Name: Czapek Antarctique S La Carte Des Nuages Stormy Grey
SKU: 477694

Unique colors, intriguing textures, delightful details

La ‘Carte des Nuages’ (literally, the Map of the Clouds) dial plays with the rich glow of mother-of-pearl, offsetting it with a glittering pair of ‘Antarctique cut’ diamonds marking 12, and a Princess cut diamond set at each of the 11 other hours. This ‘Antarctique cut’ of the elongated index markers is an entirely new diamond cut, designed for Czapek by Adrian Buchmann of London-based studio Fuzion Ltd, and registered as a proprietary Czapek cut. Etched into the surface, six fine guilloché gridlines anchor the composition, in a playfully modern take on the traditional craft of guillochage – with a subtle allusion to cartography. Taken from the central and most lustrous part of the oyster shell, the wafer-thin discs of mother-of-pearl used for these dials are rarely guilloché due to their fragility; to do so requires a highly specialised skill that only a few Maisons are able to source.

As is the norm at Czapek, the new dials are the creation of the company’s unique community of ‘rare people’ – designers, craftsmen and production partners of rare skill – as well as the friends, family and collectors whose tastes and desires are absorbed into the spirit of the brand as if by osmosis. By working in the établissage tradition, which governed all Swiss watchmaking before the modern era of vertical production, Czapek draws on the skills of very small-scale, specialised producers to bring such rare dials to life.

The Antarctique S is powered by the SXH5 caliber, the first movement to be entirely conceived in-house by Czapek and launched in the original Antarctique in May 2020. Inspired by the 19th- century pocket watches of François Czapek, its distinctive architecture of seven skeletonized bridges is immediately recognizable. Taking the best from both the past and present of watchmaking, it features a free-sprung balance and an elegant and highly efficient micro-rotor of recycled 950 platinum; the haute horlogerie finishes combine hand-bevelled internal angles with state-of-the-art laser engraving to create a beautiful play of contrasts: light and dark, textured and smooth, matte and polished.

Like the best-selling Czapek Antarctique Passage de Drake S, the Sashiko is built around Czapek's 38.5mm stainless steel case, and equipped with the brand's intensely creative and comfortable integrated bracelet. 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. Yet, with less space between the lugs at the attachment point, the long, subtly curving line that tapers from the widest point of the case to the narrowest point of the bracelet had to be carefully studied and adjusted to achieve perfect harmony. Like its predecessor, the bracelet of the Antarctique S – with its brushed steel links connected by highly polished links in the form of a stylised “C” for Czapek – it features a quick-change system that enables owners to quickly and easily switch to the additional rubber or leather strap that comes with the watch, and a micro-adjustment system, allowing the wearer to extend or retract its length with ease.

Specifications

Functions

Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Date

Movement

Calibre SXH5: Czapek's in house self-winding mechanical movement
Diameter: 30 mm – 13 lines 1⁄4
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 – 28800 VpH
Power winding system: Micro rotor with a recycled platinum mass
Power-reserve > 56 hours on one single barrel
Barrel torque: 8.8 Nmm