Czapek & Cie New Enamel Dial Watches
Following the release of new dial variants in January, Swiss luxury watch brand Czapek & Cie has presented four of the company’s tried-and-true enamel dial watches at Baselworld 2019 as a special series.
These new models have received new dials in brilliant enamel variations, thanks to collaborations with Czapek’s shareholders and manufacturing partners.
The Quai des Bergues 25ter, for example, has a brilliant Grand-Feu white dial, which harmonises well with the keen edged 42.5-millimeter steel case. It gives the watch a natural lightness and clarity. Another Quai des Bergues, this time an S model in 38.5mm, was used to try out a new approach to the “flinqué” technique, which combines guilloché with enamel.
In this case, Czapek partner Metalem recreated the company’s own Ricochet design on a stamping tool which was then applied to a silver plate. A blue enamel with an exclusive sapphire tone was then added by Donzé Cadrans. The hue was created following the inputs of a panel of Czapek shareholders and collectors.
The grand-feu technique, which bakes the enamel at over 800°C will give brilliance and exuberance to a white dial. Black enamel, on the other hand, becomes ocean-deep and mysterious. To achieve this effect perfectly for the Quai des Bergues Black Enamel S, the normally vaulted dial plate had to be flattened to ensure the even spread of the enamel application.
Finally, Czapek decided to use enamelling to create the 41.5-millimeter Faubourg de Cracovie Tao, an unprecedented black and white Grand-Feu enamel “panda” watch. The two subdials at 9 and 3 o’clock have been slightly sunken into the striking white dial and appear in shiny black, like the eyes of a panda – the famous analogy used to describe such chronographs.
The subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock has remained white, with the date almost incorporated creating a kind of mouth for the panda. Finally, the 12 in Roman numeral is still red as a focal point of the watch.
Technical details
Model: Czapek & Cie Faubourg de Cracovie Tao – Stainless steel case, Handcrafted ‘panda’ enamel dial, Fleur de Lys hands, Certified Chronometer (COSC)
Functions
Chronograph, hours, minutes & seconds
Chronograph’s Minutes at 3 o’clock
Chronograph’s Hours at 9 o’clock
Small seconds at 6 o’clock
Date at 6 o’clock
Movement
Caliber SXH3: Haute Horlogerie integrated automatic Chronograph movement with a bespoke execution
Power reserve: 65 hours
Frequency: 5 Hz – 36’000 VpH
Column Wheel, Vertical Clutch and Linear Hammer
Golden Oscillating weight with Czapek logo
Diameter: 30mm – 13 lines 1/4
Height: 6.95mm
Certified Chronometer (COSC)
Finish: Finely sandblasted and diamond polished anthracite bridges, snailed trottoirs
Case
41.5mm Stainless Steel Case
Sapphire crystal Glass-Box with anti-reflective treatment
Sapphire case back with Anti-reflective treatment on the inner side
Water Resistance: 50m
Bracelet
Alligator Strap with a steel deploying buckle
Dial
Handcrafted Grand-Feu white enamel bombé dial with black enamel welded sub-dials
“Czapek” secret signature in the counter at 9 o’clock
Date at 6 o’ clock
XII in scarlet red
International retail price
25’500 CHF
Model: Czapek & Cie Quai des Bergues 25ter – XO Steel Case, Grand-Feu enamel dial, Fleur de Lys blued titanium hands
Functions
Hours, minutes & seconds
Small second at 7h30
Power reserve indication with weekdays at 4h30
Movement
Calibre SXH1: Haute Horlogerie proprietary mechanical hand-wound movement
Power-reserve > 168 hours (7 days) on 2 barrel-springs
Frequency: 3 Hz – 21,600 VpH
Diameter: 32 mm – 14 lines 1⁄4
Height: 4.75 mm
Finish
Double open ratchets, sandblasted bridges, blue screws, bevelling, final anglage ‘main’
Case
Exclusive XO stainless steel “Revolution” case
42.5 mm diameter
Curved Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Sapphire crystal case back with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Water-resistance: 50 meters (5 atm)
Bracelet
Alligator strap with stainless steel pin buckle
Dial
“Grand feu” enamel dial with Czapek ”secret signature”
Elongated roman numerals, symbol of the Czapek elegance
Hands
“Fleur de Lys” hands in “BlackGold”, a 5N Rose Gold with black Rhodium plating (also available in blue)
International retail price
15’400 CHF
Model: Czapek & Cie Quai des Bergues Sapphire Blue S, XO Steel Case, Blue handmade “Flinqué” enamel dial, Rhodium plated steel hands
Functions
Hours, minutes & seconds
Small second at 7h30
Power reserve indication with weekdays at 4h30
Movement
Calibre SXH1: Haute Horlogerie proprietary mechanical hand-wound movement
Power-reserve > 168 hours (7 days) on 2 barrel-springs
Frequency: 3 Hz – 21,600 VpH
Diameter: 32 mm – 14 lines 1⁄4
Height: 4.75 mm
Case
Exclusive XO stainless steel “Revolution” case
38.5 mm diameter
Curved Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Sapphire crystal case back with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Water-resistance: 50 meters (5 atm)
Finish
Double open ratchets, sandblasted bridges, blue screws, bevelling, final chamfering by hand
Bracelet
Alligator strap with stainless steel pin buckle
Dial
Blue handmade “Flinqué” enamel dial
Ricochet® design
Czapek typical elongated Roman numerals
Steel rhodium plated hands
Hands
Rhodium plated steel hands
International Retail Price
16’000 CHF
Model: Czapek & Cie Quai des Bergues Black Enamel S, XO Steel Case, Black Grand-Feu enamel dial, Fleur de Lys white gold hands
Functions
Hours, minutes & seconds
Small second at 7h30
Power reserve indication with weekdays at 4h30
Movement
Calibre SXH1: Haute Horlogerie proprietary mechanical hand-wound movement
Power-reserve > 168 hours (7 days) on 2 barrel-springs
Frequency: 3 Hz – 21,600 VpH
Diameter: 32 mm – 14 lines 1⁄4
Height: 4.75 mm
Finish
Double open ratchets, sandblasted bridges, blue screws, bevelling, final chamfering by hand
Case
Exclusive XO stainless steel “Revolution” case
38.5 mm diameter
Curved Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Sapphire crystal case back with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Water-resistance: 50 meters (5 atm)
Bracelet
Alligator strap with stainless steel pin buckle
Dial
Handmade grand-feu black enamel dial
Fleur de Lys white gold hands
International Retail Price
16’000 CHF
