SpotlightA Sophisticated Take On Watchmaking: Introducing The New Czapek Promenade Collection

Czapek & Cie showcase the Promenade, a new series of slim, elegant timepieces with gorgeous hand-guilloche or enamelled dials, at Watches and Wonders, Geneva. The new Czapek Promenade collection is a modern approach to age-old watchmaking savoir-faire. Unlike the brand’s other collections—whether sporty, dressy, or both—that are highly symmetrical, the latest Czapek Promenade line features a prominently asymmetrical dial. However, the very essence of the Czapek Promenade watches lie in their unevenness, without which there might not have been a distinct three-dimensional depth to the watch face. A slim case and barely-there bezel frame an enamelled blue or hand-guilloche dials with an off-centred small seconds sub-dial at 4.30, that serves as the focal point on the watch face.

Casual Elegance Of The Czapek Promenade

Since 2015, when Czapek was re-established as a brand by a group of watchmaking enthusiasts, they have released collections inspired by watchmaker Francois Czapek’s 19th century pocket watches. Combining timeless design and age-old watchmaking techniques with modern-day craftsmanship and contemporary codes, Czapek have come into their own in the world of high watchmaking. For the latest Promenade collection, minimalistic dials offer a striking optical illusion of sorts in their play with light and shade.

Combining timeless design and age-old watchmaking techniques with modern-day craftsmanship , Czapek have come into their own in the world of high watchmaking

For the latest Promenade collection, minimalistic dials offer a striking optical illusion of sorts in their play with light and shade

In slim, stainless steel cases with a diameter of 38mm and a height of 10.8mm, the Czapek Promenade collection features a slim bezel that highlights the face of the watch. A recessed case profile with a sandblasted finish evokes the brand’s elegant Quai des Bergues collection. An exhibition caseback offers a view of the brand’s SXH5.1 self-winding mechanical movement powered by a micro rotor with a recycled platinum mass. This calibre is a modification of the SXH5, seen in the brand’s Antarctique collection. Functions of the in-house calibre include central hours and minutes, and small seconds.

In stainless steel cases with a diameter of 38mm and a height of 10.8mm, the Czapek Promenade collection features a slim bezel that highlights the watch face. A recessed case profile with a sandblasted finish evokes the brand’s elegant Quai des Bergues collection

Czapek Promenade Goutte d’Eau

The small seconds sub-dial is the main character in the drama of the watch face. For the Czapek Promenade Goutte d’Eau—or drops of water—timepiece, the deep blue enamelled dial is designed to resemble ripples on the surface of water that radiate out from the small seconds sub-dial. With only timekeeping hands and the brand name at 12, the beauty of the three-dimensional effect caused by the ripples on the dial appears untouched even by hour markers.

Czapek Promenade Soleil

Hand-guilloche dials in two hues—Ivoire (ivory) or Bleu Nuit (midnight blue)—decorate the Czapek Promenade Soleil (or sun) timepieces. Designed to resemble rays of the sun, radiating from the focal point of the small seconds at 4.30, the effect of the hand engine-turned dial is stunning. Here too, there are no distractions. Only a discreet minute track around the flange ring is punctuated by sharper markers in-five minute intervals. Even the unique arrow shaped hands are skeletonised, giving the timepieces a distinct elegance.

The small seconds sub-dial is the main character in the drama that is the watch face of the Czapek Promenade Soleil Ivoire

Designed to resemble rays of the sun, radiating from the focal point of the small seconds at 4.30 on the Czapek Promenade Soleil Blue Nuit timepiece

An exhibition caseback offers a view of the brand’s SXH5.1 self-winding mechanical movement powered by a micro rotor with a recycled platinum mass

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The Czapek Promenade collection offers an understated elegance with a sophisticated nonchalance in an extremely wearable timepiece. For a brand that looks to its history for inspiration, one can’t wait to witness the unfolding of future timepieces.