Introducing the Czapek & Cie Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector Watch
Thursday - 23 March 2023
Serving as a nod to the Dark Sector Laboratory and telescopes that are located at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica Czapek Antarctica, the new Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector watch by Czapek & Cie features a segmented hour track that foregoes the use of hour markers and offers a simple time-only display in anthracite.
Czapek & Cie operates under a very unique business model within the luxury watch industry and was launched only a few years ago, supported by a crowdfunding effort and operating horizontally as it collaborated with some of the industry’s leading names. As a result, Czapek & Cie was able to establish itself pretty quickly and created its very first luxury sports watch – the Antarctique. The watch was intended to serve as a practical companion for everyday adventures whilst exuding a sense of luxury. The design featured a barrel-shaped case framing a circular yet stepped bezel that was executed in a surface polish. The Czapek & Cie Antarctique had a distinct personality and, unlike other luxe sports watches on the market at the time, didn’t conform to the angular bezel. What it did offer was a boxed sapphire glass front that gave the timepiece a subtle vintage element accurate to the era when this style of watch flourished.
The allure of the steel sports watch
The integrated bracelet sports watch has been around for decades but over the last ten years, countless luxury watch brands have had their go at adding one to their catalogue. Czapek & Cie has been specialising in this style of watch since 2020 and now welcomes a new addition to the family – the Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector. It’s probably the most modern yet, with its monochromatic grey colourway and a simple time-only display. Czapek CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel describes the inspiration for the watch: “The hands crossing from segment to segment over the dusky backdrop of the dial looks almost like a shoreline seen from far above. The dial was designed in such a way that the marker becomes the void between each sector (an almost philosophical way of defining matter). This spontaneously inspired the model’s name ‘Dark Sector’, which comes from the Dark Sector Laboratory and telescopes at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. The skies over Antarctica are the clearest and darkest in the world…”.
The tonneau-shaped case of the Czapek & Cie Antarctique Dark Sector watch is similar to other models from the Antarctique watch collection with its angular dimensions and polished stepped circular bezel that frames the textured dial. The case is crafted from titanium, giving the time-only sports watch a lightweight feel and measures a depth of 10.6mm. Certainly not imposing, the watch will sit nicely underneath the cuff of a crisp white shirt or an office suit but also resumes its sporty appeal once paired with casual attire too. The case is equipped with an integrated stainless steel bracelet, boasting a mix of polished and brushed effects upon its links. Faithful to other Antarctique models, the watch features a screw-down crown at 3 o’clock and a crown protection guard. These crown guards are flanked by cut-outs that feature on both sides of the case.
As I’ve mentioned, the front of the case of the new Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector watch by Czapek & Cie gets fitted with a boxed sapphire crystal glass but the reverse side of the watch also uses this same material to give you a clear view into the movement whilst it performs. These two tightly sealed pieces of glass, along with the screw-down crown, help to uphold a water-resistant case of 120 meters. Meanwhile, the dial is something new and intriguing...
The Dark Sector laboratory-inspired dial
The dial of the new Czapek & Cie Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector watch is a segmented arrangement with two rows of concentric rings that sit inside the minute and hour track area. They have been applied on top of an anthracite surface. The double track segmented rings in the hour band serve as hour markers with their voids, as opposed to having indexes situated at each hour location. The absence of the date display in this dial certainly works, giving the watch a symmetrical layout that is very appealing. Sword-shaped central hour and minute hands join a fine seconds hands leaving the only other detailing the Czapek lettering under the 12 o’clock location. One other thing to note is the subtle touch of red seen on the top of the second hand to match the discreet circular dot shown at 12 o’clock. The watch is powered by the Calibre SXH5, which produces a 60-hour power reserve. The self-winding movement is fitted with a Swiss lever escapement and a micro-rotor that features a recycled platinum mass.
The new Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector watch from Czapek & Cie can be enjoyed on the integrated titanium bracelet but also comes with an additional textured rubber strap in a matching anthracite colour or a grey leather strap. If you’d like more information on this new addition to the Antarctique line, get in touch with a member of our sales team today on 01335 453453
