Czapek & Cie Quais des Bergues Blue Sapphire L Watch Review
Wednesday - 30 November 2022
Czapek & Cie has released a beautiful Blue Sapphire version of its popular Quai des Bergues watch collection. It features two symmetrically positioned sub-dials to accurately show the remaining energy levels of the Calibre SXH1 movement, as well as the days of the week and a small running seconds counter.
The history of Czapek & Cie and a very important movement
The revival of Czapek & Cie a few years ago certainly raised a few heartbeats. After all, the brand’s legacy had almost completely faded from history. As it stands, the Czapek name is closely associated with another world-leading watchmaker and if this collaboration had never happened, we may be looking at a very different fate for Patek Philippe. Antoni Patek - a famous moniker in the world of Haute Horlogerie, joined forces with Francois Czapek during the years 1839-1845 and produced some timepieces that are among the world’s most desirable and sought-after today. Czapek was the head watchmaker, whilst Patek specialised in the sales of these watches. The successful partnership resulted in an average production of around 200 watches a year before Antoni Patek went on to found Patek & Co. and eventually Patek Philippe in 1851.
Czapek’s career, however, continued too. He founded the company Czapek & Cie with Juliusz Gruzewski, owned a shop in Warsaw, one in Paris and established an atelier in Geneva. When the brand changed hands in 1869, the manufacture of its watches became a bit of a mystery as did Czapek’s illness and his subsequent death, yet the name was revived in 2011 and the brand was relocated to Neuchatel in Switzerland where the name Francois Czapek emerged once again. Honouring the rich heritage of the brand is the Czapek & Cie Quai des Berges watch collection – a line named after the street in which Czapek owned his workshop. To raise funds for the company upon its revival, three directors along with some private investment raised capital by creating a small-run chronograph using a historic calibre. The C73 manual winding movement was used in the Czapek Design Study Chronograph. Selling this chronograph propelled the Quai des Bergues watch project and its Calibre SXH1, which powers the watches from this popular collection today.
The new Czapek & Cie Quai des Bergues Sapphire Blue watch
Newly released for 2022 is a striking blue sapphire Quai des Bergues watch from Czapek & Cie. The 42.5mm model has been released alongside a captivating Emerald Green L watch, which you can read up on here. Perfectly aligned with one another are the two sub-dials located at 5 and 7 o’clock against a rich blue-coloured dial. They are accompanied by a set of Fleur de Lys style central hour and minute hands – a design inspired by the elegant shape of the lily flower. The two flinque enamel dials offer the running seconds at 7 o’clock and a power reserve indicator with a days-of-the-week scale on the other side. These sub-dials occupy a ricochet decoration, adding a touch of vibrancy to the dial. The location of these two sub-dials on the epidermis of the watch in this way creates a great sense of harmony and balance. Fine Roman numeral hour markers trace the periphery of the dial in a silver hue, the 4, 5, 7 and 8 o’clock locations of which have been taken over by the sub-dials in their respective areas.
As with all Czapek & Cie watches, no compromise has been made when it comes to lucidity. The markers across the dial, together with the hands, sub-dials and brand lettering have all been executed clearly to promise easy readability underneath a scratch-resistant and anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front. The back of the case also features a piece of sapphire crystal, revealing the twin barrels, symmetrically and uniquely positioned like a pair of eyes. These are paired with spoked ratchet wheels with a frosted finish that adds a deep sense of character to the movement and watch. The SHX1 is a proprietary manual-winding movement made by Czapek & Cie in collaboration with Jean-François Mojon – designer at the Le Locle-based Chronode company. It operates at 21, 600 vibrations per hour and delivers a power reserve of 168 hours. A Breguet terminal curve balance spring can also be seen through the caseback, along with extra detail such as an annular balance wheel and a small triangular hole that has been cut into the mainplate for added detail.
Without boasting or shouting, the rich blue tones of the new Czapek & Cie Quai des Bergues Sapphire Blue L watch are a perfect contrast against the polished finishes of the watch’s 42.5mm stainless steel case, designed in a flowing and generously smooth way. The watch, suitable for many wrist sizes, is a versatile design that features a crown nuzzled into its side and crown guards that meld into the flowing shape of the case. The case has been manufactured by the Swiss steel company, Montanstahl which specialises in creating special grades of stainless steel. The XO steel case is more corrosion-resistant than standard stainless steel and the case features short lugs that pull the straps closer to the case for a snug fit on the wrist. The new Quai des Bergues Blue Sapphire L watch is fitted on a black leather strap. These leather straps require yet another meticulous process to reach their finished stage. There are around 50 fundamental steps required in creating these leather straps. This band secures to the wrist with a matching stainless steel buckle stamped with the famous Czapek & Cie logo.
If you’d like more information on the new Czapek & Cie Quai des Bergues Blue Sapphire L watch, you can read the spec details on the watch’s product page here, or call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453
