Czapek & Cie: Antarctique Titanium “Dark Sector”

Every watch is essentially subjected to two sets of fundamental laws. The first is mechanics, which means everything must function like clockwork, quite literally. The second is aesthetics and is far more subjective: a watch must be visually attractive, provocative, seductive. Czapek’s latest launch, the Antarctique Titanium ‘Dark Sector’, strikes a perfectly symbiotic balance between these two poles. It is driven by the tried-and-true SXH5, and its dial was designed for excellent readability and viewing pleasure.

The key to this Antarctique’s appeal is in the careful use of space. A traditional minute track has been discreetly placed around the edge of a smooth anthracite dial. It surrounds a double row of lightly arched parallel segments that are interrupted at each numeral. The sword hour hand points to the gaps like a ship seeking entrance into a harbour, while the minute and second hands sweep the dial each at their own pace, closing the gaps for a moment. This creates a kind of animation, a slight change in the visual geometry.

“The idea is simple, but requires great precision to execute,” says CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel. “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 Antarctique Titanium ‘Dark Sector’ emerged naturally from the collection’s elegant case and bracelet of brushed titanium with the rounded crown protector. These shades of grey inspired the model’s overall monochrome scheme, which highlights the two touches of colour on the dial, namely the red dot at twelve o’clock, and the tip of the second hand.  

The watch runs on Czapek’s robust automatic calibre SXH5, the first to be entirely conceived in-house.  It is driven by a microrotor of recycled platinum and provides up to sixty hours of autonomy. An exhibition case reveals the fine architecture, with seven bridges that hark back to 19^th-century pocket watch movements. The movement’s height of 4.5 millimetres means that this new model is as sportive and elegant as all the others in the Antarctique family. 

The Antarctique Titanium ‘Dark Sector’ will be available in a limited yearly production of 100 pieces at Czapek’s authorized dealers worldwide, its flagship store in Geneva and at Czapek.com at the price of 32,000 CHF + Tax.