of beauty and craftsmanship. It also believes that accomplishing something unique gives encouragement in the quest of always striving to do better.

For a small watch making company, the journey can be as important as the destination, and every setback an opportunity to learn and improve in order to create something unique. Enthusiastic customers also have a role to play, bringing creative energy and inspiration to bear in order to produce bespoke models. These were the elements behind the unique Sursum Corda. 

The timepiece is based on the Quai des Bergues calibre and gold case – the company’s first collection. The Sursum Corda dial features the best of metiers d’art: a world map in cloisonné enamel enclosed within a brushed white gold ring, and an outer hour ring with beautiful hand engraved waves. Laser blasting, cutting and soft sand blasting are employed to create a velvet effect. 

The base plate of the dial was cast by Precinox in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, and is made from a special white gold alloy in order to facilitate all these techniques. The cloisonné world map is made by Donze Cadrans. The continents are displayed in a blue/grey finish and softly blasted to feature the terrain. Each continent is then contained within thin (0.1 mm) walls of white gold, barriers against the five seas which are finished in turquoise. The ring encompassing the world bears the Latin inscription “Sursum Corda” – along with its English translation “Lift Up your Hearts”. Additionally, the motto is also shown in the three main Swiss languages, French, German and Italian. Finally, hand-engraving of the outer ring was executed by master engraver Michele Rothen, following a design by Adrian Buchmann. The hand-engraving of the dial took more than 40 hours to complete. Other dial features – such as the small seconds sub-dial, inscriptions ring and hour ring, were manufactured by Metalem. 

Once more, Czapek put into practise its “We collect rare people” motto by combining the work of expert artisans in order to create a dial masterpiece.
“The Sursum Corda took more than a year of development and to date displays the most complex dial we have ever produced”, says CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel. “It was exciting to co-ordinate the three ateliers involved – all located less than 300 meters from each other! Everything has been created in the Le Locle area, highlighting the strengths of the Swiss high-end watchmaking community”. 

Although looking like a world timer, the watch is in fact powered by the Czapek manually wound proprietary SXH calibre, which features: hours, minutes and small seconds functions, along with an impressive 7-day power reserve 

“I discovered the phrase “Sursum Corda” when I was in my twenties”, concludes Roquemaurel. “It has stayed with me ever since as a motto, and has helped us through the challenges encountered whilst reviving Czapek. These two simple words stand for our values – courage and perseverance. Given the context of 2020, it illustrates the most important message we wanted to share with the watch collecting community. We are well aware that Czapek & Cie may have been asleep for many years, however, the spirit of the founder is alive today and reflected as a tribute to design and craftsmanship. 

https://czapek.com

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