Czapek Mount Erebus Deep Blue Dresses The First-Ever Antarctique In Gold

The Czapek Antarctique is a blockbuster of a timepiece gracing the ever-popular luxury sports watch segment and unarguably the best independent offering in the lot. Responding to the irresistible-to-ignore calls for a precious metal iteration of the Antarctique, Czapek & Cie makes the timepiece available in gold iterations for the very first time. This marks the debut of the Antarctique in heavy metal cases and with the time being ripe for a luxury upscaling of the same, the Czapek bestseller further accentuates the essence of luxury in its luxury sports watch offering.

Czapek & Cie’s Utilitarian Timepiece Now in Solid Rose and Yellow Gold

There is no scarcity of choice when embarking on a hunt for a luxury sports watch. The exploding popularity of the segment has imposed an imperative call-to-action across the industry spread across an expansive realm of brands to invest time, effort and resources in their realization of the aesthetic. While the defining prophets of the segment become virtually unattainable, seizing a sizable market volume are independents and a number of entry level brands.

In 2020, Czapek offered a refreshing take on its idea of a luxury sports watch and the original Antarctique was born. When you conceive your new best-seller, the natural second step is to experiment the model in myriad variations. That is exactly what Czapek did over the years with its haute horlogerie sport chic timepiece. The Maison has managed to heterogenize the collection with divergent material as well as dial iterations. The variance peaked with the introduction of split-second chronograph Rattrapante and skeletonised Revelation models, both offering major movement upgrades. For its latest interpretation of the Antarctique line-up, Czapek plays Midas and responds to enthusiast demands with the launch of limited edition solid rose gold and yellow gold timepieces at the Watches and Wonders 2024.

Czapek Antarctique Mount Erebus Deep Blue

Gold is the reigning theme in the latest iteration Antarctique ‘Mount Erebus’ Deep Blue models. The eponymous models derive their name from the southernmost active volcano on Earth, Mount Erebus. This majestic geographical wonder standing tall on the frozen continent is renowned for spitting gold lava, which to the disappointment of fortune hunters vaporizes with volcanic gasses, hence non-viable to harvest. Speaking about the new-release Antarctiques, Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie explains, “The demand for an Antarctique model in a precious metal, and more specifically in gold, was so strong among a certain type of collectors that we could not ignore it. To create this new model, we went to explore not only the origins of this successful collection but also the geography of Antarctica.”

The new Antarctique Mount Erebus Deep Blue is available in 5N rose gold and 2N yellow gold variants. The 40.5mm across and 10.6mm thick gold cases revive the lamé dial of the original Antarctique from 2020 which serves a special highly-textured vertical satin brushed aesthetic. The deep blue hue is achieved through a meticulous CVD technique. The individually applied polished gold indices featuring luminescent glow form the dial furniture. At 6 o’clock, the dial gets a beautifully beveled date window with the date disc color-matched to the dial. The case gets a pairing of matching rose or yellow gold bracelet options with the quick-release mechanism facilitating an effortless change to a gold-folding buckle installed rubber strap.

An In-House Caliber for Timekeeping Duties

The platinum micro-rotor caliber SXH5.01, Czapek’s first in-house movement, powers the timepiece and its petite elements while offering an uninterrupted view of its handsome decorations through a sapphire case back. Satination and partial skeletonization of the bridges with high-grade anglage, media blasting of the movement base plate, solarization on the rotor base and a central bridge executed in black polished mirror finish declare an haute horlogerie echelon of movement finishing on the caliber SXH5.01.

As to the caliber’s mechanical competence, the numbers sure mark a respectable grade of timekeeping prowess. The movement packs in a decent 60 hours of power reserve and ticks away at an aesthetically pleasing rate of 4 Hz or 28,800 vph. Its 193 components are sat within a 30mm petite space and the caliber has five positions of adjustments, which is the high horology and chronometer standard. All of its mechanical sophistication pivots on 28 jewels and is regulated by a free-sprung escapement driven by a dual anchored balance bridge.

Final Thoughts

Although the glittering extravagance of gold is an omnipresent captivator in the timepieces, Czapek has managed to keep the overall aesthetic clean and uncluttered. An inception inspired by popular enthusiast demand and a genuine geographical marvel, the Czapek & Cie Mount Erebus Deep Blue is an epitome expression of the brand’s founding pillar of the ‘spirit of sharing.’

Exclusivity is guaranteed with the Antarctique Mount Erebus Deep Blue, with only 100 units available in rose gold and 50 units in yellow gold, making it a coveted piece for collectors.