Czapek & Cie. – ANTARCTIQUE Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’ Edition

Czapek & Cie. – ANTARCTIQUE Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’ Monopusher Chronograph Edition 2025

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Geneva, September 2025 – Will robots rule all our lives one day? Or will Czapek’s Rare People escape that fate? Might the answer be found in Czapek & Cie’s new Antarctique Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’, where a robot adds a playful animation to the mechanics revealed beneath the grey-metallised sapphire dial? As the chronograph function is activated, the robot’s eyes change colour: press start, the eyes turn yellow (recalling Shrikes in the movie Mortal Engines). Stop: they turn red. And on reset they turn blue.

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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!) 

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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.

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“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…”

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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. 

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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.)

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

=======================
About Czapek & Cie
 
François Czapek was a Czech-born Polish watchmaker who fled to Geneva in 1832 after fighting in the Polish uprising. He immediately started his own atelier and in 1839 entered into a partnership with Antoine Norbert de Patek, introducing him to the world of watchmaking. In 1845, at the end of their partnership, he created Czapek & Cie and achieved considerable success. He became the official watchmaker of Napoleon III and opened, what was most likely the first watchmaking boutique on the Place Vendome in Paris. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO    

He wrote a book about watchmaking, but unfortunately, he died before publishing a second one. Czapek & Cie has been revived in 2015 with an exceptional collection, whose leading model won the Public Prize in the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie in Geneva in November 2016. This collection takes its inspiration from an 1850’s Czapek time piece. It features a beautiful enamel dial and a 7-day proprietary movement perfectly combining craftsmanship with design and exclusivity with rarity. The Company second collection, a suspended Tourbillon with a second time-zone, was launched one year later in 2017, while the first Czapek chronograph Faubourg de Cracovie was unveiled at Baselworld 2018. The company is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

=============================
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model name: GARRICK – ANTARCTIQUE Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’ Monopusher Chronograph Edition

#wecollectrarepeople

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FUNCTIONS
• Split-second monopusher chronograph, hours,minutes & seconds
• Chronograph's minutes at 4:30
• Small seconds at 7:30
• Split-second pusher at 10:30
• Rattrapante ON/OFF indicator at 6:00
• Indication of the chronograph state by the robot head at 12:00
MOVEMENT
• Calibre SXH6: haute horlogerie automatic
• power-horse movement with a split-second
• monopusher chronograph module
• Power reserve: 60 hours
• Frequency: 4 Hz - 28’800 VpH
• Variable inertia balance wheel
• Two column wheels, chronograph horizontal
• clutch
• 49 jewels, 441 components
• Recycled 5N rose gold rotor with Czapek logo
• Diameter: 34mm
FINISH
• Finely shotblasted bridges with hand-polished
• chamfers
• Linear satin-finished chronograph levers with hand-polished chamfers
• Circular satin-finished wheels
• Black-polished screws, studs and column wheels 
CASE
• 42.5 mm stainless-steel case
• Lug to lug : 46.6mm
• Height (with glass-box): 15.3mm
• Perceived height (bezel to case-back): 10.5mm
• Sapphire crystal glass-box with anti-reflective treatment
• Sapphire case back with anti-reflective treatment on the inner side
• Water resistance: 12 atm
• Screwed-down crown
DIAL
• Open-worked split-second chronograph on the dial side (world première)
• Robot head indicating the chronograph state: running (yellow), stopped (red), and reset (blue)
• Sword hours and minutes hands with SuperLuminova treatment
• Split-second hand in blue with white tip
• Main seconds hand in white with blue tip
• Grey fumé sapphire glass minutes ring and counters made with PVD evaporation
BRACELET
• Integrated stainless steel bracelet with Czapek
• exclusive "Easy Release" system & micro adjustment device
• Complementary rubber strap
• Additional calf leather strap on demand

🔰Edition - Only of ✅77 pieces
🔴INTERNATIONAL RETAIL PRICE without tax CHF 58'000 (including GST).

---------------------------------
Press Release - 2025
---------------------------------
Czapek & Cie – 2, Rue Saint-Léger, 1205 Genève Suisse
Contact presse: Valeria Garavaglia Pedroni
Email: valeria@czapek.com | jane@czapek.com (UK)

Tel.  +41 79 314 08 54
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 www.facebook.com - Czapek Geneve
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Czapek.com

Czapek & Cie. – ANTARCTIQUE Tourbillon Edition

Czapek & Cie. – ANTARCTIQUE Tourbillon – Secret Alloy 10th Anniversary Edition 2025

CZAPEK & CIE UNVEILS THE LIMITED 50-PIECE ANTARCTIQUE Tourbillon  EDITION

Czapek & Cie introduces the Antarctique Tourbillon, driven by the new in-house Calibre 9 with a flying tourbillon regulator. The watch features a dramatic new guilloché pattern on the dial – the ‘Singularité’, and a striking architecture. This launch marks the beginning of the 10^th anniversary year since the revival of Czapek & Cie, which coincides with the 180^th anniversary of the namesake watchmaking Maison founded in 1845 by François Czapek, whose spirit continues to guide the company today.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

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.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

    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.”

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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.

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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.

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    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.”

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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.

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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.

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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 10^th 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

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.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

The Antarctique Tourbillon will be available for pre-order at the brand’s authorised dealers worldwide, the boutique in Geneva at rue de la Corraterie 18, and at Czapek.com.

=======================
About Czapek & Cie
 
François Czapek was a Czech-born Polish watchmaker who fled to Geneva in 1832 after fighting in the Polish uprising. He immediately started his own atelier and in 1839 entered into a partnership with Antoine Norbert de Patek, introducing him to the world of watchmaking. In 1845, at the end of their partnership, he created Czapek & Cie and achieved considerable success. He became the official watchmaker of Napoleon III and opened, what was most likely the first watchmaking boutique on the Place Vendome in Paris. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO    

He wrote a book about watchmaking, but unfortunately, he died before publishing a second one. Czapek & Cie has been revived in 2015 with an exceptional collection, whose leading model won the Public Prize in the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie in Geneva in November 2016. This collection takes its inspiration from an 1850’s Czapek time piece. It features a beautiful enamel dial and a 7-day proprietary movement perfectly combining craftsmanship with design and exclusivity with rarity. The Company second collection, a suspended Tourbillon with a second time-zone, was launched one year later in 2017, while the first Czapek chronograph Faubourg de Cracovie was unveiled at Baselworld 2018. The company is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

=============================
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model name:   GARRICK – ANTARCTIQUE Tourbillon – Secret Alloy 10th Anniversary Edition

Case
    Material: Stainless steel
    Diameter: 40.50 mm
    Height: 11.50 mm
    Sapphire crystal glass box with anti-reflective treatment on the inner side
    Sapphire case back glass box with antireflective treatment on the inner side
    Water-resistant to 50 meters
Dial and hands

– Secret Alloy

• Hand-guilloche, registered ‘Singularity’ dial in 401 ‘Secret Alloy’ original grey colour
• Blued hour-markers with Superluminova
• Blued hands with Superluminova

– Glacier Blue

• Hand-guilloché, registered ‘Singularity’ dial in 401 ‘Secret Alloy’ with PVD-made Glacier Blue hue
• Blued hour-markers and hands with Superluminova
• Rhodium-plated hour-markers and hands as a made-to-order option

  – Photon Sphere

• Hand-guilloche, registered ‘Singularity’ dial in 401 ‘Secret Alloy’ with PVD-made 5N gold hue
• Rhodium-plated hour-markers and indexes with Superluminova
• Blued hour-markers and hands as a made-toorder option

Movement
    Calibre 9: Czapek manufacture tourbillon movement, mechanical with automatic winding
    Diameter: 32.4mm
    Height: oscillating weight/bottom dials 3.79mm
    oscillating weight/centre bridge 7mm
    Number of parts: 191
    Number of jewels: 20
    Swiss lever escapement, variable inertia balance (8mg per cm²) via 4 gold inertia weights
    Frequency: 3 Hz, 21’600 vph
    Hand-engraved 5N gold oscillating weight
    Power reserve of 72 hours
Finishes
    Openwork ratchets, sandblasted, blackened, satin-finished and hand-bevelled bridges, six inward angles
Functions
    Hours, minutes & 60 seconds flying tourbillon
Strap and buckle
    Integrated stainless steel bracelet with Czapek
    Exclusive ‘Easy Release’ system and microadjustment device
    Additional rubber strap

🔰Edition - Only of ✅ 50 pieces

🔴INTERNATIONAL RETAIL PRICE without tax CHF 63'000 (including GST).

---------------------------------
Press Release - 2025
---------------------------------
Czapek & Cie – 2, Rue Saint-Léger, 1205 Genève Suisse
Contact presse: Valeria Garavaglia Pedroni
Email: valeria@czapek.com | jane@czapek.com (UK)

Tel.  +41 79 314 08 54
-----------------------------------------------------
 www.facebook.com - Czapek Geneve
------------------------------------------------
Czapek.com

Czapek & Cie. – ANTARCTIQUE ‘Artists & Artisans - Piece N°1’ - Unique Piece

Czapek & Cie. – ANTARCTIQUE ‘Artists & Artisans - Pièce N°1’ - Unique Piece TimeForArt Special Edition 2024

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Czapek & Cie is proud to announce the creation of an extraordinary and exclusive Antarctique timepiece, titled ‘Artists & Artisans - Pièce N°1’, for the prestigious TimeForArt auction. This unique watch showcases the artistry of master engraver Michèle Rothen, in collaboration with Czapek’s long-term partner, Metalem.

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At the heart of this exceptional creation lies the dial, made from a rare gold alloy, Alloy 401, which Czapek has branded as the ‘Secret Alloy.’ The dial features a hand-decorated engraving, artfully blackened to highlight the intricate design representing Czapek's SXH5 caliber. This detailed engraving with a striking ‘trompe l’oeil’ effect resembles the aesthetics of a skeleton watch. Complementing the design, the dial is fi nished with three-dimensional indexes, adding depth and sophistication. The sword-shaped hands add a sporty elegance while ensuring optimal readability.

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Speaking about the collaboration, Czapek CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel reflected on the brand’s motto, We collect rare people, and how this project is a true embodiment of that philosophy. “This unique piece is the first of a series that will bring together the rare talents of artists and artisans, in this case our historical manufacturing partner Metalem and our dear friend and master engraver Michèle Rothen. Their artistry and craftsmanship are the perfect reflection of our commitment to preserving and promoting the rare individuals who contribute to the art of watchmaking. We are honored to donate this unique creation to benefit the Swiss Institute, and to demonstrate once again that luxury is about not just rare crafts, but the people behind them”.

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The 40.5mm stainless steel case showcases another layer of visual intrigue with its unique double ‘trompe l’oeil’ curve, an unconventional yet iconic design of this collection. The stainless steel integrated bracelet features a stunning contrast of brushed and highly polished links shaped like a ‘C’ for Czapek. Additionally, the bracelet is equipped with a quick-change system, off ering versatility with an easy switch to a rubber or leather strap, and a micro-adjustment.

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But there’s more, this bracelet will also feature a micro-adjustment system mid-2024. An additional strap is provided, as Czapek has developed an exclusive quick-change system allowing the wearer to switch from one strap to another in a minute. To provide a maximum versatility and playful experience, rubber straps whose pattern recalls the "Stairway to Eternity" design on the Passage de Drake dial, are available in a large choice of colors. A selection of soft calf straps with contrasting topstitches can be also order on demand.

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The SXH5.01 automatic caliber is the first to be entirely conceived in-house by Czapek from a blank page. Every part of it has been made with care to detail and with the help of the top Swiss manufacturing partners and craftsmen, la crème de la crème, the magnificent orchestra directed by Czapek in the We Collect Rare People spirit. The microrotor, is placed off-center to allow a plunging view into the mechanism and its exceptional architecture. 

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A free-sprung balance wheel with variable inertia provided by four gold adjustable weights enables the highest level of precision tuning. The gear train is held in place by a series of seven handsome skeletonized bridges. Their original shape is reminiscent of lace, inspired on one side by XIX century pocket watches, and by the very modern Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie chronograph’s rotor. The movement has superlative finishing on the bridges that merges ‘haute horlogerie’ angling techniques with state-ot-the-art laser

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The Artists & Artisans - Pièce N°1 is powered by the SXH5 automatic caliber, boasting a 60-hour power reserve and a micro-rotor crafted from recycled platinum. This caliber blends the elegance of traditional haute horlogerie fi nishing techniques with cutting-edge laser engravings, ensuring both sophistication and high reliability.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

TimeForArt is a curated benefit auction of exceptional timepieces from the world’s greatest watchmakers, with 100% of the proceeds directly enabling today’s most visionary artists through the Swiss Institute’s exhibitions, public programs, education, and community engagement workshops – all of which are free of charge. The biennial auction also serves as a year-round platform for exchange between the horological and visual arts.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The inaugural edition of TimeForArt was held as part of the Phillips New York Watch Auction: SEVEN in 2022. The second edition will take place during the live Phillips New York Watch Auction in December 2024, giving collectors another chance to acquire extraordinary timepieces while supporting the art world.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

This one-of-a-kind timepiece, the Antarctique “Artists & Artisans - Pièce N°1,” has been generously donated by Czapek to support the Swiss Institute’s mission. The watch will be available at the upcoming TimeForArt auction.

=======================
About Czapek & Cie
 
François Czapek was a Czech-born Polish watchmaker who fled to Geneva in 1832 after fighting in the Polish uprising. He immediately started his own atelier and in 1839 entered into a partnership with Antoine Norbert de Patek, introducing him to the world of watchmaking. In 1845, at the end of their partnership, he created Czapek & Cie and achieved considerable success. He became the official watchmaker of Napoleon III and opened, what was most likely the first watchmaking boutique on the Place Vendome in Paris. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO    

He wrote a book about watchmaking, but unfortunately, he died before publishing a second one. Czapek & Cie has been revived in 2015 with an exceptional collection, whose leading model won the Public Prize in the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie in Geneva in November 2016. This collection takes its inspiration from an 1850’s Czapek time piece. It features a beautiful enamel dial and a 7-day proprietary movement perfectly combining craftsmanship with design and exclusivity with rarity. The Company second collection, a suspended Tourbillon with a second time-zone, was launched one year later in 2017, while the first Czapek chronograph Faubourg de Cracovie was unveiled at Baselworld 2018. The company is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

=========================
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model name:   GARRICK – Antarctique  ‘Artists & Artisans - Pièce N°1’Edition

🔰LIMITED EDITION    1 watches - Unique Piece

  Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

 
MOVEMENT
Calibre SXH5.01: 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 a recycled platinum Pt 950  mass
- Power-reserve > 60 hours on one single barrel
- Barrel torque: 8.8 Nmm
FINISH
Open ratchets, sandblasted black bridges,
bevelling, straight-grained sides, six hand-chamfered inward angles
FUNCTIONS
Hours, minutes and central seconds
CASE
Case bi-metallic stainless steel - No: 17133

- Diameter: 40.50 mm steel case bi-metallic stainless steel
- Height: 10.6 mm
- Sapphire case back with anti-reflective treatment on the inner side
- Glass: Sapphire crystal glass-box with anti-reflective treatment
- Water resistance: 120m
- Screwed-down crown, guards and C links on integrated bracelet
DIAL
Dial engraved by hand by Swiss artisan M. Rothen with a trompe l’oeil effect representing the SXH5 caliber

Dial, made from a rare gold alloy, Alloy 401, which Czapek has branded as the ‘Secret Alloy.’
BRACELET
Integrated stainless steel bracelet with Czapek exclusive ‘Easy Release’ system and microadjustment mechanism

 

• Accessories: Accompanied by Czapek Passport, instruction manual, additional deployant clasp, additional rubber bracelet, three setting tools, setting pins, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.

 PRODUCTION

🔰Edition - Only of ✅ 1 - Unique piece donated to TimeForArt

🔴 PRICE Estimate: USD 40'000 - 80'000 (including GST).

 

For more information, visit 👉 www.timeforart.ch 

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Press Release - 2024
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Czapek & Cie – 2, Rue Saint-Léger, 1205 Genève Suisse
Contact presse: Valeria Garavaglia Pedroni
Email: valeria@czapek.com | jane@czapek.com (UK)

Tel.  +41 79 314 08 54
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