Czapek, a brand renowned for its rapid ascent since its re-establishment in 2015, continues to redefine luxury watchmaking with its latest offering. Five years after the debut of its "Antarctique" luxury sports watch collection, the company introduced a version featuring a flying tourbillon to commemorate its tenth anniversary. This new iteration, the Antarctique Tourbillon Victory Green, is a limited edition of just 10 pieces, showcasing an exquisite combination of radiant yellow gold and a deep, captivating forest green hue. This unique model was inspired by a custom-commissioned piece, highlighting Czapek's dedication to both innovative design and bespoke craftsmanship.
The Antarctique collection emerged as Czapek's answer to the demand for a contemporary, robust, and water-resistant sports watch, yet one that did not compromise on luxurious aesthetics. Diverging from the prevalent angular designs in the luxury sports watch category, the Antarctique features a gracefully integrated barrel-shaped case and bracelet. While most Antarctique models, including time-and-date, Rattrapante, and Révélation versions, boast a water resistance of 120 meters, the tourbillon variant is rated for 50 meters, a practical adjustment given its distinctive glass box sapphire crystal that magnifies the intricate mechanics.
Distinguishing itself from the tourbillons found in Czapek's Place Vendôme collection, the Antarctique's flying tourbillon is precisely aligned along the vertical axis. The design meticulously positions the barrel, gear train, and tourbillon cage in a linear arrangement from 12 to 6 o'clock, creating a visually compelling symmetry on the dial. This arrangement is elegantly bisected by a long, delicately curved openworked bridge at the center, further accentuating the watch's intricate mechanical artistry.
The 40mm yellow gold case maintains the established specifications of prior editions, with a thickness of 11.5mm. It is fitted with box sapphire crystals on both the front and back, enhancing the visual spectacle of the movement. The case is adorned with a rich array of vertically brushed surfaces, lending it a sporty yet refined character, complemented by hand-polished bevels that follow the case's sweeping contours and distinctive hollowed recesses. Unlike other Antarctique models, the tourbillon version foregoes a traditional metal bezel, instead featuring a raised glass box sapphire crystal that maximizes the dial's expansive visibility.
The striking contrast between the warm yellow gold and the PVD forest green dial creates an alluring visual harmony. The dial's hand-guilloché pattern, masterfully executed by Metalem, evokes a dramatic, plunging vortex effect. This "Singularité" pattern, comprising a series of interconnected miniature rhomboids that converge towards the center, draws inspiration from astronomical phenomena like black holes. To ensure the guilloché's pristine appearance, the indices are thoughtfully positioned on an elevated flange, complete with PVD dark green outlines and Super-LumiNova. The gracefully curved, openworked hour and minute hands are crafted in gold, mirroring the case, and also feature Super-LumiNova for enhanced readability.
The timepiece is powered by Czapek's in-house calibre 9, an automatic movement conceived, designed, and manufactured internally, yet benefiting from strategic outsourcing to specialized partners. This movement operates at 3Hz, offering a substantial 72-hour power reserve. Its gold rotor, visible through the case back, is intricately hand-engraved with the "Singularité" pattern, reflecting the watch's meticulous attention to detail and cohesive design language.
This exceptional timepiece, equipped with Czapek’s convenient Easy Release system, comes paired with an integrated yellow gold bracelet. It is also available with either a green rubber strap or an elegant alligator leather strap, offering versatility to suit different preferences. As a limited edition of just 10 pieces, this watch represents a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire a unique blend of sophisticated engineering, artistic design, and exclusive luxury.
