Czapek & Cie Dazzles with the New Antarctique Polar Sky and Flying Diamonds Limited Editions

An exclusive diamond cut and a spectacular Aventurine dial are just two irresistible features of the new enticing “Polar Sky” and “Flying Diamonds” takes on the Antarctique watch by Czapek & Cie

Czapek & Cie has a penchant for experimenting with different materials, but most of all it loves to play about with Aventurine. The watchmaker has incorporated this material into the dials of its popular Quai des Bergues watch back in 2019 and then in the Faubourg de Cracovie in 2022. Since the company has become acquainted with this unique material and the entrancing effect it has on a dial, it seems only logical that it should feature in the Antarctique line too. After all, the Antarctique is one of the brand’s most successful designs ever. Meet the new Czapek & Cie Antarctique Polar Sky and Flying Diamonds watches.

The Appeal of the Antarctique

The Antarctique is a desirable sports watch with an integrated bracelet that arrived in 2020 in two versions. In the years leading up to its release, Czapek & Cie’s designs were building up to a sportier aesthetic. Market feedback was sending many brands in the same direction. Remember the steel sports watch boom during lockdown? Crazy! In many ways, the decline of the dress watch during this time seemed inevitable. Wearing watches for formal occasions was becoming less of a thing, not to mention the fact that we were also condemned to our homes with no reason to dress up anyway. Luckily, the dress watch regained its popularity, while the steel sports watch has never lost its appeal. The Antarctique has always had a lot going for it, but more importantly, it’s very competitively priced. As an extension to this line, Czapek & Cie released four different iterations, just days before this year’s Geneva Watch Days event and they don’t disappoint.

The New Capek & Cie Antarctique Polar Sky and Flying Diamonds Watches

Of the four new Czapek & Cie Antarctique watches to be released, two sizes are offered. One is the standard 40.6mm option, while the other is the smaller 38.5mm option. Each size features two different dial options – one is the Flying Diamonds iteration, adorned with glistening diamond hour markers, while the other is the more classic and traditional iteration, featuring conventional hour markers. One of the most fascinating features of the former is the trapezoid shape of the diamond hours markers – a special diamond cut that Czapek & Cie registered and developed with one of its suppliers, naming it the Antarctique diamond cut.

Czapek & Cie describes the Antarctique as its chameleon watch. It adapts and evolves to stay current and modern, while its classic features serve as the foundational blueprint to what has become an instantly recognisable design. In the case of these new quintessential sporty-chic watches, the two iterations take an unexpected shift, boasting Aventurine and diamonds within utterly modern concepts. What fascinates me about the new releases from Czapek & Cie is how the brand manages to capture both sober and exuberant styles in both versions. All watches from this experienced watchmaker are inspired by 19th-century founder, François Czapek and his clear vision based on a deep respect for tradition. The Aventurine dials seen in these new releases form a starry sky backdrop, embodying the brand’s passion for expressing colour, form and a play on light. The brilliance of the Antarctique-cut diamonds on the Flying Diamonds iteration is spellbinding, while the Polar Sky version combines the cool tones of its display with the silvery lustre of a stainless steel case.

Czapek & Cie’s CEO, Xavier de Roquemaurel expresses his enthusiasm for the new designs;

“We released the Antarctique line in 2020 as the epitome of sporty elegance – and for us, the pared-down sophistication of its design makes it a natural platform for creativity. At Czapek we like to dream with our feet on the ground and our heads in the stars, and the sparkle of these new dials expresses that idea delightfully and surprisingly.”

A Starry Sky

As mentioned, even on the brightest days, the shimmering surface of the Aventurine display in each of these designs acts as a starry sky at night. Its deep blue midnight colour is speckled with silvery inclusions that echo a night sky. The type of glass was developed by chance back in the 17th century when metal shavings were accidentally dropped into a glassmaker’s mixture. They created a multi-coloured sparkle once they crystallised within the glass structure. When incorporating Aventurine into its dials, Czapek & Cie draws from the expertise of specialists, collaborating with them and taking a creative and innovative approach to perfecting the craft. Even more interesting - in the Flying Diamonds iteration, a special setting was required for the 24-faceted trapezoid diamond hour markers, enabling them to nestle invisibly into the starry sky backdrop.

For the Polar Sky iteration, the elongated index markers have formed an integral part of the Antarctique DNA, capturing and reflecting light as it hits the surfaces of the metal. In both new iterations, the 40.5mm and 38.5mm options are crafted from stainless steel and follow in the footsteps of the original Antarctique design. This includes the movement too, developed entirely in-house at Czapek & Cie’s ateliers. The Calibre SXH5 was the brand’s first in-house movement, featuring beautiful architecture including seven skeletonised bridges that are showcased through a sapphire exhibition caseback in this design. The movement also comprises a variable inertia wheel and a micro-rotor crafted from 950 platinum. Hand-bevelled angles add more enticing features to this exquisite engine, as do state-of-the-art laser engravings that play with contrasting shades and shadows.

The Polar Sky model, without diamonds, is limited to 99 pieces for the larger size and 77 pieces for the smaller size. The Flying Diamonds option is exclusive to 8 pieces for the large iteration and 18 pieces for the smaller. If you’d like more information on either of the two new releases, call and speak to our Jura Watches team on 01335 453453 or drop us an enquiry on help@jurawatches.co.uk