Czapek adds two steel Antarctique models: one with a dial cut from a meteorite, one with a purple trapezoid pattern whose scale, the brand says, came from a designer’s accident.
Czapek today introduces the Antarctique Green Meteor and the Antarctique Passage de Drake Afterglow at Watches and Wonders 2024. Each is a 40.5mm steel watch limited to 100 pieces.
The Green Meteor’s dial is Gibeon iron meteorite under polished green lacquer. Its Widmanstätten patterns form through extremely slow cooling in space, Czapek explains, and show when the meteorite is cut and washed with acid.
The Afterglow has a stamped purple dial, coloured by PVD, in the registered “Stairway to Eternity” trapezoid pattern, with a date at 6 o’clock.
Both use the in-house SXH5, its micro-rotor set off-centre. The integrated bracelet’s links mesh to form a polished “C” for Czapek, and an additional calf leather or rubber strap swaps on in a minute.
Of the Afterglow’s dial, CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel says: “We finally discovered the perfect motif when our designer accidentally enlarged the trapezoids by 50% without realizing it, and it looked amazing.”
The pattern had been Czapek’s initial concept dial for the Antarctique, but it was a lengthy process to get right.
The Basics
Brand: Czapek
Model: Antarctique Green Meteor; Antarctique Passage de Drake Afterglow
Diameter: 40.5mm
Thickness: 10.6mm
Case material: Stainless steel; sapphire glass-box and case back, both anti-reflective; screwed-down crown
Dial: Green Meteor: Gibeon meteorite, green polished lacquer. Afterglow: stamped flinqué, purple by PVD, “Stairway to Eternity” pattern; luminescent steel sword hands
Water resistance: 120m
Bracelet: Integrated stainless steel, with Easy Release system and micro-adjustment; additional calf leather or rubber strap
Limited edition: 100 pieces each
The Movement
Calibre: SXH5, in-house, self-winding
Functions: Green Meteor: hours, minutes, central seconds. Afterglow: hours, minutes, central seconds, date at 6 o’clock
Winding: Automatic, off-centre micro-rotor with recycled platinum mass
Power reserve: 60 hours
Frequency: 4Hz (28,800 vph)
Jewels: 28
Images courtesy of Czapek.