Warsaw, November 2018 – Czapek pays tribute to the 100th anniversary of the independence of Poland, the nation of its founder, with a limited edition timepiece featuring the 1918 Polish coat-of-arms. The watch is proposed in a special music box created for the occasion by the Swiss Manufacture Reuge. The limited edition was unveiled with an event in Warsaw on November 8th.
The Czapek “100th Anniversary – Tribute to Poland”
The bond between Czapek and Poland is indissoluble and lies far back in the past. The brand’s original founder, Franciszek Czapek, was, in fact, a Polish watchmaker born in the Kingdom of Bohemia. He lived in Warsaw for a long time, and in 1831, at the age of 20, he fought in the Polish uprising, finding himself forced to emigrate to Switzerland. When he arrived in Geneva, he first founded “Czapek & Moreau” with a local partner, and then in 1836, he met his compatriot Antoine Norbert de Patek, with whom he founded “Patek, Czapek & Cie” in 1839. In 1845, at the end of their collaboration, Franciszek (who at that time had changed his name to “Francois”) continued to produce watches with his new company “Czapek & Cie”, becoming one of the most illustrious master watchmakers of the 19th Century, and official watchmaker of Prince Napoleon. At the time, his Maison had boutiques in Geneva, Warsaw and Paris, on the Place Vendome. He also wrote a book on watchmaking, one of the first of its kind ever written in Polish, but he vanished before publishing the second and nothing is known of his death so far.
Today, the brand brought back to life in 2015 thanks to a one-of-a-kind crowdfunding by Xavier de Roquemaurel, Harry Guhl and Sebastien Follonier, pays tribute to its Polish history and heritage on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Poland’s independence on 11 November 1918. The timepiece “100th Anniversary – Tribute to Poland” is a special edition of the iconic model Quai des Bergues whose solid silver enamel dial bears the coat of arms of Poland, the eagle, redesigned by the famous illustrator Jacques Terpant and handcrafted with the technique of the micro-painting by a skilled Swiss craftsman, partner of Czapek.
“2018 is an important year for Czapek, because both the countries that gave his nationalities to the founder of the brand, the Czech Republic and Poland, celebrate their 100 years since their independence. Last month we presented a “Tribute to Czechia” limited edition in Prague, and now we are excited to pay tribute to Polish history, a country that meant so much to Czapek. In Poland, Czapek lived most of his youth and learned the art of watchmaking. His participation in the Warszawianka uprising and establishment in Geneva gave birth to two beautiful companies. The relationship with the Polish cause and community was so strong that Czapek chose to establish one of his three boutiques in the world in Warsaw on the Faubourg de Cracovie” says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek. “We hope that the Polish people will be proud of what we are doing to bring the name of Czapek back to its historic prestige, as we are proud to carry on this fantastic adventure.
The Czapek “100th Anniversary – Tribute to Poland” model is produced in only 8 pieces, 5 of which with a stainless steel case and 3 in 18-carat gold. It is driven by the Czapek SXH1 calibre, a proprietary mechanical movement with a 7-day power reserve, made in Switzerland and finely decorated. Like a hidden treasure, the timepiece is housed in a special musical box created for the occasion by Reuge in Sainte-Croix, the Swiss leader in the industry. Handcrafted in elegant and solid Macassar ebony wood and white Buckana leather, the case plays the “Nocturne, Op. 9 N°2” melody of the illustrious Polish composer Frédéric Chopin.
After a preview in Geneva, Switzerland, in presence of the Ambassador of Poland and another in the US at WatchTime New York, Czapek hosted the official presentation of the limited edition on November 8th in Warsaw in its local partner’s boutique, Pracownia Czasu, where the collections are now available for sale.
The Czapek “100th Anniversary – Tribute to Poland” Technical Specifications
Czapek “100th Anniversary – Tribute to Poland” Gold
FUNCTIONS
• Hours, Minutes & Seconds
• Small second at 7h30
• Power reserve indication with weekdays at 4h30
MOVEMENT
• Calibre SXH1: Haute Horlogerie proprietary mechanical hand-wound movement
• Power-reserve > 168 hours (7 days) on 2 barrel-springs
• Frequency: 3 Hz – 21,600 VpH
• Diameter: 32 mm – 14 lines ¼
• Height: 4.75 mm
• Finish: double open ratchets, sandblasted bridges, blue screws, bevelling, final anglage main
HANDS
• “Fleur de Lys” hands in blued gold
CASE & BRACELET
• 18-carats Gold case
• 42.5 mm diameter
• Curved Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
• Sapphire crystal case back with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
• Water-resistance: 30 meters (3 atm)
• Alligator strap with 18-carats Gold buckle
DIAL
• Solid Silver dial
• Micro-painting of the Polish eagle coat of arms reinterpreted by Jacques Terpant
• Elongated Roman numerals, a symbol of the Czapek elegance
BOX
• Ebony music box handcrafted by Swiss Manufacture Reuge playing “Nocturne, Op. 9 N°2” by F. Chopin
LIMITED EDITION TO 3 PIECES
PRICE
• 150’000 PLN (21% VAT included) (approx. 35.000EUR)
Czapek “100th Anniversary – Tribute to Poland” Steel
FUNCTIONS
• Hours, Minutes & Seconds
• Small second at 7h30
• Power reserve indication with weekdays at 4h30
MOVEMENT
• Calibre SXH1: Haute Horlogerie proprietary mechanical hand-wound movement
• Power-reserve > 168 hours (7 days) on 2 barrel-springs
• Frequency: 3 Hz – 21,600 VpH
• Diameter: 32 mm – 14 lines ¼
• Height: 4.75 mm
• Finish: double open ratchets, sandblasted bridges, blue screws, bevelling, final anglage main
HANDS
• “Fleur de Lys” hands in blued gold
CASE & BRACELET
• “XO” Steel case
• 42.5 mm diameter
• Curved Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
• Sapphire crystal case back with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
• Water-resistance: 50 meters (5 atm)
• Alligator strap with steel buckle
DIAL
• Solid Silver dial
• Micro-painting of the Polish eagle coat of arms reinterpreted by Jacques Terpant
• Elongated Roman numerals, a symbol of the Czapek elegance
BOX
• Ebony music box handcrafted by Swiss Manufacture Reuge playing “Nocturne, Op. 9 N°2” by F. Chopin
LIMITED EDITION TO 5 PIECES
PRICE
• 100’000 PLN (21% VAT included)(approx. 23.300EUR)
About Czapek & Cie
François Czapek was a Czech-born Polish watchmaker who fled to Geneva in 1832 after fighting in the Polish uprising. In 1833, he 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 Vendôme in Paris. He wrote a book about watchmaking, but unfortunately, he disappeared in 1869 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 timepiece. 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.
For more information please visit: Czapek.com
About Reuge
In 1865 Charles Reuge established his first musical pocket-watch shop in Sainte-Croix. A pioneer, he managed to incorporate a musical cylinder and a miniature comb into a watch movement. In 1886, fired up with the same enthusiasm as his father, Albert Reuge opened a music box workshop in Sainte-Croix. He rapidly converted the family’s workshop into a small factory, producing music pieces. At the forefront of the mechanical music industry, Reuge musical movements were included in the most unlikely objects, such as powder compacts and cigarette lighters. In the 1930s, a dynasty dedicated to mechanical music was born and was guided by Guido Reuge for more than sixty years. The Reuge Manufacture built-up its skills and leadership by developing many new melodies and a wealth of tunes that distinguished Reuge from its competitors. Today, Reuge is the only true master of mechanical music; an Art that Reuge has resolutely guided into the 21st century. Reuge’s ambitious challenge is to thrust the music box back into the spotlight with luxurious and exclusive musical gifts.
For more information please visit: Reuge.com