Employing impeccable finishing throughout, and with an exquisite hand-crafted flinqué enamel dial in an arresting shade of vivid blue, the Quai Des Bergues Sapphire Blue L watch by Czapek is a visually stunning and compelling proposition. A new addition to a portfolio already brimming with uniquely special timepieces, this magnificent edition debuts technical revisions to the company’s acclaimed proprietary SHX1 manual wind calibre.

A prestigious and historically significant marque in watchmaking, the name Czapek was re-birthed in 2015, and since then their timepieces have become an excellent find for aficionados of contemporary watchmaking. Modelled on a pocketwatch masterpiece from 1850 by François Czapek, the Quai des Bergues model is characterised by a superb combination of finely applied traditional skills together with nuances of contemporary design. Featuring an extraordinary dial surface and arrangement, together with a sophisticated proprietary mechanical movement, the Quai des Bergues Sapphire Blue L evolves the collection of this Geneva based independent company beautifully.

Exhibiting perfect proportions throughout, the piece carries a polished stainless steel case measuring 42.5mm across, with a height of 11.9mm. It is a refined housing, with a rounded body, sculpted recess around its waist and gently curving lugs, while the crown and the shoulders on either side of it compliment the profile of the watch.

Beneath the curved sapphire crystal, the textured surface of the blue dial is extraordinary. A highly contemporary colour tone, it is immediately arresting and is achieved using Czapek’s exclusive ‘Ricochet’ guilloché pattern, rendered in a three dimensional stamped flinqué finish, which is then meticulously applied with moiré enamel, before the firing process can begin with multiple steps required to achieve the exact tone required. The result of this fastidious craftsmanship is an intricate interplay of overlapping circles, which ripple and fan out from around the two recessed subdials creating a hypnotic effect. The small seconds are displayed in the recessed subdial at the seven, while positioned at the five o’clock is the signature Czapek joint seven day power reserve and weekday indicator, which was originally devised as a convenient reminder of the weekly ritual of winding one’s timepiece every Sunday evening.

Inside the watch, the superb SXH1 proprietary calibre has received a number of noteworthy revisions which display the commitment of Czapek to movement development and high-end finishing. Extensively openworked so that its labyrinth of components have an airy character, the bridge plate and balance bridges have been hollowed out and impressively, the regulation system has been equipped with a variable inertia balance with a Breguet terminal curve spring. Finished to the exacting standards of Haute Horlogerie, the decoration of the calibre is meticulous, with bevelled and hand-chamfered edges, sandblasting on the main plate and bridges and with circular graining and snailing on the wheels.

As a final flourish, the rubies are rounded and smooth glazed in a technique known as mi-glace giving them a surface which not only improves their function but which also gives them a remarkable light reflecting aspect.

A watch of exceptional design finesse and craftsmanship, the Czapek Quai des Bergues Sapphire Blue L is presented on an alligator leather strap with a steel pin buckle.