New: Czapek Antarctique Titanium “Dark Sector”

Czapek extends their Antarctique model lineup with a new variant in titanium which they christened as “Dark Sector”.

Press release details with commentary in italics.

New: Czapek Antarctique Titanium “Dark Sector”

The new Czapek & Cie Antarctique Titanium “Dark Sector” will retail for CHF 32,000 before taxes.

Commentary

A new Antarctique is always a welcome. Especially when the earlier releases were really “box office” hits, which sell out almost as soon as they are announced. Owning one has become as challenging as trying to get on the list to buy one of the industry’s most coveted watches. Regular readers will know we are unabashedly BIG fans of the Antarctique. Ever since the first models were released. And we remain as enthusiastic with this novelty.

The first change from the base Antarctique is that the case and bracelet is now in titanium. The other key difference is the dial. Which now uses a play of a double row of arc sectors which are interrupted by hour markers in the gaps. The dial is a dark anthracite hue, and contrasts very well with the silvery polished sectors and sword hands. As a touch of colour, the dot above 12 and the tip of the second hand nicely “marks” the dial’s otherwise monochromatic look.

The same SHX5 movement is used in all the Antarctique models, including this novelty. Pricing, however, have crept up from the CHF 18k for the release 99 piece edition, to CHF 19.5k for the Passage de Drake, though that has been increased to CHF 22k for 2023. This release, executed in titanium instead of steel is now pitched at CHF 32k.

Release details

Czapek & Cie has launched a brand new model in its Antarctique collection. This new three-hand timepiece takes a serene, geometrical approach to the display of time and remains true to the company’s dedication to top-tier manufacturing and finishing.

Every watch is essentially subjected to two sets of fundamental laws. The first is mechanics, which means everything must function like clockwork, quite literally. The second is aesthetics and is far more subjective: a watch must be visually attractive, provocative, seductive. Czapek’s latest launch, the Antarctique Titanium ‘Dark Sector’, strikes a perfectly symbiotic balance between these two poles. It is driven by the tried-and-true SHX5, and its dial was designed for excellent readability and viewing pleasure.

The key to this Antarctique’s appeal is in the careful use of space. A traditional minute track has been discreetly placed around the edge of a smooth anthracite dial. It surrounds a double row of lightly arched parallel segments that are interrupted at each numeral. The sword hour hand points to the gaps like a ship seeking entrance into a harbour, while the minute and second hands sweep the dial each at their own pace, closing the gaps for a moment. This creates a kind of animation, a slight change in the visual geometry. “The idea is simple, but requires great precision to execute,” says CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel. “The hands crossing from segment to segment over the dusky backdrop of the dial looks almost like a shoreline seen from far above. The dial was designed in such a way that the marker becomes the void between each sector (an almost philosophical way of defining matter). This spontaneously inspired the model’s name ‘Dark Sector’, which comes from the Dark Sector Laboratory and telescopes at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. The skies over Antarctica are the clearest and darkest in the world…”.

The Antarctique Titanium ‘Dark Sector’ emerged naturally from the collection’s elegant case and bracelet of brushed titanium with the sensually rounded crown protector. These shades of grey inspired the model’s overall monochrome scheme, which highlights the two touches of colour on the dial, namely the red dot at twelve o’clock, and the tip of the second hand. 

The watch runs on Czapek’s robust automatic calibre SXH5, the first to be entirely conceived in-house.  It is driven by a microrotor of recycled platinum and provides up to sixty hours of autonomy. An exhibition case reveals the fine architecture, with seven bridges that hark back to 19^th-century pocket watch movements. The movement’s height of 4.5 millimetres means that this new model is as sportive and elegant as all the others in the Antarctique family. 

The Antarctique Titanium ‘Dark Sector’ will be available in a limited yearly production of 100 pieces at Czapek’s authorized dealers worldwide, its flagship store in Geneva and at Czapek.com.

Czapek Antarctique Titanium “Dark Sector” Specifications

Titanium case, grey brass dial with registered segments design. Micro-rotor SXH5 caliber, entirely conceived in-house by Czapek & Cie.

FUNCTIONS

• Hours, Minutes & Seconds

MOVEMENT

• Calibre SXH5: Czapek’s in house self-winding mechanical movement
• Diameter: 30 mm – 13 lines 1⁄4
• Height: 4.2 mm
• Number of parts: 193
• Jewels: 28
• Swiss lever escapement, variable-inertia balance fitted with four gold inertia-blocks
• Frequency: 4 Hz – 28800 VpH
• Power winding system: Micro-rotor with arecycled platinum mass
• Power-reserve: 60 hours on one single barrel
• Barrel torque: 8.8 Nmm

FINISH

• Open ratchets, sandblasted black bridges, bevelling, straight-grained sides, six hand- chamfered inward angles

CASE

• 40.5mm titanium case
• Height: 10.6 mm
• Sapphire crystal glass-box with anti-reflectivetreatment
• Sapphire case back with anti-reflectivetreatment on the inner side
• Water resistance: 120m
• Screwed-down crown
• Watch weight: 95g

DIAL

• Anthracite grey brass dial with velouté finish and exclusive registered segments design
• Luminescent, steel “Sword” hands

BRACELET

• Integrated brushed titanium bracelet with Czapek exclusive “Easy Release” system and micro-adjustment device
• Additional calf leather or rubber strap