Czapek Brand
Czapek Antarctique Plique-à-Jour: Where Transparent Enamel Meets Contemporary Haute Horlogerie
Luxferity, 27.10.2025
In a luminous celebration of ten years of independent watchmaking, Czapek & Cie unveils the Antarctique Plique-à-Jour, a limited edition of ten pieces that marries ancient artisanal enamel techniques with modern haute horlogerie design. The model will debut publicly at WatchTime New York 2025, offering connoisseurs a rare opportunity to witness the fusion of craftsmanship and innovation.
Rattrapante R.U.R.
The Art of Plique-à-Jour: “Letting in the Daylight”
Derived from the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century, the plique-à-jour technique—literally “letting in the daylight”—is one of the most demanding forms of enamel work. Unlike traditional enamel, plique-à-jour is created without a backing, producing translucent, light-catching surfaces that resemble miniature stained-glass windows.
Crafting the Antarctique Plique-à-Jour dial demanded exceptional precision:
- Each colour is meticulously formulated for hue and transparency.
- Enamel is applied cell by cell to ensure harmonious gradients.
- Firing occurs at around 900°C, requiring perfect timing to prevent cracks.
- Final polishing and thickness adjustments are performed incrementally to preserve integrity.
Secret Alloy
“The transparency achieved in this dial reveals the inner architecture of the movement beneath,” explains Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie.“Unlike traditional plique-à-jour enamel, our technique allows for complete transparency, enhancing the subtle colour gradient and adding layers of complexity.”
Collaborative Craftsmanship: A Symphony of Expertise
Czapek partnered with several master artisans for this project:
- MD’Art crafted the metal framework.
- Bagues-Masriera executed the delicate enamel layers and high-temperature firing.
- PBMC performed precise polishing and thickness adjustments.
Plissé - Pearl White
Every dial represents a continuous dialogue between Czapek’s product development team and the artisans, making each timepiece a singular work of art.
Antarctique Case and the SXH7 Skeletonized Movement
The Antarctique collection embodies Czapek’s vision of sport-chic haute horlogerie, with a sleek steel case, integrated bracelet, and alternating brushed and polished surfaces. Beneath the luminous dial, the Czapek Calibre SXH7skeletonized automatic movement is fully open, revealing bridges, the balance wheel, and the open-worked barrel in a three-dimensional construction.
Glacier Blue
Key features include:
- 4 Hz frequency and 60-hour power reserve
- Micro-rotor in 100% recycled platinum on ball bearings
- Hand-chamfered bridges, sandblasted surfaces, diamond-cut sinkholes, and rhodium plating
The transparency of the plique-à-jour dial allows light to illuminate the intricate mechanical landscape, marrying artisanal beauty with technical sophistication.
Crossroads Deep Blue
A Limited Edition Commemorating a Decade of Independence
Only ten Antarctique Plique-à-Jour pieces will be produced, each subtly unique due to natural enamel variations. The anniversary logo engraved on the case back marks ten years since Czapek & Cie’s 2015 relaunch, a decade defined by collaborative innovation, artisanal mastery, and the pursuit of independent watchmaking excellence.
