THE ESSENTIALS
MAKE: CZAPEK
MODEL: ROARING FORTIES
YEAR: 2021
BOX/PAPERS: YES/YES
CASE DIAMETER: 40.5MM
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC
The year was 2020. We had just entered the first Covid lockdown here in the UK, the world stopped, and we were all trying to figure out if this would pass in a few weeks or if we were actually approaching doomsday. An unexpected side-effect for watch enthusiasts, however, is that all of a sudden we had even more time to browse / shop for watches. Along with the crypto-craze, we witnessed a rush in the watch market that we'd almost never seen before.
Amongst the watches that caught fire, integrated bracelet steel sports watches (IBSSW for ease…) undoubtedly took the crown: the prices of Patek Philippe Nautilus, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and Vacheron Constantin Overseas were going up by the second. However, the coolest IBSSW from the year is arguably from a brand that had not existed for over 100 years and only just revived a few years prior: Czapek & Cie.
The history of Czapek dates back to the 1830s, involving a Czech-born Polish master watchmaker, François Czapek, and a fellow Pole, Antoine Norbert de Patek, who later went his own way and founded a brand you might have heard of. However, sadly, Czapek's history abruptly stopped just 30-40 years later, until 2011/12, when Harry Guhl purchased the name and revived the brand through crowdfunding.
Its first offerings revolved around dress watches with impressive power reserves. So it came as quite the surprise when the brand released the Antarctique Terre Adélie in 2020, a limited production IBSSW featuring an in-house micro-rotor movement calibre SXH5 and gorgeously decorated lamé dials. Shortly after, the Antarctique Passage de Drake collection was introduced: this time featuring unique trapezoid motif "stairways to heaven" dials which took so long for the brand to perfect that, although it was originally the first iteration design, Czapek had to use the ready-to-go lamé dials for the debut.
This example, named "roaring forties", was a part of a limited edition of 40 pieces featuring a mesmerising grey dial, housed within the signature 40.5mm integrated bracelet case with the original double "trompe l'oeil" curve. The three-dimensional dial plays with light beautifully and is gorgeous in person. The watch is amazingly comfortable on the wrist, and the dial provides all the distraction one needs between zoom calls.
This example came from 2021, and comes complete with all of its original boxes and paperwork. It remains in as-new condition, having spent its life amongst an extremely impressive collection.