Czapek & Cie releases a trio of Antarctique models with grade 5 titanium cases and bracelets, and Cosmic Blue dials
The Dark Sector and Révélation models are available in both 40.5mm and 38.5mm, and the Tourbillon model is available in 40.5mm. Each model features Cosmic Blue as the main dial colour, with each model appearing slightly different due to different dial finishes and treatments.
With a release date of April 10th, 2026, for all models, the Antarctique Dark Sector is limited to 25 pieces for the 40.5mm model, 10 pieces for the 38.5mm model, and is priced at CHF 32,000. The Révélation is limited to 50 pieces per year for the 40.5mm size, 25 pieces per year for the 38.5mm, and is priced at CHF 42,000. Finally, the Antarctique Tourbillon Titanium Cosmic Blue is limited to 25 pieces and is priced at CHF 67,000.
As I’m reviewing Czapek’s latest release, it is one of the first properly warm spring days in New York City, meaning it was time to bust out the lighter clothing and try to keep cool while navigating through the day. For Czapek & Cie’s latest release ahead of Watches and Wonders, they recognise that some people associate a luxury timepiece with a weighty presence on the wrist, while others want something svelte and light, associating optimum wrist comfort with the best of luxury watches. These new Antarctique models are meant for the latter. With three new models, with two of them available in two sizes, these new Antarctiques feature full titanium cases and bracelets, and Cosmic Blue dials that vary in appearance with the different models due to the dial finishes and details, despite the same shade of blue being utilised.
Antarctique Dark Sector Cosmic Blue
First up is a follow-up to the Antarctique Dark Sector released in 2023, which was the first titanium Antarctique model Czapek released. A re-interpretation of traditional sector dial designs, the dial design is inspired by the bridges of Czapek’s in-house Calibre SXH5. A printed minute track outlines the periphery of the dial, with two sets of concentric circles consisting of polished and domed applied “indices.” The notion of traditional hour markers is demarcated by 12 breaks within the circles. Given the polished nature of the indices and hands, the movement of the minute and seconds over the circles creates subtle visual shifts as the polished surfaces play with the light.
The aforementioned Calibre SXH5 inside was Czapek & Cie’s first movement fully conceived and developed in-house when it was released in 2020. Inspired by François Czapek’s 19th-century pocket watches, the movement features skeletonised bridges and an off-centre micro-rotor design. With a sandblasted finish for the main plate, the bridges are hand-bevelled and polished. Similar contrasting finishes are applied to the micro-rotor made of recycled platinum, culminating in movement with multiple finishes and tones, making for a visual cornucopia of reflective surfaces. The SXH5 movement operates at 4Hz and has a 60-hour power reserve achieved via a single main spring barrel.
The Antarctique Dark Sector Cosmic Blue is available in two sizes, 40.5mm and 38.5mm “S” case. Both versions measure 10.6mm thick, with the 40.5mm version measuring 44.5mm lug-to-lug, and the 38.5mm S model measuring 42.8mm lug-to-lug. The case is water resistant to 120 meters with a screw-down crown. The full titanium bracelet is available with either polished or brushed centre links, and has quick-release spring bars and a micro-adjustable clasp. The Antarctique Dark Sector Cosmic Blue also comes with a textured blue rubber strap, with an optional blue leather strap available for purchase.
Brand
Czapek
Model
Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector Cosmic Blue
Antarctique S Titanium Dark Sector Cosmic Blue
Case Dimensions
40.5mm (D) x 10.6mm (T) x 44.5mm (L2L) (Antarctique)
38.5mm (D) x 10.6mm (T) x 42.8mm (L2L) (Antarctique S)
Case Material
Titanium
Water Resistance
120 metres, screw-down crown
Crystal(s)
Sapphire front and back with anti-reflective coating
Dial
Cosmic Blue with applied sector indices
Lug Width
Integrated
Strap and bracelet
Titanium C-link bracelet, butterfly clasp with quick-release spring bars and micro-adjustable clasp
Additional blue rubber strap. Calf leather available on demand for an additional cost.
Movement
SXH5, in-house, micro-rotor automatic
Power Reserve
60 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds
Availability
25 pieces (Antarctique)
10 pieces (Antarctique S)
Price
CHF 32,000 for both versions
Antarctique Révélation Titanium Cosmic Blue
The Antarctique Révélation, released in 2023, served as a way to expand on the aesthetic possibilities of the Antarctique collection. Czapek designed this model following the requests of clients to have the movement inverted to reveal the normally hidden portions of the watch. In order for this to work, the movement had to be reworked. The SHX7 goes beyond a mere skeletonisation of the SHX5, as the escapement was reversed, the stop seconds mechanism was brought to the dial side of the movement, the seconds hand moved to a smoked sapphire sub-dial at 4:30 mounted to the outer chapter ring, and the rotor is now fully decorated on both sides, as both sides are visible.
Even though the movement is skeletonised, legibility is maintained via the hour and minute markers being placed on a peripheral track done in Cosmic Blue, making a stark colour contrast against the slew of metallic tones of the movement. Like the Dark Sector model, this model is available in both 40.5mm and 38.5mm “S” sizes, with the same case dimensions maintained. The 40.5mm is limited to 50 pieces, and the 38.5mm “S” is limited to 25 pieces.
Brand
Czapek
Model
Antarctique Révélation Titanium Cosmic Blue
Antarctique S Révélation Titanium Cosmic Blue
Case Dimensions
40.5mm (D) x 10.6mm (T) x 44.5mm (L2L) (Antarctique)
38.5mm (D) x 10.6mm (T) x 42.8mm (L2L) (Antarctique S)
Case Material
Titanium
Water Resistance
120 metres, screw-down crown
Crystal(s)
Sapphire front and back with anti-reflective coating
Dial
Skeletonised dial with Cosmic Blue Chapter ring
Lug Width
Integrated
Strap and bracelet
Titanium C-link bracelet, butterfly clasp with quick-release spring bars and micro-adjustable clasp
Additional blue rubber strap. Calf leather available on demand for an additional cost.
Movement
SXH7, in-house, skeletonised, micro-rotor automatic
Power Reserve
60 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds
Availability
50 pieces per year (Antarctique)
25 pieces per year (Antarctique S)
Price
CHF 42,000 for both versions
Antarctique Tourbillon Titanium Cosmic Blue
Rounding out this trio of new Antarctique models is the Antarctique Tourbillon Titanium Cosmic Blue. The design of the Antarctique Tourbillon was guided by the goal of having the main aspects of the Calibre 9 featured on the dial side of the movement. The gear train, tourbillon, and mainspring barrel are vertically aligned, surrounded by the “Singularité” hand-guilloché dial pattern. This dial pattern was developed for Czapek by long-time partner Metalem, inspired by the astronomical term singularity: the phenomenon in the universe that exists in black holes, where time and space become infinite and undifferentiated. The guilloché pattern draws the eye towards the mechanical elements towards the centre, and emphasises the visual impact of the movement bridges floating above the dial. The hour markers are mounted to the peripheral minute track, leaving the dial engraving undisturbed. Keeping things within the sport watch vocabulary, the indices, hour, and minute hands feature SuperLuminova.
The Czapek Calibre 9 is not only designed and conceived in-house, but also mostly machined in-house. This automatic tourbillon calibre operates at 3Hz and has a 100-hour power reserve. The convex tourbillon cage is made from titanium, and the hand-engraved, centrally mounted automatic rotor is made of 18k 5N gold.
The case specs for the Antarctique Tourbillon vary slightly from the other models. Available only in the 40.5mm case size, the case measures 11.5mm thick, 45mm lug-to-lug, and is water resistant to 50 meters. Both the dial side and case back sapphire crystals have anti-reflective coating, and the watch comes with both the titanium bracelet and a rubber strap.
Brand
Czapek
Model
Antarctique Tourbillon Titanium Cosmic Blue
Case Dimensions
40.5mm (D) x 11.5mm (T) x 45 mm (L2L)
Case Material
Titanium
Water Resistance
50 meters
Crystal(s)
Sapphire front and back with anti-reflective coating
Dial
Hand guilloché dial with PVD Cosmic Blue coating
Lug Width
Integrated
Strap and bracelet
Titanium C-link bracelet, butterfly clasp with quick-release spring bars and micro-adjustable clasp
Additional blue rubber strap. Calf leather available on demand for an additional cost.
Movement
Calibre 9, automatic winding movement with tourbillon
Power Reserve
60 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds
Availability
Limited to 25 pieces
Price
CHF 67,000 for both versions