The historic Swiss Maison with distant origins in 1839, on the occasion of the Geneva Watch Days 2022, announced the release of two new models from the Quai des Bergues collection with flinqué dials.
In addition to the new enamel color that highlights the “Ricochet” guilloché motif, the SXH1 caliber has been revisited, allowing you to admire the entire train of gears.
The two new quadrants of the Quai des Bergues
Looking at them, the two new versions of the Quai des Bergues may appear familiar to lovers of the Maison.
What immediately catches the eye is the return of the “Ricochet” motif and the ancestral technique of flinqué enamel now available in two bright colors created for Czapek by his partner Donzé Cadrans.
The first variant, Sapphire Blue L, inspired by the Sapphire Blue S of 2019, features a navy blue hue that changes according to the light making the dial, at the same time, sober and exuberant.
The second variant, on the other hand, is characterized by the intense green of Emerald Green L, a green of rare elegance very close to the British “racing green”.
Observing these two dials, we find the presence of two counters: the first, positioned at 7:30, indicates the small seconds; the second, positioned at 4:30, indicates the power reserve with the day of the week.
Indicating the hours and minutes, we find the fleur-de-Lys hands in rhodium-plated steel.
The caliber of the new Quai des Bergues
The movement that animates these two new Czapek watches is the SXH1 caliber, with a 7-day power reserve, revisited specifically for these two models. In this regard, it should be noted that transforming an existing movement can be more difficult than developing a new one.
Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek, said that “The soul of the watch has not been altered, but we have re-analyzed the movement and identified what we could call evolutionary inflection points.”
A very interesting thing to focus on is the fact that the idea of aesthetically rethinking the movement came from fans of the brand, as often happens with Czapek. Connoisseurs of this caliber will notice the open-work of the lower decks which now allows a glimpse of the entire train of gears.
Incredible work has also been done on the platen and the balance bridge which have been hollowed out and now seem to face each other like two shooting stars about to cross each other.
As for the technical differences, compared to the original SXH1 caliber, the original balance wheel and the classic racking system have been replaced by a variable inertia balance wheel and a Breguet hairspring with a terminal curve.
To give greater transparency to the balance wheel, the bridge of the balance has been streamlined and improved.
The case of the new of the new Quai des Bergues
The steel “Révolution” case has dimensions of 42.5 mm in diameter and a height of 11.9 mm. Above it, it houses a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside.
The caseback, through which it is possible to admire the caliber, is in sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment. Water resistance is guaranteed up to 5 ATM (50 m).
Final take
Re-launched in 2015, with the Quai des Bergues 33bis, the top model of the first and exceptional collection inspired by a Czapek & Cie pocket watch from 1850, Czapek won the Audience Award at the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie in 2016.
With these two new versions of the Quai des Bergues, we are undoubtedly facing a new stage in the exciting history of this collection that will certainly not cease to amaze us along with all the other collections of the Maison.
Price of the new Quai des Bergues
Accompanied by an alligator bracelet with a steel pin buckle, both the two new versions of the Quai des Bergues will be sold at a price of CHF 18,000 (excluding tax) corresponding to approximately € 18,500.
To learn more about Czapek and their philosophy, visit their official website.
Follow us on Instagram and visit our section dedicated to all the novelties of 2022.
