Czapek & Cie Antarctique Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’

The Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’ is the kind of creation that bridges horological prowess with playful futurism, executed with a spirit both dashing and romantic—a delight for the connoisseur who values mechanical art. In this limited edition of 77 pieces, Czapek has embraced the robot, not as a symbol of cold automation, but as an emblem of creativity, heritage, and, curiously, humour. There is poetry woven within its mechanism and design; the piece whispers of a century since the word ‘robot’ was first breathed into language by the Czech playwright Karel Čapek, connecting technology and humanity in a fascinating dance.

The Dial’s Animated Drama

The dial of the Antarctique Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’ is nothing short of a theatrical stage set for time’s play. Dominated by an open-worked architecture, the chronograph’s split-seconds mechanism is proudly displayed on the dial side in what Czapek describes as a world première. The star performer here is the robot head at twelve o’clock, a miniature marvel crafted from titanium, whose eyes shift hue at every chronograph command: yellow for running, red for stopped, and blue on reset. It’s a clever symbiosis of art and mechanics, merging the whimsy of science fiction, nods to the Shrikes of Mortal Engines and the Yautja alphabet of Predator, with the gravitas of haute horlogerie.

The split-seconds hand, coloured blue with a white tip, and the main chronograph seconds hand, rendered in white with a blue accent, sweep elegantly above the grey-metallised sapphire dial, etched and micro-painted with an invented robotic language that ties in subtly with Czapek’s creative philosophy. Sword-shaped hour and minute hands, generously treated with SuperLuminova, glow above the mechanics, ensuring legibility while enhancing nocturnal charm.

Mechanical Intimacy: Calibre SXH6

Czapek’s Calibre SXH6, developed with Jean-François Mojon of Chronode, is the soul of the Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’. This automatic movement reveals its split-seconds chronograph mechanism openly, a bold inversion of tradition. While most chronographs conceal their workings, here the viewer is privy to the intricacies of rattrapante’s operation, purified on the dial side. Two visually anchoring column wheels grace the movement—one topmost for the chronograph itself, another at six o’clock for the split-seconds function. The patented satellite minute train and split-seconds mechanism reside beneath a tripod bridge, itself a feat of miniature engineering.

Czapek’s attention to refinement manifests in every detail: sandblasted bridges, hand-polished chamfers tracing their outlines with shimmering contrast, and levers finished in linear satin with yet more polished edges. Wheels display circular satin polish, while screws, studs, and both column wheels gleam in black-polished sophistication. A hidden isolator mechanism ensures the split-seconds function disengages with finesse, sharply diminishing chronometric disturbances and heightening reliability and precision. The movement runs at 4 Hz, boasts 49 jewels and 441 components, and offers 60 hours of autonomy, recharged by a recycled 5N rose gold rotor visible through the sapphire case back.

Industrial Elegance

The Antarctique Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’ is housed in a stainless steel shell measuring 42.5 mm in diameter, an architecture that bespeaks both robustness and grace. Its lug-to-lug span reaches 46.6 mm, with an imposing glass-box sapphire crystal, treated for anti-reflection, crowning the construction. The perceived height between bezel and case-back is 10.5 mm, but the total elevation with glass is a dignified 15.3 mm. The watch is practical too, affording water resistance up to 12 atm and fortifying its construction with a screwed-down crown. Turning the piece reveals a transparent back, where mechanical subtleties play in the light. The integrated stainless steel bracelet carries Czapek’s exclusive “Easy Release” system for effortless change, accompanied by a micro-adjustment device for comfort, with options for a rubber strap and—upon request—a calf leather alternative. Here, the finishing is coherent: brushed surfaces complemented by highly polished, signature C-shaped links, mirroring the movement’s aesthetic within.

Romance at the Edge of Time

The Antarctique Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’ speaks softly of the tension between man and machine, its split-seconds function a metaphor for the fleeting instants that mark lovers’ encounters and partings, the eyes of the robot flickering with emotion as time is captured, paused, and set free. It is a watch not merely for measuring moments but for witnessing the poetry of mechanism. Czapek’s creation commemorates that fragile centennial since the robot entered our imagination, a romantic gesture, not towards dystopia, but towards enduring delight and wonder.

In closing, the Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’ marries technical innovation with poetic inspiration in a harmonious union. This is watchmaking that celebrates rare people, a choreography of steel, gold, and imagination, brightened by hands that assemble, polish, and paint: always in pursuit of beauty, closely embracing the border between craft and art. Those fortunate enough to wear this limited marvel will find themselves in dialogue with history, technology, and the human spirit, held together with a C-shaped link that quietly insists on a sense of belonging.

Czapek & Cie Antarctique Rattrapante ‘R.U.R.’ Techical Specifications

58’000 CHF (before taxes) – 42.5mm Stainless-steel case, open-worked split-second chronograph on the dial side. Limited edition of 77 pieces.

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
• Rattrapante ON/OFF indicator at 6:00
• Indication of the chronograph state by the robot head at 12:00

Movement

• Calibre SXH6: haute horlogerie automatic
• power-horse movement with a split-second
• monopusher chronograph module
• Power reserve: 60 hours
• Frequency: 4 Hz – 28’800 VpH
• Variable inertia balance wheel
• Two column wheels, chronograph horizontal
• clutch
• 49 jewels, 441 components
• Recycled 5N rose gold rotor with Czapek logo
• Diameter: 34mm
• Finishes:
  • 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

Dial

• Open-worked split-second chronograph on the dial side (world première)
• Robot head indicating the chronograph state: running (yellow), stopped (red), and reset (blue)
• Sword hours and minutes hands with SuperLuminova treatment
• Split-second hand in blue with white tip
• Main seconds hand in white with blue tip
• Grey fumé sapphire glass minutes ring and counters made with PVD evaporation

Case

• 42.5mm stainless-steel case
• Lug to lug : 46.6mm
• Height (with glass-box): 15.3mm
• 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: 12 atm
• Screwed-down crown

Bracelet

• Integrated stainless steel bracelet with Czapek exclusive “Easy Release” system & micro adjustment device
• Complementary rubber strap
• Additional calf leather strap on demand