The unique Ricochet Grand Feu pattern in flinqué enamel on the Czapek & Cie Quai des Bergues watch dial returns in a dazzling blue enamel composed for Czapek by its partner Donzé Cadrans. The Czapek & Cie Quai des Bergues Sapphire Blue S has a decadent dark blue hue exclusive to Czapek. 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 SXH1 has an annular balance wheel with weights for variable inertia and a Breguet terminal curve balance spring. The balance cock has been finely skeletonised and streamlined to give the whole balance greater transparency. The finishing has 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.
This smaller version 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. And with its new dedicated workshop space in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Czapek & Cie now has the capacity to continue thrilling the watch world.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Functions
- Hours, minutes & seconds
- Small second at 7h30
- Power reserve indication with weekdays at
4h30
Movement
- Calibre SXH1: Haute Horlogerie proprietary
mechanical hand-wound movement
- Power-reserve > 168 hours (7 days) on two barrel-
springs
- Variable inertia balance wheel
- “Breguet” terminal coil
- Frequency: 3 Hz – 21,600 VpH
- Diameter: 32 mm – 14 lines 1⁄4
- Height: 4.75 mm
- Number of components: 160
- Number of jewels: 31
Finish
- Partially open worked bridges on gear train
- Double open ratchets, sandblasted bridges and
main plate
- Heat-blued screws, bevelling, final hand-
chamfering, circular graining and snailing on wheels
Case
- Stainless steel case
- 38.5 mm diameter
- Thickness: 11.9mm (9.5mm perceived)
- Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective
treatment on the inside surface
- Sapphire crystal case back with anti-
reflective treatment on the inside surface
Water Resistance
50 meters (5 atm)
Dial
- Blue handmade “Flinqué” enamel dial
Hands
- Rhodium plated steel hands
Bracelet
- Dark blue alligator strap with XO stainless steel pin buckle
Oster Jewelers is an Authorized CZAPEK Retailer