Czapek Steel Sport Watches

February 16, 2022

It's not just what we know. Practically anyone who knows watches can identify a certain type of them, one intended to scratch a certain stainless-steel-and-integrated-bracelet itch. An itch that's caused pretty much every watch brand to issue their own angular tonneau solution. A recent entrant into the field of stainless steel sport watches, the Antarctique, comes from Czapek, a brand whose name reaches all the way back to the 1800s and a partnership with Antoni Patek. Yes, that Patek. The Antarctique bracelet and case call to mind legends of 1970s watchmaking and they double down on the popular look, in certain cases, with intricately patterned dials produced in eye-catching colors. Here we have what Czapek calls its "Stairway To Eternity" dial pattern (with a name channeling the early '70s in its own way). In reality, the stairway motif does play tricks on your eyes if you look long enough. Does the pattern trace upward or downward??It comes in two versions, one with a glacier blue dial and the other in a color that always seems to generate a lot of interest, salmon. Only 99 of the salmon execution will be made. The movement under that dial is the SXH5 with micro-rotor, which is made in-house by Czapek and runs at a conventional 28,800 vph with a standard 56 hours of power reserve. What We Think But the thing that jumps out to me about the Antarctique is the combination of flat and rounded edges. The polished central links, in particular, have a slightly soft look about them in certain light, a quality at odds with the sharp angularity of their shape. This is likely due to their appearance, in relief almost, against the dull matte outer links. Playing with light through finishing applied to surfaces is the name of the game when it comes to the stainless steel sport luxury watch. While affordable mass-produced options of this type may look the part from afar or from medium distance, the real deal high-end known quantities bring an elegance to their case and bracelet finishing that withstands closer inspection. Plus, despite the limited production numbers for the salmon version here, I reckon these are watches that the average interested watch enthusiast with cash in-hand ought to be able to buy. Sing it with me: "And she's buying a stairway to " The Basics Brand: Czapek & Ci?.Model: Antarctique Passage de Drake Glacier Blue And SalmonReference Number:Diameter: 40.5mmThickness: 10.6mmCase Material: SteelDial Color: Glacier blue or SalmonIndexes: Applied, luminousLume: YesWater Resistance: 120 metersStrap/Bracelet: Integrated steel bracelet The Movement Caliber: SXH5Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, dateDiameter: 30mmThickness: 4.2mmPower Reserve: 56 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 28,800 mphJewels: 28 Pricing & Availability Price: $22,000Limited Edition: Salmon limited to 99 pieces Shop this story For more information, visit Czapek.