The Geneva based luxury watch brand Czapek & Cie announces Antarctique, an extra ordinary Swiss made luxury sports-watch that combines sophisticated style with an exceptional in-house movement.
The Czapek & Cie Antarctique is a powerful automatic sports watch that is thin enough to slip comfortably under a cuff, and with a carefully-honed, edgy look. The transparent case back reveals the powerful, 30-millimeter SXH5.01 automatic caliber, conceived exclusively by Czapek’s concepteur, Daniel Martinez. Special attention was given to both performance and appearance, so the movement’s parts are arranged for visual harmony and transparency.
The architecture of the movement is also exceptional. At the root is a free-sprung balance wheel with variable inertia provided by four gold masselotte weights, which enables the highest level of precision tuning for a mechanical watch.
The micro-rotor was manufactured in La-Chaux-de-Fonds out of a very special ‘fully recycled’ 18-kt gold supplied by AGOSI. It was placed off-centre to allow a plunging view into the mechanism. The SXH5.01 beats at 28,800 vph. The single barrel harbours a flat spring wound via the traditional Czapek ratchet wheel with five arms. The timepiece has a power reserve of at least fifty-six hours, a truly remarkable feat for a micro-rotor.
Every part of the Antarctique has been made with a level of care to detail close to obsession. For instance, the gear train is held in place by a series of seven handsome skeletonized bridges inspired by nineteenth-century pocket watches.
Their unique shape, which has been added to the Swiss design register, does recall the Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie chronograph rotor. It proves that stringent watchmaking craftsmanship can be further enhanced with a hint of free-floating creativity, as if form were an equal party to function. The straight-grained sides and the six chamfered inward angles are other hallmarks of a high-end timepiece.
The Antarctique’s dial was designed and manufactured by Metalem, a Czapek & Cie cooperation partner, using a unique lamé technique, invented by them 30 years ago and revamped today for this project. This technique consists in creating a series of traits on the dial with a comb. These characteristic striations give the colours more depth and starker reflections.
Edgy three-dimensional indexes are applied on this handcrafted pattern as if they were bridges over the ocean. On the dial, the date window is positioned at 6 o’clock to maintain the Czapek aesthetics based on vertical symmetry. The hands design is reminiscent of a sword, sporty and easy-to-read, as well as the indexes.
The 40.5mm stainless steel case is integrated with an original double ‘trompe l’oeil’ curve, another unconventional design choice making this timepiece unique and exclusive. It is rounded off by an ergonomic brushed integrated bracelet, whose links mesh to form a highly polished “C” for Czapek.
A great deal of attention was put on the bracelet, its feeling when placed on the wrist, comfort, lightness and its capability to be forgotten by its wearer and suddenly reveal its stunning beauty creating an intense pleasure.
As Czapek has developed an exclusive quick-change system, an additional strap is provided. Customer can choose between a soft and elegant calf bracelet and a sportier-looking rubber strap. The watch is water-resistant up to 120 meters.
The idea of the name Antarctique was originated by the family trip to Antarctica of one of Czapek’s most historical and active shareholders, a successful entrepreneur who ardently finances new businesses mostly for sustainable solutions.
The Antarctique is available in several versions. The Terre Adélie will be in made in a limited edition of 99 pieces. It is a tribute to the French explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville who named an Antarctica island after his wife, Adèle, during his daring expedition to the continent in 1840. It comes in four colours, Deep Blue, Secret Alloy, Black Ink and Burgundy.
The Orion Nebula, a special edition with hand-varnished dial, will be produced in 10 pieces only. Further versions, as well as a new ladies’ model, are scheduled for fall 2020.
The Crew behind Czapek & Cie Antarctique
- Conception: Emmanuel Bouchet, Adrian Buchmann, Daniel Martinez, Xavier de Roquemaurel & Patrick Rossi
- Components and movement manufacturing: AB Product, Arcofil, Atokalpa, Ceramaret, Chronode, CMT-Rickenbach, Comblemine, Crelier, Generale Ressort, Inca, Inodeco, MLV, MPS, Novassort, Precipro, Risa, Stocco – and a few standard components as well
- Habillage: AB Product, Capsa, HMS Waeber, Jean Rousseau, Metalem, Wolf
About the Czapek SXH5 Caliber
Czapek & Cie SXH5.01 Caliber is a self-winding micro-rotor movement that drives hour, minutes and central seconds as well as calendar function. This high-end movement was conceived in-house and “from scratch” by the Czapek team.
This horological engine boasts an exceptional architecture with 7 bridges cut out like lace allowing a clear view of the finishing (the gear train). The original bridges’ shape ia inspired by 19th century movements and by Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie chronograph’s rotor.
The movement features superlative finishes with hand chamfering of 6 inward angles and drawing of the flanks. Its 8.8 Newton mm single barrel loaded by a micro-rotor in certified 100% recycled 18k gold to free up the view on the movement and let it remain reasonably flat and thin (4.5mm). The SXH5.01 caliber provides an impressive power reserve of 56 hours.
The movement is 100% Swiss made (gold excepted) with a majority of components exclusive to Czapek. The 8 mg.cm² variable inertia balance wheel allows precise adjustment and excellent chronometry. The SXH5.01 is a powerful movement with an optimal balance of inertia and torque to achieve perfect isochronism and power horse versatility,
The exclusive date indication positioned at 6 o’clock stays true to Czapek’s aesthetics based on vertical symmetry. The movement was realized with the involvement of at least 15 partners and co-creators such as the prototype maker Emmanuel Bouchet, Atokalpa, Générale Ressort and many others.
[View the promotional video at https://youtu.be/50pWKkF7xpQ]
Technical details
Functions
Hours, Minutes & Seconds
Date at 6 o’clock
Movement
Calibre SXH5: Czapek’s in house self-winding mechanical movement
Diameter: 30 mm – 13 lines ¼
Height: 4.2 mm
Number of parts: 193
Jewels: 28
Swiss lever escapement, variable-inertia balance fitted with four gold inertia-blocks
Frequency: 4 Hz – 28’800 VpH
Power winding system: Micro rotor with an 18K recycled gold mass
Power-reserve > 56 hours on one single barrel
Barrel torque: 8.8 Nmm
Finish
Open ratchet, sandblasted black bridges, bevelling, straight-grained sides, six hand-chamfered inward angles
Model: Czapek & Cie Antarctique Terre Adélie
Case
40.5mm steel case
Height: 10.6 mm
Sapphire crystal glass-box with anti-reflective treatment
Sapphire case back with anti-reflective treatment on the inner side
Water resistance: 120m
Screwed-down crown
Bracelet
Integrated stainless steel bracelet with Czapek exclusive “Easy Release” system
Additional calf leather or rubber strap
Dial
Hand-decorated lamé dial available in Secret Alloy, Deep Blue, Black Ink and Burgundy
Luminescent, steel “Sword” hands
Production
Limited edition of 99 pieces maximum
Online subscription only, ending July 15th 2020
International Subscription Price
CHF 18’000 or $ 18’900 (US duties incl.)
Model: Czapek & Cie Antarctique Orion Nebula
Case
40.5mm steel case
Height: 10.6 mm
Sapphire crystal glass-box with anti-reflective treatment
Sapphire case back with anti-reflective treatment on the inner side
Water resistance: 120m
Screwed-down crown
Dial
Hand-varnished dial
Luminescent, steel “Sword” hands
Bracelet
Integrated stainless steel bracelet with Czapek exclusive “Easy Release” system
Optional leather or rubber strap
Production
Limited edition of 10 pieces
International retail price
CHF 19’000 or $ 20’000 (US duties incl.)
