The Antarctique from the young independent watchmaker has exceeded expectations, becoming a highly sought-after luxury sports watch with an integrated bracelet and impeccable watchmaking credentials. Owning one is now as difficult as acquiring one of the industry’s most coveted watches.
Sports watches with integrated bracelets have been popular for decades, but in recent years, they have become one of the most common styles of timepieces. This trend began in the 1970s, and since then, many new models have entered the market. Now, a significant number of top manufacturers feature this style in their portfolios.
The new Czapek & Cie Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector, like the original time-and-date version, has an angular tonneau-shaped case measuring 40.5mm in diameter and 10.6mm in thickness. However, the new model features a titanium case and integrated bracelet with brushed and polished surfaces. The watch’s external design and construction remain largely unchanged, with an anti-reflective box sapphire crystal, rounded crown guards, and a screw-on caseback with a large sapphire display window.
The Dark Sector version of the Antarctique has a unique feature – its dial. The anthracite gray surface has two rows of segmented concentric rings that sit inside the minute track. The rings are segmented at the 12-hour markers, and the voids between the ring segments function as the hour markers. The markers are executed in negative or “dark sectors,” a nod to the Dark Sector Laboratory and telescopes at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
The Antarctique’s appeal lies in its careful use of space. The minute track discreetly surrounds a double row of lightly arched parallel segments, interrupted at each numeral. The sword hour hand points to the gaps like a ship seeking entrance into a harbor, while the minute and second hands sweep the dial, closing the gaps for a moment. This creates an animation, a slight change in the visual geometry that resembles a shoreline seen from far above.
The Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector is available in limited yearly production of 100 pieces at Czapek’s authorized dealers worldwide, flagship store in Geneva, and Czapek.com. It also comes with an additional strap in either gray calf leather or rubber. The price is set at CHF 32,000.
Case
Diameter: 40.5mm titanium case
Thickness: 10.6 mm
Crystal: Sapphire crystal glass-box with anti-reflectivetreatment
Crystal back: Sapphire case back with anti-reflectivetreatment on the inner side
Water resistance: 120m
Movement
Caliber: SXH5
Diameter: 30 mm – 13 lines 1⁄4
Thickness: 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 arecycled platinum mass
Power-reserve: 60 hours on one single barrel
Functions: Hours, Minutes & Seconds
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
Limited Edition: 100 Pieces
Price: CHF 32,000
