The Czapek Antarctique "Monochrome White" Edition

Following the success of the Montre de Souscription 1, which was a vintage-inspired sector dial chronograph made in collaboration with Habring2, we've decided to change genre but stay true to what we, at MONOCHROME, love and cherish. For this reason, we've conceived a watch that summarises many of our preferences: a sports watch with integrated bracelet, a discreet design with a monochromatic colour scheme, and a superbly executed movement. The result is this "Monochrome White" edition of the successful Czapek Antarctique.

A Montre de Souscription

Just like our first collaboration watch, we're going to release the Czapek Antarctique as a Montre de Souscription. The Monochrome White Edition will be limited to 33 pieces and sold via subscription, a process that will sound familiar to those with some knowledge of watchmaking history. From 16 - 30 December 2021, we will be taking pre-orders for the 33 subscription watches; the first deliveries are scheduled for February 2022 and all 33 pieces will be delivered before the end of March.

A Monochromatic Watch

Up until now, the Czapek Antarctique has been released with two types of textured dials: the inaugural Terre Adélie collection decorated using the lamé technique and the Passage de Drake with its flinqué dial. For our Montre de Souscription 2, we've worked with Czapek on yet another texture and colour that best represents MONOCHROME. The matte grained dial with its discreet silvery-white colour creates a coherent style with the case, making this Antarctique model even more integrated! Subtle, legible, elegant and easy to wear in any situation.

Unlike anything you've seen from Czapek in the past, this new grained dial, referred to as "Monochrome White", has a novel texture and colour. To animate this discreet, understated base, the red-tipped seconds hand provides a touch of colour, while the new inscription "Automatique" at 6 o’clock balances the brand name at noon.

The MONOCHROME x Czapek Antarctique Monochrome White

When Xavier de Roquemaurel (CEO of Czapek) presented us the Antarctique model, he explained that "the message from our friends and shareholders was clear: to make a watch that exudes a feeling of preciousness, but that could also be worn and admired every day". His description immediately spoke to us. This idea was entirely in line with our own vision of what luxury should stand for: a watch that is discreet, refined and beautifully executed, especially on the movement side.

The Czapek Antarctique is a luxury sports watch with a distinct personality that avoids the angular bezels often seen on these models. Its design is based on a barrel-shaped flat surface framing a round, sloped polished bezel. The brushed finishing of the case radiating from the dial's centre adds a refined touch. Like all Czapek watches, the crown is protected by a crown guard. With a 40.5mm diameter, the watch has a versatile size that will fit most wrists. Although the box sapphire crystal protrudes slightly from the case, its height of 10.6mm is thin enough to slip comfortably under a cuff.

An important feature of luxury sports watches, the MONOCHROME x Czapek Antarctique Monochrome White is worn on an integrated stainless steel bracelet. Its brushed links contrast with the highly polished and stylised "C" for Czapek. The bracelet is flexible, soft to the skin and wears comfortably. Our Montre de Souscription 2 will be equipped with a new microadjustment, so the bracelet has some extra "stretch" when your wrist needs it. Lastly, the bracelet is fitted with an Easy Release system letting you change the bracelet for a rubber strap, and vice versa, and change the personality of the watch in seconds. The black (or white) rubber strap comes with a triple-folding clasp.

The In-House Automatic Movement

The reverse side of Montre de Souscription 2 makes a formidable impression, revealing its beauty to those few in the know. Calibre SXH5, the first movement developed and produced in-house by Czapek, is impressive on many levels. A self-winding movement measuring 30mm, the first thing to catch the eye is its distinctive architecture with a micro-rotor and seven bridges, five of which are openworked, offering a captivating perspective on the inner workings.

A variable inertia balance wheel is held in place by a transversal bridge. The Calibre SHX5 operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and delivers a comfortable autonomy of 60 hours on one barrel, while the powerful, off-centred platinum micro-rotor provides greater winding efficiency. The finishing creates a striking contrast. It is modern but elaborate with handchamfered inward angles and drawing of the flanks. The central bridge, in black-polished steel, features no fewer than six meticulously polished internal angles.

Availability and Price

The MONOCHROME Montre de Souscription 2 is limited to 33 pieces and will be available via a subscription campaign at shop.monochrome-watches.com. The watch will be presented on 15 December 2021 and the pre-order campaign will start a day later, on 16 December 2021 (at 3 p.m. Central European Time / 9 a.m. New York time / 10 p.m. Singapore time) and ends on 30 December 2021.

The price of the watch is EUR 17'200 (excluding taxes) and includes free insured international shipping and a 3-year warranty from Czapek.

When ordering the watch, we will ask for a non-refundable deposit of EUR 5'200 (excl. taxes). The remaining EUR 12'000 plus the applicable VAT/tax for your country, will be charged when the watch is ready to be shipped. The watch will be shipped from Europe.

Technical specifications: 

Czapek & Cie. Antarctique Monochrome White Edition 

Limited edition of 33 pieces

Case

• Material: Stainless steel, brushed with polished accents
• Diameter: 40.5mm
• Thickness: 10.6mm
• Glass: Sapphire crystal glass-box with anti-reflective coating
• Sapphire crystal caseback with anti-reflective coating
• Screw-down crown protected by guards
• Water-resistant to 120m or 12 atm

Dial and hands

• Grained dial with silvery-white colour "Monochrome White"
• Luminescent, rhodium-plated steel hour makers
• Luminescent, steel sword hands

Movement

• Calibre SXH5
• Czapek in-house self-winding mechanical movement
• Diameter: 30mm
• Height: 4.2mm height
• Number of parts: 193 parts
• Number of jewels: 28 jewels
• Swiss lever escapement, variable-inertia balance wheel fitted with 4 gold inertia blocks
• Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
• Wound by a 100% recycled 950 platinum micro-rotor
• Power reserve of 60 hours

Finishing

• Open ratchets, sandblasted black bridges, bevelling, straight-grained sides, six hand-chamfered inward angles

Functions/Indications

• Hours, minutes, central seconds, date at 6 o'clock

Strap and buckle

• Integrated stainless steel bracelet with brushed and polished surfaces, folding clasp and new micro-adjustment system
• Easy-release system to change from bracelet to strap, included required tool
• Additional black or white rubber strap on triple-folding clasp also include

MSRP: EUR 17'200

For more information, please visit monochrome-watches.com