From the company’s collection of Haute Horlogerie chronograph watches, the Faubourg de Cracovie Panda Bleu by Geneva based independent brand Czapek is a truly superb piece, and with its shimmering blue guilloché dial and elegant case design with box style sapphire crystal, a watch of compelling handsomeness.

Measuring a comfortable 41.5mm across, the round stainless steel case is predominantly polished, with recessed sandblasted inlays which flow from lug to lug, and either side of the crown, the sloping chronograph pushers are tidily integrated into the curvature of the case, resulting in a clean, sleek profile.

The glass wall of the box sapphire crystal creates an eye catching ring of refraction around the fabulous blue dial below. Deeply engraved with intersecting and overlapping circles of rose engine guilloché, which emanate from the two silvery subdials, the Résonance pattern is ripple like and spellbinding as it radiates across the subtly domed surface of the dial.

Applied steel hour markers, like the hour and minute hands, are coated with Super LumiNova, contrasting against the blue and complementing the subdials which display the 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph counters, while at the six o’clock the small constant seconds has a window to display the date.

Inside, the bespoke Czapek Calibre SXH3 self winding movement is by specialist Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. This state of the art integrated chronograph movement beats at 36’000 vib/h with COSC certified chronometer precision, and delivers a power reserve of 65 hours from its single barrel. Featuring column wheel with vertical clutch and linear hammer which interact seamlessly the chronograph commands are smooth and instantly responsive. A sapphire caseback reveals the complex mechanism beneath the gold rotor and openworked anthracite grey plates.

The Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Panda Bleu is a stunning piece which is as irresistible to the eye as it is refined in its horological innovation and traditional craftsmanship.