The New Guilloche Dials of the Czapek Quai des Bergues Double Soleil Watches
Wednesday - 25 October 2023
The popular pocket watch-inspired design of the Quai des Bergues watch by Czapek now comes in three new colours adorned in a Double Soleil guilloche pattern, as well as a new case size.
Czapek has focussed on enlarging its sporty Antarctique watch collection over recent years, but last year we saw the brand updating the Quai des Bergues series. As such, there have been several stunning timepieces to have come from this venture. To name some examples, there has been a run of beautiful guilloche models, a platinum limited edition, a Malta special edition, and the “Sursum Corda” – a metiers d’art timepiece that marked a special anniversary.
What’s new for the Quai des Bergues watch?
The Quai des Bergues is inspired by Czapek pocket watches of the 1850s. The models feature sub-dials that are located in unusual positions and have been made available in three different sizes. Originally, the watch came in a confident 42.5mn diameter until Czapek released a more compact 38.5mm size. It now comes in an intermediate 40.5mm size, bridging the gap between the two just nicely. These new additions are also really beautiful. They now come with a guilloche dial pattern that makes all three timepieces particularly interesting to read the time from. Let’s take a look at the models in more detail...
The signature elements
When a collector falls in love with a watch design, any change is questionable. Does it need it? Does it improve the design? Has the brand stepped too far by interfering with something that already worked well? Luckily for any Czapek fans, the new Quai des Bergues watches haven’t strayed from their original design. The signature elements of the collection are kept fully intact. The three new models, as mentioned, sit nicely in between the two sizes, measuring in at 40.5mm. They’ve also been crafted from stainless steel.
The new Quai des Bergues models feature a distinctive crown shield that melds effortlessly into the profile of the case. They also feature a beautifully sloping bezel that curves to enhance the watch’s rounded silhouette. In addition to this, the new models also feature elongated lugs that extend out further than a standard lug length. They somehow enlarge the case without it feeling too big on the wrist. That said, there has been a slight redesign of the lugs to ensure they ergonomically meld to the wrist following the recent re-sizing of the case. The case recesses on the sides have also been reworked. All three watches offer a 50-meter water resistance.
The clue to the defining feature of the new Quai des Bergues watches by Czapek is in their name. The Double Soleil reference points to the guilloche pattern applied to the surface of the dials. The name is interpreted in French as “Double sun”. The decorative effect serves as the starting point for the new designs by which all other dial elements fit around. You can enjoy the Double Soleil watches in a deep blue, Tuxedo black or Secret Alloy colour. The latter adopts the shade of the alloys used to create the dial itself. Regardless of your favourite, the dial pattern, developed by dial-maker Matalem, uses the Ricochet technique and acts as the focal point of each design. The Guilloche effect on a dial is achieved using a cutting machine that is controlled by hand. In this design, the effect is achieved by emphasis applied in vertical symmetry through a process of repetition. Straight, deeper cuts enable the light to pour into the grooves and textured surfaces of each section of the dial.
The dial of each of these new Czapek Quai des Bergues Double Soleil watches is crafted from a mix of palladium, platinum, gold and silver. Regardless of which dial colour you opt for, the layout is the same. A set of central hour and minute hands join an hour track represented in stick markers and Arabic numerals. In addition to this, you get a small seconds sub-dial at 8:30 and a power reserve indicator at 4:30. The latter has been combined with a days-of-the-week indicator too.
Powering the hands around these three dials is the Calibre SHX1, which offers a 168-hour power reserve once fully wound. It also features a variable inertia balance wheel and performs at a rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour. The hand-wound movement can be admired through the back of the watch, equipped with a scratch-resistant and anti-reflective piece of sapphire crystal glass. Here you can appreciate traditional Swiss decoration like anglage and sandblasting, blued screws and mi-glace rubies.
To finish with, the new Quai des Bergues watches by Czapek are fitted on traditional leather bands in black. The strap secures firmly to the wrist with a traditional polished stainless steel pin buckle.
If you’d like to explore the new Quai des Bergues Double Soleil watches in more detail, you can do so by calling and speaking with a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453
