Czapek & Cie Antarctique Rattrapante “Sunrise” for Only Watch 2021
Organized biennially by the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, Only Watch is the world’s leading charity auction entirely devoted to research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Since 2005 more than 70 million Euros have been raised in the event’s eight editions.
Czapek & Cie supports Only Watch for the third time, and the brand has just revealed live photos of its unique Antarctique Rattrapante “Sunrise” watch inspired by this year’s Only Watch official hues.
After the success of the 2019 edition, when the unique piece Faubourg de Cracovie “Courage Every Second” chronograph was sold for a hammer price over three times higher than the estimate - Czapek & Cie set out to create another distinguished piece to support this worthy cause.
This year the Geneva-based brand will donate – in avant-première - a truly mesmerizing unique piece, the Antarctique Rattrapante “Sunrise”. The latest model of the Company, a split-second monopusher chronograph, will be unveiled for the first time at the Charity event. Its execution is the fruit of a collaborative work inspired by the vivid colors of the Only Watch 2021 edition and aiming at creating new hope – a new “Sunrise” as its name states – for patients affected by the disease, and their families.
Collaboration, openness and creative thinking are at the heart of Czapek’s creative process. The Antarctique Rattrapante “Sunrise” combines the bright Only Watch 2021 official colours – yellow, orange and red – and the latest mechanical innovation in Czapek’s Antarctique line: a unique open-work dial side split-second chronograph. “The idea for this unique piece came to life step-by-step”, recalls Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “The mechanism concept, a project initiated by Czapek, is the result of a long-term fruitful collaboration with our movement manufacturing partners Chronode. The timepiece’s aesthetic concept, for its part, took shape after exchanging ideas with our friends and partners Positive Coating, the AVD ‘atomic vapour deposit’ technology experts in La Chaux de Fonds. And then the whole design game started, with a vision: creating something crazy… and edible at the same time”.
The Antarctique Rattrapante “Sunrise” is based on Czapek’s sport-chic collection Antarctique, released in 2020. The Czapek proprietary split-second module, created in collaboration with Chronode, brings the line to the next generation, entering the ‘grande complication’ universe. A new dawn for watchmaking, as it is the first open-work dial side split-second chronograph with a patented satellite minute wheel train and a patent-pending split-second mechanism. The CVD-coated orange split-second main plate, minutes ring and subdials in sapphire glass with fumé coating, as well as the Czapek signature “Courage every second” inscription visible on the dial side between 12 and 2 o’clock, make the watch even more unique.
“The split-second mechanism, allowing time to start, stop and then catch up, adds up to the reflection on time we started with our Only Watch signature ‘Courage every second’”, continues Xavier. “The name of the unique piece, ‘Sunrise’, symbolizes our hope for a new dawn in the research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy, for the patients and their families’ lives to get better”.
Refining the hue of the main plate was a real challenge. We strived for perfection, and, with the precious support of our partner Positive Coating, reached a truly rare degradé color with a sleek elegance. The technique used, called ALD (atomic layer deposit) is at the cutting-edge in terms of innovation in metals colouring. The journey to get to our ‘Sunrise’ was long and difficult, Positive Coating had to craft no less than four prototypes before achieving the final one. The lesson learned from this experience? Shoot for the Moon, and even if you miss it, you’ll land among the stars…
Technical specifications:
Czapek & Cie. Antarctique Rattrapante “Sunrise”
Unique piece for Only Watch 2021
Case
- Material: Stainless steel
- Diameter: 42.5 mm
- Thickness (with glass-box): 15.3 mm, perceived thickness: 10.5 mm
- Glass: Sapphire crystal front and caseback
- Water-resistant to 120 meters
Dial and hands
- Open-worked dial
- CVD-coated orange split-second main plate
- Minutes ring and subdials in sapphire glass with fumé coating
Movement
- Czapek’s new in-house SHX6 calibre created in collaboration with Chronode.
- Automatic power-horse movement with a split-second monopusher chronograph module featuring two column wheels
- Chronograph horizontal clutch
- Patented satellite minute train and patent-pending split-second clamp
- 100% recycled 5N rose gold rotor
Strap and buckle
- Integrated stainless steel bracelet with Czapek exclusive “Easy Release” system
MSRP: Up for auction
Estimate: CHF 60'000-90'000
For more information, please visit onlywatch.com
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