Credits: Article and images by Ian Skellern @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2024/10/18/new-release-czapek-faubourg-de-cracovie-crossroads-chronograph-deep-blue-and-secret-alloy/
Cracovie (Krakow in English) is the second largest city in Poland (after Warsaw) and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Czapek is a contemporary watchmaking company created in the spirit of François Czapek, a 19th-century Czech–born Polish watchmaker.
In 1832 Czapek escaped from political turmoil in Warsaw and fled to Geneva, where he created a series of businesses during the 1830s. In 1839, Antoni Patek and François Czapek established a six-year partnership in Geneva under the name of Patek, Czapek & Cie.
This partnership produced some exceptional watches which are part of important horological collection or auctions. Czapek was head of watchmaking (“Finisseur”) while Patek handled sales and managed the company.
After establishing Czapek & Cie in 1845, François Czapek became the official watchmaker of Napoleon III and he opened his first watchmaking boutique in Paris on Place Vendôme.
Today’s Czapek was created in the spirit of François Czapek, and the new Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads chronograph is a blend of sport and elegance, tradition and modern.
Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads Secret Alloy
Czapek developed a new guilloché pattern called “Crossroads,” which features straighter, widely spaced lines reminiscent of tire treads.
From the press release:
“We wanted to refocus on the Faubourg de Cracovie collection because it is the only chronograph in our current collection and its case design – with hollowed-out lugs and pushers integrated into the crown guards – epitomizes our philosophy or modern classicism,” says Czapek CEO, Xavier de Roquemaurel. “Introducing a tachymeter gave us a perfect opportunity to play with highly traditional métiers d’art in a counter-intuitive way, combining guilloché with the quintessential sporting indication.”
Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads Deep Blue
A tachymeter scale – marked around the dial perimeter or on the bezel – enables the calculation of speed based on travel time (or vice-versa, measures distance travelled based on speed) by using mathematical formulas and the chronograph’s time measuring indications.
Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads Deep Blue
Long associated with motor sport, tachymeters began to appear on some Swiss chronograph watches around the turn of the 20th century, when they had a great practical value for racing drivers and early aviators. Today, as with many watchmaking complications, modern technology offers alternatives to its purely functional purpose but that in no way reduces its appeal – with the opportunity to savor the spirit of racing or check whether your car speedometer is accurate. (Since a tachymeter measures average speed over distance, it would be redundant on the motorway with cruise control but great fun on a twisty country road.)
Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads Deep Blue on the wrist
Dynamic Dials with a new Guilloché Pattern
The dial of the Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads epitomizes the Maison’s pursuit of Beauty – in color, detail, harmony and with intricate texturing to capture and reflect the light. Reducing the diameter of the main section of the dial to accommodate the tachymeter scale was a case of “easier said than done” and to maintain the balance and symmetry of all elements, the chronograph sub-dials also had to be reduced in the same proportion. A more pronounced flange was created, to ensure that they maintained a strong presence in the composition – a subtlety of detail that is a signature of Czapek.
Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads Deep Blue dial
For the guilloché, Czapek worked with its dial-making partner Metalem, to create a new pattern that would project a sportier and more modern image – a counter-intuitive use of such a deeply traditional craft. A reinterpretation of the ‘Double Soleil’ guilloché created for Quai des Bergues last year, the new Crossroads pattern has straighter lines that are more widely spaced and deeply etched.
A passing resemblance to tire treads alludes to the racing heritage of tachymeters. Its name, Crossroads, describes the pattern of intersecting lines as well as symbolizing Czapek’s position at the crossroads of watchmaking tradition and a modern approach. Dynamic, alive and exciting, the dial is indeed an “invitation to race”.
Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads Secret Alloy
The dial has been created in two colors: Deep Blue with contrasting counters, and ‘Secret Alloy’ – a monochrome grey dial with counters matching the color of the raw dial material. Used as the base material for both dials, the precious metal alloy is a mix of soft and hard materials – platinum, gold, silver, palladium, and other metals – chosen to achieve ideal tensile strength and because, when polished before guilloché, it creates intense reflections that emphasize the crispness of the engraved lines. The Secret Alloy dial will be a limited edition of 50 pieces and the Deep Blue dial will be unlimited.
Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads Secret Alloy
A Benchmark Chronograph Caliber
The Caliber SXH3, powering the Faubourg de Cracovie line, was developed in 2018 by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier and adapted to Czapek’s specific requests. A benchmark in automatic integrated chronograph movements, it unites the most desirable features of chronograph calibers: a column wheel (for more precise functionality, felt through the crisp action of the pushers); a vertical clutch for precise control of the chronograph’s start/stop/restart functions; a linear zero-resetting hammer to ensure seamless resetting of all chronograph indications.
Czapek in-house caliber SXH35 chronograph movement visible through the display back of the Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads
Its high frequency of 5 Hz (36,000 vph) enables measurements accurate to 1/10 second and enhances stability and robustness. (Czapek CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel has worn his Faubourg de Cracovie chronograph for several snowboarding seasons without any mishaps!).
Czapek’s attention to detail is evident in the movement finishing: the bridges are sand-blasted and diamond- polished, their anthracite color making a striking contrast with the 18-carat pink gold rotor.
The watch is presented in a 41.5mm steel case with alligator or Alcantara strap.
Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads Secret Alloy on the wrist
The Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Chronograph is available in two variations: Deep Blue and Secret Alloy (limited to 50 pieces)
Deliveries anticipated May 2025.
For more information, please visit www.czapek.com/faubourg-de-cracovie-crossroads-landing
Quick facts: Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads Chronograph
Variations: Deep Blue and Secret Alloy
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph
Dial: “Crossroads” guilloché pattern, tachymeter scale
Case: stainless steel
Dimensions: 41.5 mm diameter
Movement: in-house caliber SXH35 automatic column wheel chronograph with vertical clutch, 5 Hz frequency, COSC certified, 65-hour power reserve, pink gold rotor
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap/buckle: multiple leather strap options available, pin buckle
Limitation: Deep Blue is not limited, Secret Alloy is a limited edition of 50 pieces
Price: 36,000 Swiss francs for both Deep Blue and Secret Alloy
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Credits: Article and images by Ian Skellern @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2024/10/18/new-release-czapek-faubourg-de-cracovie-crossroads-chronograph-deep-blue-and-secret-alloy/
