Showing posts with label Czapek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Czapek. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Czapek – ANTARCTIQUE Revrelation Edition


CzapekANTARCTIQUE Révélation Edition 2023

 THE ANTARCTIQUE RÉVÉLATION:
CZAPEK’S BEAUTIFUL HEART UNVEILED

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

Geneva, March 2023 – Czapek & Cie has announced the release of a striking new model in its popular Antarctique collection. As its name suggests, the Antarctique Révélation has been skillfully skeletonized and the new bespoke, purpose-built movement exposes its pulsating heart on the dial side, to the thrill of the wearer.

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO  

The high art of skeletonisation allows connoisseur and neophyte alike to discover and delight in the inner workings of a watch, the interplay of the hollowed-out bridges, wheels, and hands around a filigree mainplate.

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO  

Czapek & Cie’s Antarctique Révélation takes this idea even further. The movement itself is placed on the dial side, where it acts as a fascinating animation to thrill the wearer. 

 Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO    

It recalls the Antarctique Rattrapante launched in 2021, which featured the first split-seconds chronograph to appear on the dial. Inspiration came once more from the fans of the brand, says CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel: “People were in love with the remarkable design of our SXH5 movement, and we therefore asked ourselves how we could somehow make it visible on the dial.”

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO       

What sounded simple at first became a three-year saga of deep exploration into aesthetics and engineering. The powerful SXH5 was an outstanding caliber on its own merit and with an exceptionally stark design, in particular the fine bridges angling over to grip the gearwheels, a hint of the nineteenth-century Czapek pocket watch movements.

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO     

“One of the first requests had been to engrave a drawing of the movement onto the dial, as a ‘trompe l’oeil,’” says de Roquemaurel. “But soon a far more complex idea emerged, namely turning part of the movement upside down in the case and skeletonizing the main plate.” 

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO     

The decision raised a number of significant challenges, the first one being to completely reverse the escapement. Then the oscillating mass had to be engraved on both sides, for example, and the crown mechanism, now visible to the naked eye, had to be reworked entirely. On a more technical note, the seconds hand could no longer be connected by a bridge to the center, so space was made at 4:30 for a small seconds dial.

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO    

The solution was to use sapphire crystal ring for the seconds. It is discreetly attached to the larger sapphire ring carrying the hours and minutes and ensuring as much transparency as possible, so the wearer can take a deep dive into the mechanism.

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO    

Gradually, what emerged was a new movement, the SXH7. As it evolved, elements from other Czapek models found their place, like the central tripod from the Antarctique Rattrapante holding together the finely cut out bridges. The position of the small seconds, too, is reminiscent of the famous day-date subdial of the Quai des Bergues.

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO     

The Antarctique Révélation will be released at Watches and Wonders 2023 with a limited yearly production of 100 pieces. It will be available to order starting from April 1st at the brand’s official international retailers, the Czapek boutique in Geneva, rue de la Corraterie 18, and at czapek.com. Deliveries will start in January 2025.

 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:  GARRICK Antarctique Révélation Edition

  • Stainless Steel case, mechanical skeletonized movement
  • Minutes track and small second subdial in grey smoked sapphire crystal.
  • Micro-rotor SXH7 caliber, entirely conceived in-house by Czapek & Cie. 

Limited edition of 100 pieces

Click, to see the large size. ▶  BIG FOTO     

MOVEMENT
Calibre SXH7: Czapek's in house self-winding mechanical skeletonized movement
Diameter: 30 mm – 13 lines ¼
Height: 4.2 mm
Number of parts: 152
Jewels: 25

Swiss lever escapement, variable-inertia balance fitted with four gold inertia-blocks
Frequency: 4 Hz – 28800 VpH
Power winding system: Micro rotor with an 100% recycled platinum 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 & Seconds
CASE
40.5mm Stainless steel case
Height: 10.6 mm
Sapphire crystal glass-box with anti-reflective treatment ARDur©
Sapphire crystal case-back with anti-reflective treatment
Water resistance: 120 meters (12 atm)
Screwed-down crown
Watch weight: 95g
DIAL
Minutes track and small second subdial in grey smoked sapphire crystal
Luminescent, steel “Sword” hands
BRACELET
Integrated stainless steel bracelet with Czapek exclusive "Easy Release" system and micro-adjustment device
Additional calf leather or rubber strap 
 
Our Partners
    Conception: Daniel Martinez, Adrian Buchmann, Emmanuel Bouchet, Patrick Rossi & Xavier de Roquemaurel
    Components and movement manufacturing: AB Product, Arcofil, Atokalpa, Ceramaret, Chronode, CMT-Rickenbach, Comblemine, Crelier, Generale Ressort, Inca, Inodeco, Inhotec, MLV, MPS, Novasort, Precipro, Risa, Stocco and as well a few standard components.
    Habillage: AB Product, Capsa, Econorm, Gravages, HMS Waeber, Jean Rousseau, Metalem


PRODUCTION
- Limited edition of 100 pieces
🔴  PRICE CHF 38’950 or $ 38’500 (US duties incl.)

🔰Edition - Only of ✅ 100 pieces

---------------------------------
Press Release - 2023
---------------------------------
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

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Czapek – ANTARCTIQUE Titanium “Dark Sector” Edition


CzapekANTARCTIQUE Titanium "Dark Sector" Automatic Edition 2023

Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector
Czapek
& Cie unveils a study in magic greys

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

Czapek & Cie has launched a brand new model in its Antarctique collection. This new three-hand timepiece takes a serene, geometrical approach to the display of time and remains true to the company’s dedication to top-tier manufacturing and finishing. 

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

Every watch is essentially subjected to two sets of fundamental laws. The first is mechanics, which means everything must function like clockwork, quite literally. The second is aesthetics and is far more subjective: a watch must be visually attractive, provocative, seductive.  

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO   

Czapek’s latest launch, the Antarctique Titanium ‘Dark Sector’, strikes a perfectly symbiotic balance between these two poles. It is driven by the tried-and-true SHX5, and its dial was designed for excellent readability and viewing pleasure.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

The key to this Antarctique’s appeal is in the careful use of space. A traditional minute track has been discreetly placed around the edge of a smooth anthracite dial. It surrounds a double row of lightly arched parallel segments that are interrupted at each numeral. 

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

The sword hour hand points to the gaps like a ship seeking entrance into a harbour, while the minute and second hands sweep the dial each at their own pace, closing the gaps for a moment. This creates a kind of animation, a slight change in the visual geometry. 

 Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

"The idea is simple, but requires great precision to execute," says CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel. "The hands crossing from segment over the dusky backdrop of the dial looks almost like a shoreline seen from far above. The dial was designed in such a way that the marker becomes the void between each sector (an almost philosophical way of defining matter. This spontaneously inspired the model's name "Dark Sector", which comes from the Dark Sector Laboratory and telescopes at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. The skies over Antarctica are the clearest and darkest in the world..."

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO 

The Antarctique Titanium ‘Dark Sector’ emerged naturally from the collection’s elegant case and bracelet of brushed titanium with the sensually rounded crown protector. These shades of grey inspired the model’s overall monochrome scheme, which highlights the two touches of colour on the dial, namely the red dot at twelve o’clock, and the tip of the second hand. The watch runs on Czapek's robust automatic calibre SXH5, the first to be entirely conceived in-house. It is driven by a microrotor of recycled platinum and provides up to sixty hours of autonomy. 

 Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO    

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. 

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

The microrotor, is placed off-center to allow a plunging view into the mechanism and its exceptional architecture. 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. 

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

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 engravings. Since the unveiling of its base movement in May, Czapek & Cie has been continually making improvements to its automatic caliber SXH5 to enhance its precision, performance, and aesthetic. The first upgrade has been to the micro-rotor that was previously in recycled 18-karat gold.

 Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

Our watch’s designer and constructor decided to try a slightly larger rotor in platinum – 100% recycled - which brought 25% more power to the movement. The second upgrade came with a complete change of ball bearings under the micro-rotor. Both upgrades raised the train efficiency to 90% to fully wind the single barrel and deliver the impressive 60 hours of power reserve. This is a significantly longer autonomy than the average high-end sports watches

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO 

In fine watchmaking, every little detail counts. Besides the exceptional SHX5 movement and the sleek and sharp design of the case or the dial, a great deal of attention was put on the bracelet. The feeling when placed on the wrist, the comfort in every situation and lightness are as important as the timepiece visual and technical qualities. 
 
Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

The capability to be forgotten by its wearer and to suddenly reveal its stunning beauty create an intensely pleasurable dichotomy. This is why the Antarctique Dark Sector is equipped by an ergonomic brushed integrated bracelet in Grade 5 Titanium, whose links mesh to form a brushed "C" for Czapek. This bracelet also features a micro-adjustment system, allowing the wearer to extend its length by few millimeters in an instant.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

But there’s more. 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. A large choice of straps is now offered to provide a maximum versatility and playful experience. 
 
Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO 

Rubber straps whose pattern recalls the "Stairway to Eternity" design on the Passage de Drake dial are available in black, white, dark blue, light blue, red, orange or dark grey. Alternatively, a selection of soft calf straps with contrasting topstitches can be chosen.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO 

An exhibition case reveals the fine architecture, with seven bridges that hark back to 19th-century pocket watch movements. The movement's height of 4.5millimeters means that this new model is as sportive and elegant as all others in the Antarctique family. The Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector will be available in a limited yearly production of 100 pieces at Czapek's authorized dealers worldwide, its flagship store in Geneva and at Czapek.com


 The Titanium Dark Sector will be available to buy at Czapek.com, and at the brand's official retailer network starting on APRIL 1st 2023 AT 3PM CET. It is priced at 32'000 CHF before taxes.

 =======================
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:   GARRICK Antarctique Titanium “Dark SectorEdition

Titanium case, grey brass dial with registered segments design.
Micro-rotor SXH5 caliber, entirely conceived in-house by Czapek & Cie. 
Limited edition of 100 pieces

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO  

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
FUNCTIONS
- Hours, Minutes & Seconds
CASE
- 40.5mm brushed Grade 5 titanium 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
- Watch weight: 95g
DIAL
- Anthracite grey brass dial with velouté finish and exclusive registered segments design
- Luminescent, steel "Sword" hands
BRACELET
- Integrated brushed titanium bracelet with Czapek exclusive "Easy Release" system and micro-adjustment device
- Additional calf leather or rubber strap

PRODUCTION
- Limited edition of 100 pieces maximum
- Online subscription only, ending APRIL 1st 2023 AT 3PM CET.

INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIPTION PRICE
- CHF 32’000 or $ 36’000 (US duties incl.)

🔰Edition - Only of ✅ 100 pieces

---------------------------------
Press Release - 2023
---------------------------------
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

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Czapek – ANTARCTIQUE Rattrapante “Ice Blue” Edition

 

CzapekANTARCTIQUE Rattrapante "Ice Blue" Chronograph Edition 2022

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

Czapek’s Rattrapante Ice Blue Exploring Aesthetics and Engineering

Geneva, 2022 – Czapek & Cie has announced the release of a new edition of its Antarctique Rattrapante. The sportive, open-worked split-second chronograph now appears with a touch of blue that enhances the hands and rings on its dial.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

If you have a beautiful engine, you might as well show it off. This is where the art of open-working a watch comes into play. By doing away with the traditional dial, the mechanism is revealed and becomes an integral part of the watch’s aesthetics. Hence this technique requires great care with the decorating, the beveling, the polishing, and the various types of finishing. Furthermore, placing the engine on the dial side and minimizing structural parts also requires ingenious solutions to maintain stability. It’s more challenging if that engine is driving a split-second mechanism activated by clutches, which requires solid anchoring. The results, however, are worth the effort for the magnificent view of a very complex grande complication.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

The challenge and the prize when meeting that challenge was the motivation behind Czapek & Cie’s decision to create the Rattrapante line of watches a year ago. The sapphire crystal in the front and on the exhibition case back reveal the intricate choreography of the dial-side mechanism.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

Immediately recognizable are the two “Czapek” subdials. At 4 o’clock is a 30-minute totalizer, at 7 o’clock tick the small seconds. In the center of the watch is the tripod bridge that holds down the patented satellite minute train and the split seconds-mechanism. Also clearly visible are the two column wheels needed for the chronograph and the split-seconds mechanisms respectively.

This latest iteration of the Antarctique is named “Ice Blue.” As the name suggests, this new Rattrapante reveals the special qualities of this colour, which exudes calm and poise. “We are continuing to explore the many possibilities offered by this very attractive and popular new family of watches,” says Czapek CEO, Xavier de Roquemaurel. “Adding the blue is like a signature for the whole collection: Antarctica, blue sky, blue sea, blue ice.”

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

This model features traditionally blued hands that harmonise well with the weave of metallic greys inside the open-worked watch. A closer look reveals a fumé blue shimmer emanating from the minute track and the two totalizer tracks. The effect is produced by the use of sapphire crystal rings that have been treated with metal oxides applied by an evaporation process.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

Adding to the visual dynamism of the dial is the red chrono hand, known as the trotteuse in French, and the small red “60” at 12 o’clock. 

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

Another salient visual aspect, though, is the dance of levers and cams on the dial of this split-second chronograph and the clamp, which instantly immobilizes one of the chrono wheels when the split-second pusher is activated. The other chronograph hand must then continue its time-counting undisturbed. When the clamp is released, the immobilized hand will “catch up” (rattraper in French) to its companion. Each part must be manufactured to the highest specifications to ensure absolute precision.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

Driving the Rattrapante Ice Blue is the Czapek’s high-performance proprietary caliber SHX6.

 Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

It was created in collaboration with Chronode and is both a mechanical and aesthetic work of art. “The split-second runs on energy tapped from the second wheel,” explains Xavier. “And in this movement, we favored a horizontal clutch rather than a vertical one to highlight the aesthetics of the transmission.” Furthermore, to ensure the streamlined look of the watch, the number of parts and their thickness was reduced to a minimum. Everything had to fit in the 42.5-millimeter case.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

The Antarctique Rattrapante Ice Blue comes on Czapek’s own stainless steel case bracelet, whose links are shaped like the letter C. It will be available in a limited edition of 99 pieces as of April 2nd, 2022.

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

Collection: ANTARCTIQUE 
 
 Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO


 
Model:   ANTARCTIQUE Rattrapante Ice Blue  
 
 Stainless steel case, open-worked split-second chronograph on the dial side.
Limited to 99 pieces
 
MOVEMENT
Calibre SXH6: haute horlogerie automatic power-horse movement with a split-second monopusher chronograph module 
 
Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

Power reserve: 60 hours
Frequency: 4 Hz – 28’800 VpH
– Variable inertia balance wheel
– Two column wheels, chronograph horizontal clutch, patent-pending split-second clamp
49 jewels, 292 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
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
CASE
Stainless Steel
Diameter:  42.5mm  
Height (with glass-box):  15.3 mm
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: 120 m
Dial
– Open-worked split-second chronograph on the dial side (world première)
– Sword hours and minutes hands with SuperLuminova treatment
– Customisable split-second hand: full red, red tip, plain
– Blue fumé sapphire glass minutes ring and counters made with PVD evaporation
Bracelet
– Integrated stainless steel bracelet with Czapek exclusive “Easy Release” system
– Optional leather or rubber strap

International retail price  – 50’000 CHF or 48’700 EUR (no tax)or 56’400 USD (US taxes included)


Limited Edition to 99 exemplaires


-----------------------------------------------
Press Release - 2022
-----------------------------------------------
----------------------
Czapek & Cie – 2, Rue Saint-Léger, 1205 Genève Suisse
Contact presse: Valeria Garavaglia Pedroni
Email: valeria@czapek.com | +41 79 314 08 54
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Czapek.com