François Czapek was born in 1811 in Bohemia, (born Franciszek Czapek) He was a master watchmaker whose six-year partnership with Antoni Patek (of Patek Philippe) between the years 1839-1845 produced some of the finest watches of the era and which are today included in the collections of some of the world’s most serious watch aficionados. At his peak, watchmaker François Czapek earned the title of “Horloger de la Cour Impériale de Napoléon III”. He opened a store in Paris, and also kept his workshop going in the Quai des Bergues in Geneva.
At the time, this promenade along the river was the epicentre of luxury in Geneva. Following the dissolution of their partnership, Antoni Patek founded Patek & Co. (1845-1851) before establishing the illustrious Patek Philippe in 1851. Czapek continued to thrive until what is believed to be his death in 1869, when the company was taken over by an A. Chaillet.
The Czapek & Cie. Quai des Bergues range is named after the street on which Czapek had his workshop. This revival project has been funded by private investment, secured by the company’s three directors.
The 2016 “Quai des Bergues” collection comprises three references that appear in two different versions each. The first model is cased in white or rose gold, with a grand-feu enamel dial, new-line hand, or rose gold fleur-de-lys hands.
The second reference is available in titanium and carbon or a ‘mysterious’ steel never as yet used in watchmaking, with a choice of white or black dial.
The new guardians of the Czapek name rediscovered a form of steel that has never before been used in watchmaking and which was made almost a century ago. It’s tougher to machine, but it does have some key traits making it perfect for watch cases. It is extremely resistant to corrosion, particularly in acidic environments and in seawater.
Many of François Czapek’s watches feature finely carved hands. A craft that has been lost to watchmaking, but rediscovered by the Czapek team. Together with Aurélien Bouchet, they succeeded in making fleur-de-lys hands that are 0.35 millimetres thick thanks to a tool with a precision tolerance of 0.15 mm.
These timepieces are powered by a mecanical movement developed for Czapek by Chronode. The watches beat at a frequency of 21’600 vph, while enjoying a 168-hours power reserve. The two subdials, unusually positioned at 4.30 and 7.30, indicate respectively the power reserve/weekday and the small seconds.
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