Czapek & Cie: Quai des Bergues 2022

At first glance, the new Quai des Bergues models will be familiar. The unique Ricochet pattern in flinqué enamel on the dial is back, but this time in two colours, sapphire blue and emerald green, composed for Czapek by its partner Donzé Cadrans. 

There’s more to the new Quai des Bergues than colours, though. The calibre driving the watch, the manually wound, seven-day power reserve SXH1, has been given a careful make-over. “The spirit of the watch has not been touched,” says Czapek CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel, “but we have had a second look at the movement and identified what you might call evolutionary inflection points.” 

The idea of remodelling the movement aesthetically originated with the company’s fans, as has often been the case with Czapek. The Quai des Bergues’ original SXH1 calibre had been designed in the spirit of the traditional Genevan craftsmen known as the cabinotiers. It was very technical and sober. “When we released the Antarctique with its lacy bridges and complex architecture, people were amazed,” comments de Roquemaurel. “So, we realized we had to harmonise all our movements along those lines. 

Transforming an existing movement can be more difficult than developing a new one. The most visible change on the SXH1 is the extensive openwork, which clearly delineates a full-fledged three-quarter plate and exposes the geartrain. The bridge plate and balance bridge have also been hollowed out. The mainplate now has a small triangular hole cut in the middle, a cursory distraction on the rhodium-plated, matt grey surface.

The reworked calibre differs from its predecessor in other ways, too. The original balance had a classic rack and index for regulation, for example. The new SXH1, on the other hand, has an annular balance wheel with weights for variable inertia and a Breguet terminal curve balance spring. The balance cock has also been finely skeletonised and streamlined to give the whole balance greater transparency. The finishing has also been developed further. All the edges of this outstanding movement have been softened by deeper chamfering. And on the advice of one of the best independent watchmakers and friend, the regular jewels were replaced with “mi-glace” rubies.These have a rounded relief that improves lubrication on the point of contact with the axes. They also give the movement a more fluid look and can, occasionally, catch incoming rays of light. 

These two new versions of the Quai des Bergues will undoubtedly represent a new milestone in the exciting story of this family of watches, the very first introduced after the Czapek’s name relaunch. (Price CHF 18,000 + Tax)