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Czapek & Cie. at Watches & Wonders 2024: All the Latest Releases
News
Czapek & Cie. at Watches & Wonders 2024: All the Latest Releases
The entirely new Promenade collection features slim cases, micro-rotor movements and stunningly poetic dials. It’s also joined by new variants of Czapek’s sporty Antarctique
Building upon the success of the Quai des Bergues collection, Czapek & Cie embarked on a creative exploration, introducing collections like Faubourg de Cracovie, Antarctique, and Place Vendôme. This journey and experience has now led to the creation of a new line that embodies the evolution and maturity of the brand, the Promenade.
The Promenade collection was envisioned as a truly modern idea of effortlessly chic, relaxed, and easy to wear. To achieve this vision, Czapek & Cie focused on creating a slim case, which necessitated the use of a micro-rotor movement. The SXH5 movement, originally developed for the sporty Antarctique collection, provided the perfect foundation for the Promenade line. This movement, while subtly referencing its sporty origins, was transformed into a refined and sophisticated timekeeping instrument that doubles as a canvas for creative expression.
Czapek & Cie. Promenade, Goutte d'Eau
The Promenade collection pays homage to the original Quai des Bergues model with its slim case design. The 38mm stainless steel case, with a height under 10mm, features recessed and sand-blasted sides, a signature curved crown protection, and a rounded bezel that fully opens the dial to view. This evolution of the case design creates a sense of continuity and familiarity within the Czapek & Cie family of watches.
At the heart of the Promenade collection beats the automatic SXH5 movement. This in-house mechanical movement, entirely conceived and assembled by Czapek & Cie, showcases the brand’s horological mastery. With a diameter of 30mm and a height of 4.2mm, the SXH5 movement consists of 193 parts and features a Swiss lever escapement and a variable-inertia balance wheel regulated by four small cylindrical inertia-blocks. The micro-rotor, made of 100% recycled platinum, powers the movement, providing a respectable 60 hours of power reserve.
Czapek & Cie. Promenade, Goutte d'Eau
The movement’s aesthetics are as impressive as its technical specifications. Inspired by the pocket watches of François Czapek, the SXH5 movement boasts seven skeletonized bridges that hold the gear train in place. The movement plates and bridges are meticulously finished with open ratchets, sandblasted black bridges, beveling, straight-grained sides, and hand-chamfered inward angles. This attention to detail and traditional high watchmaking craftsmanship further enhance the allure of the Promenade collection.
The beauty of a watch is often revealed through its dial, and this holds true for the Promenade collection. Czapek & Cie has reinvented traditional decorative techniques to create two stunning dials that elevate the aesthetic appeal of these timepieces.
The first dial, called the Goutte d’Eau (“drops of water”), harnesses the mesmerizing effect of grand feu enamel. As the watch moves, an optical illusion is created, reminiscent of the movement of ripples radiating from a waterdrop falling on a still pond. The Goutte d’Eau dial, presented in Sapphire Blue, is a collaboration between Czapek and Donzé Cadrans, a renowned specialist in enamel dials under the ownership of the Sowind Group.
Czapek & Cie. Promenade, Goutte d'Eau
The second dial, Guilloché Soleil (“sun”), is a modern approach to guilloché. The seconds sub-dial represents the sun, and finely cut guilloché sunrays radiate from it. To bring this dial to life, Czapek collaborated with its long-time partner, Metalem. The hand-guilloché dials are available in two colors: champagne and night blue.
Czapek & Cie. Promenade, Guilloché Soleil (Bleu Nuit)
Czapek & Cie. Promenade, Guilloché Soleil (Ivoire)
In both dials, Czapek & Cie allows the beauty of the decorative techniques to take center stage, minimizing other elements to maintain a sense of elegance and refinement. The fine, arrow-shaped hands are semi-skeletonized, while the applied indexes are trapezoidal ingots with diamond-cut angles that reflect light beautifully.
Tech Specs
Movement: SXH5 in-house automatic movement, 60-hour power reserve, micro-rotor
Function: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date
Case: 38mm × 10mm, stainless steel
Dial: Goutte d’Eau or Guilloché Soleil
Strap: Integrated stainless steel bracelet with micro adjustment
Price: TBC
Availability: Second quarter of 2025
Function: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date
Case: 38mm × 10mm, stainless steel
Dial: Goutte d’Eau or Guilloché Soleil
Strap: Integrated stainless steel bracelet with micro adjustment
Price: TBC
Availability: Second quarter of 2025
Czapek & Cie. Antarctique Afterglow
For Watches and Wonders 2024, Czapek has added two new interesting dials to the Antarctique collection. One of the protagonists is the Antarctique Afterglow. The Antarctique Afterglow boasts a 40.5mm stainless steel case, gracefully housing a textured dial that features an exclusive pattern.
Czapek & Cie. Antarctique Afterglow
The dial of the Antarctique Afterglow is a visual treat, featuring a stamped guilloché pattern named “Stairway to Eternity.” It is presented in a captivating purple color achieved through PVD treatment.
Tech Specs
Movement: SXH5 in-house automatic movement, 60-hour power reserve, Micro-rotor
Function: Hours, Minutes, Central seconds, Date
Case: 40.5mm × 10.6mm stainless steel, 120 meters water resistance
Dial: Stamped guilloche pattern in purple color; luminescent steel sword hands
Strap: Integrated stainless steel bracelet with micro adjustment
Price: CHF 23,000
Function: Hours, Minutes, Central seconds, Date
Case: 40.5mm × 10.6mm stainless steel, 120 meters water resistance
Dial: Stamped guilloche pattern in purple color; luminescent steel sword hands
Strap: Integrated stainless steel bracelet with micro adjustment
Price: CHF 23,000
Czapek & Cie. Antarctique Green Meteorite
The second Antarctique collection watch is the Green Meteorite featuring a dial crafted from a slice of a green Gibeon meteorite. The dial displays a stunning pattern, known as the Widmanstätten pattern. This pattern is formed over millions of years as the meteorite cools and crystallizes in the vacuum of space. The dial’s unique texture and color make each Antarctique watch a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. This is a limited edition watch, with only 10 pieces being produced.
Czapek & Cie. Antarctique Green Meteorite
Both new Antarctiques come with integrated stainless steel bracelets. This bracelet incorporates Czapek’s exclusive “Easy Release” system and micro-adjustment feature, ensuring a comfortable fit. An additional leather or rubber strap is also provided.
Tech Specs
Movement: SXH5 in-house automatic movement, 60-hour power reserve, Micro-rotor
Function: Hours, Minutes, Central seconds, Date
Case: 40.5mm × 10.6mm stainless steel, 120 meters water resistance
Dial: Green Gibeon meteorite in Widmanstätten pattern
Strap: Integrated steel bracelet
Price: CHF 25,000
Availability: Limited to 10 pieces
Function: Hours, Minutes, Central seconds, Date
Case: 40.5mm × 10.6mm stainless steel, 120 meters water resistance
Dial: Green Gibeon meteorite in Widmanstätten pattern
Strap: Integrated steel bracelet
Price: CHF 25,000
Availability: Limited to 10 pieces
