For Watches & Wonders 2025, Czapek has unveiled the sublime, new Antarctique Tourbillion that adds even more flair to an already chic integrated sports watch.
Released in part to celebrate a decade since the Czapek brand was reborn, as well as the 180th anniversary since Francois Czapek founded the initial brand, the Antarctique Tourbillion pulls no punches with a mesmerising, vortex-patterned guilloche dial and a new in-house calibre.
The Calibre 9 is arguably the star of the show with this new model, designed specifically to show off this movement's flying tourbillon detail, as well as having the gear train and barrel suspended. The individual components float above the dial, with all angles being hand-polished and the top arms of the tourbillion cage having a satin finish to create a dial that thrives on light play.
The move to the Calibre 9 sees the first movement that Czapek has designed, conceived and constructed in-house, as well as machined under their own jurisdiction. The brand says this isn't a full swap to doing everything themselves, but rather a demonstration of the decisiveness they can take to do what they wish to in-house, with the finest suppliers at their disposal for the rest.
The Antarctique Tourbillion also sees Czapek call in the help of Metalem, their long-term collaborator on dial work, to create a seemingly infinitely spiralling guilloche pattern, inspired by the infinite depth of black holes and the theory of singularity in physics; that is, the places in the universe where the normal laws of physics fail to apply, making space and time an infinite principle. Hence, Czapek has called this dial work 'Singularité.
According to Czapek, this form of guilloche dial work is more complex than the 'standard' form of the dial pattern, with each starting pattern requiring a new position for the lathe. By contrast, a classical guilloche pattern requires the guillocher to cut lines at different angles that start at the same point.
The case has seen some redesign too, with the front and rear sapphire crystals being subtly raised to adhere to the glassbox principles first seen on the Antarctique Rattrapante model. This has been done to complement the overall aesthetic of this new Tourbillion model, creating the impression on the caseback that there is no bezel for a seamless look.
The rotor on the caseback has been engraved by Czapek's master engraver, Michele Rothen, with a similar black hole pattern to the dial, to complete its overall look.
The Antarctique Tourbillion is being offered in three dial colours - Glacier Blue, Photon Sphere and Secret Alloy - with the last option in grey being a 50-piece limited edition. All models will come with a stainless steel case and integrated bracelet, honing in on the look of the classic Antarctique sports watch model, with the bracelet coming with micro-adjustment and quick release capabilities. As with other models in the collection, a second rubber strap also forms part of the collection.
Czapek Antarctique Tourbillon
Technical Specifications
CASE
- Diameter: 40.5mm
- Height: 11.5mm
- Sapphire crystal glass box with anti-reflective treatment on the inner side
- Sapphire case back glass box with antireflective treatment on the inner side
- Water resistance: 50m
MOVEMENT
- Calibre 9: Czapek manufacture tourbillon movement, mechanical with automatic winding
- Diameter: ø32.4mm
- Height: oscillating weight/bottom dials 3.79mm oscillating weight/centre bridge 7mm
- Number of parts: 191
- Jewels: 20
- Swiss lever escapement, variable inertia balance (8mg per cmÇ) via 4 gold inertia weights
- Frequency: 3 Hz
- Winding: automatic, hand-engraved 5N gold oscillating weight
- Power reserve: 72 hours
FUNCTIONS
- Hours, minutes & 60 seconds flying tourbillon
FINISHING
- Openwork ratchets, sandblasted, blackened, satin-finished and hand-bevelled bridges, six inward angles
RETAIL PRICE (before taxes)
- 63’000 CHF
