{"id":37085,"date":"2021-12-15T13:59:01","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T12:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/?p=37085"},"modified":"2021-12-15T15:55:41","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T14:55:41","slug":"introducing-the-czapek-antarctique-monochrome-white-edition-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/en\/introducing-the-czapek-antarctique-monochrome-white-edition-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing the Czapek Antarctique “Monochrome White” Edition watch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

\u201cOops \u2026 I did it again\u201d<\/em> is a famous pop song (despite not being my favourite one at all), and I believe it successfully summarizes the second chapter of an exclusive limited-edition timepiece by our friends at MONOCHROME<\/strong>. They followed up their debut collaboration with Habring2<\/strong><\/a> and extended the \u201csubscription watch\u201d<\/em> template by partnering with another watch brand belonging to Indie watchmaking, i.e., Swiss boutique brand Czapek & Co.<\/strong>, whose comeback is widely regarded as a case history by the industry.<\/p>\n

About the pre-order process, please read.<\/h2>\n

Before discovering the nuts and bolts behind the new product, let\u2019s spend a few words about the pre-order process, even more so given the low number of timepieces available of the new Czapek Antarctique \u201cMonochrome White\u201d Edition<\/strong>: 33<\/strong> pieces<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Czapek<\/p>\n

While the brand and media are taking the curtain off the new watch today, be aware you won\u2019t be allowed to pre-order yours within the next 24 hours. Therefore, if you\u2019re eager to make yours one piece, get ready to jump to the MONOCHROME shop<\/strong><\/a> a few minutes before 3 PM Central European Time<\/strong>, December 16<\/strong>. Therefore, do not hurry, but wait and good luck.<\/p>\n

Why did they choose the Czapek Antarctique?<\/h2>\n

Our friends gave us a hint about why they chose Czapek<\/strong> for their Subscription watch N\u00b0 2<\/strong> in their press release, and here is what I got. They were equally eager to involve a high-end boutique watchmaker and create a luxury sports watch in steel for the first time. The Antarctique<\/strong> is among the most wanted luxury sports watches and epitomizes what a superbly crafted luxury sports watch (for the very few) stands for.<\/p>\n

\"Czapek<\/p>\n

Its clean design, featuring a fully integrated bracelet, comes with one of the most outstanding calibres you may find on any three-hander this luxurious. I also feel the Antarctique<\/strong> worked as a source of inspiration for some excellent recent releases like Parmigiani\u2019s Tonda PF Micro-rotor<\/strong><\/a> we recently reviewed.<\/p>\n

The Czapek Antarctique \u201cMonochrome White\u201d Edition<\/h2>\n

The Antarctique<\/strong> is, by all means, a Holy Grail in its class of products. The flat case with an integrated bracelet and polished links measures 40.5 mm<\/strong> across<\/strong> and 10.6 mm in height<\/strong>, including the slightly curved glass box. It is an exquisitely proportioned wristwatch, conceived with superior comfort and usability in mind, unusually blending \u201cunderstatement\u201d<\/em> on the dial side with terrific engineering and refinement on the inside. Nonetheless, the standard \u201cflinqu\u00e9\u201d<\/em> dial is not my cup of tea and looks somehow over-designed.<\/p>\n

\"Czapek<\/p>\n

Here is where the \u201cMonochrome White\u201d<\/strong> sets itself apart by introducing a cleaner, no-frills style. The dial is sandblasted in silver white and thus allows the applied Arabic numerals and indexes to stand out against the base. The outcome is a sophisticated watch, looking and feeling like some pure early-seventies and full-steel sports watches. The wording \u201cAutomatique\u201d<\/em> appears for the first time on any Antarctique<\/strong>, too.<\/p>\n

It is as pure on the outside as captivating on the inside.<\/h2>\n

Who\u2019s familiar with a Czapek Antarctique<\/strong> will appreciate the contrast between a toned-down design and unrivalled technical prowess; this timepiece is a call to action to the most demanding connoisseur who\u2019s not accepting any flaw. The SXH5 calibre<\/strong>, the first-ever in-house movement by Czapek & Co.<\/strong>, is among the industry\u2019s finest engineered and decorated automatic movements.<\/p>\n

\"Czapek<\/p>\n

Featuring a 100% recycled platinum micro-rotor<\/strong>, the movement stores the energy into a single barrel totalling more than 60 hours of power reserve<\/strong> when fully wound. What looks ordinary is not, considering the SXH5<\/strong> is a slim 13 and 1\/4 lines<\/strong> large movement.<\/p>\n

\"Czapek<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a feast for your eyes whatever your perspective; I love the distinctive seven-bridge layout<\/strong>, along with \u201cHaute Horlogerie\u201d<\/em> finishes: the bridges are blackened and sandblasted, and hand-finishing is applied on the most hidden parts, while the contrast between such engineering and the pure white dial makes it the ultimate Czapek & Co. Antarctique<\/strong> watch. It is arguably the finest self-winding calibre in the benchmark.<\/p>\n

The icing on the cake: the micro-adjustment.<\/h2>\n

MONOCHROME<\/strong>\u2018s Montre de Souscription 2<\/strong> introduces a new micro-adjustment mechanism to allow the wearer to finely adjust the bracelet close to the butterfly-designed folding clasp. It proves that the Czapek Antarctique \u201cMonochrome White\u201d Edition<\/strong> is next level Antarctique<\/strong> and adds new features we\u2019ll hopefully see on future models.<\/p>\n

Price and availability<\/h2>\n

The new Czapek Antarctique \u201cMonochrome White\u201d Edition<\/strong>\u2018s price is on par with the brand\u2019s current offering and retails for 17,200 Euros<\/strong> excluding taxes. The sales process is as follows: by pre-ordering the watch, you\u2019ll deposit a non-refundable 5200 Euros<\/strong> (taxes not included) while paying the remaining sum, plus VAT, before delivery, which is expected to be fully completed by Czapek & Co.<\/strong> by the end of March; also, each watch will come with a three-year international warranty as standard.<\/p>\n