In response to demand from enthusiasts and collectors, Czapek & Cie presents its best-selling Antarctique timepiece in a gold case for the first time. To complement the precious metal case, Czapek has also revived the legendary lamé dial of the original Antarctique Terre Adélie limited edition, launched in 2020 – Czapek Antarctique Mount Erebus Deep Blue.
Czapek & Cie‘s vision of haute horlogerie – as well as that of François Czapek, whose eponymous 19th-century watchmaking house inspired the modern company – rests on two pillars: the pursuit of Beauty, and the spirit of sharing. With this foundation, the Geneva-based Maison is constantly open and listening not only to its fans and watch enthusiasts, but also to evolving directions in the wider world of art, fashion and society.
“The demand for an Antarctique model in a precious metal, and more specifically in gold, was so strong among a certain type of collectors that we could not ignore it,” says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “To create this new model, we went to explore not only the origins of this successful collection but also the geography of Antarctica.”
Located on Ross Island in the frozen continent, the Mountain from which the new Antarctique ‘Mount Erebus’ takes its name is the southernmost active volcano on Earth and one of the very few constantly active volcanoes in the world. It was named after one of expedition ships that discovered Ross Island in 1841, captained by Sir James Clark Ross, HMS Erebus – which, in turn was named after a deity in Greek mythology born of Chaos and personifying darkness. A remarkable feature of this volcano is the presence in its lava of gold, which is projected into the atmosphere at an estimated rate of 80 grams per day, dissolved in the escaping volcanic gases and therefore impossible to harvest.
The origins of Czapek’s Antarctique line are present in ‘Mount Erebus’ thanks to the lamé dial, a finish originally created for the first iteration of Antarctique, launched in May 2020 – the limited-edition Terre Adélie. Created in collaboration with Metalem, Czapek‘s long-time manufacturing partner, it is crafted using a special kind of comb that creates an effect like a highly textured satin finish. Complementing the rose gold ‘Mount Erebus’ case, the dial offered in Deep Blue is made with a CVD (chemical vapour deposit) technique.
With a 40.5 mm in diameter and 10.6 mm height, the gold case shares all of the design codes that make the Antarctique steel case so distinctive: the flowing curves, finely honed angles and carefully judged balance of brushed and polished surfaces that bring the composition to life. The 5N rose gold case and the 2N yellow gold one are respectively complemented by a rose gold or a yellow gold bracelet. Alternatively, both models are proposed with a rubber strap in various colors.
The Antarctique Mount Erebus Deep Blue in 5N rose gold will be produced in a limited run of 100 pieces and available for pre-order at Czapek’s authorised dealers worldwide, its flagship store in Geneva and at Czapek.com. The 2N yellow gold version, limited to 50 pieces only, will be offered online at Czapek.com. Deliveries will start in the second quarter of 2024.
Czapek Antarctique Mount Erebus Deep Blue Technical Specifications
Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside and outside surfaces
Water-resistance: 120 m
Screwed-down crown
Dial
Blue dial with lamé finish made for Czapek by Metalem
Luminescent “sword” hands and indexes
Bracelet
Rose gold integrated bracelet with Czapek exclusive Easy Release system
Optional rubber strap with matching rose gold deploying buckle
About Czapek & Cie. Czapek is a contemporary watchmaking Maison created in the spirit of François Czapek, a 19th-century Czech-born Polish watchmaker. In 1832 Czapek escaped from political turmoil in Warsaw and fled to Geneva, where he created a series of businesses during the 1830s. After establishing Czapek & Cie in 1845, he became the official watchmaker of Napoleon III and opened the first watchmaking boutique on Place Vendôme in Paris. The Czapek & Cie name was reborn in 2015 by a group of watch enthusiasts who sought to revive the Maison’s heritage and craftsmanship. Inspired by an 1850s Czapek & Cie pocket watch, the leading model of the first collection, Quai des Bergues 33bis, won the 2016 GPHG Public Prize. In 2020, the company launched Antarctique, a sport-chic collection with the first in-house Czapek movement. Today, Czapek’s haute horlogerie timepieces are known for their distinctive designs, high-quality craftsmanship and limited production. With headquarters in Geneva and its atelier in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Czapek thoroughly defends the concept of ‘établissage’ in a modern way.
