Czapek, a distinguished independent watchmaking brand, has unveiled its latest creation, the Promenade Transparencies Aqua Blue. This new timepiece is a testament to the brand's commitment to combining classic sophistication with contemporary design. Following the successful introduction of the Promenade collection in 2024, which featured various artistic dial executions like the Plissé, Diamond Drops, and Goutte de Rosée editions, Czapek now adds this captivating aqua blue variant as a permanent addition to its esteemed collection.
The Czapek Promenade Transparencies Aqua Blue boasts a precisely crafted stainless steel case, measuring 38mm in diameter, with a slender profile of 10.8mm in thickness and a lug-to-lug distance of 42mm. The design emphasizes wearability and elegance, featuring gracefully curved lugs and meticulously hollowed case flanks. Both the front and back of the watch are fitted with sapphire crystals, enhanced with internal anti-reflective coatings, providing an unobstructed view into the heart of the timepiece. This careful construction ensures a water resistance of up to 50 meters, making it both beautiful and functional.
A standout feature is the Aqua Blue dial, which deviates from traditional enamel or metallic finishes. It is constructed from a sapphire disc that undergoes a specialized metallisation process on its underside. This technique employs vapor deposition to create a graduated smoked effect, where microscopic metallic dots are applied with increasing density towards the dial's periphery, gradually thinning out towards the off-centred small seconds display located at 4:30. This ingenious design allows for a semi-transparent center, subtly revealing the intricate movement below while maintaining an ethereal blue hue at the edges. Unlike previous iterations that used metallic applied indices, this version features hand-applied blocks of light blue Super-LumiNova, which emit a soft blue glow in low-light conditions, enhancing legibility and adding to its unique charm.
Driving this exquisite watch is the Calibre SXH7, an in-house self-winding mechanical movement that represents a fully skeletonized evolution of Czapek's original SXH5 movement. This caliber has been specifically re-engineered to be showcased from both sides of the watch, with its seven open-worked bridges echoing the multi-bridge architecture found in François Czapek's 19th-century pocket watches. The escapement has been thoughtfully reversed, and the layout of several components, including the crown and keyless works, has been reworked to achieve this visual transparency. The small seconds, positioned at 4:30, is directly driven by the fourth wheel. The automatic winding mechanism is powered by a micro-rotor made from 100% recycled platinum, underscoring the brand's commitment to sustainability. The movement's finishing is exemplary, visible from both perspectives, featuring open-worked ratchets, sandblasted rhodium-plated bridges, straight-grained flanks, and meticulously hand-chamfered angles. The SXH7 operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a robust power reserve of 60 hours from a single barrel.
Completing the sophisticated presentation, the Czapek Promenade Transparencies Aqua Blue is presented on a dark blue nubuck leather strap. For those seeking an alternative style, a stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet is also available. This exclusive timepiece is a limited edition, with only 38 pieces being produced globally. It is priced at CHF 28,800, EUR 31,700, or USD 40,300, before applicable taxes. The Czapek Promenade Transparencies Aqua Blue stands as a remarkable example of artistic watchmaking, merging heritage with cutting-edge design and meticulous craftsmanship.
