Czapek Genève 33 bis Quai des Bergues took inspiration from one of Czapek & Cie’s historic pocket watches featuring the reference number 3430. This iconic piece dates back from around 1850.
The “33 bis Quai des Bergues” shares some features with the 3430 pocket watch such as, a dial, hands, functions, as well as an overall design that perfectly unites antique and modern.
Czapek & Cie 3430 Historic Pocket Watch
The Czapek Genève’s watch is equipped with an exclusive Czapek caliber SXH1 mechanical movement with a 7-day power reserve (168 hours) thanks to 2 barrels. The manual-winding movement is developed in collaboration with Chronode (Jean-François Mojon) and features sandblasted bridges, blued screws, polished beveled angles and the hand finishing ‘Anglage’ which recalls the satin of the nineteenth-century movements made by Czapek. The precise mechanism operates at the semi-rapid frequency of 21,600 alternations per hour (3 Hz).
This model is housed in an elegant 5N red gold case which measures 42.50mm in diameter and just 4.75mm in thickness. The watch is shielded with curved sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating on the inside surface and constructed to resist water pressure up to 30 meters (approximately 100 feet). From the rear, there is a sapphire crystal case back that offers a look at the mechanism inside.
The gold Czapek Genève 33 bis Quai des Bergues features a grand feu enamel dial with its naturally domed shape. The beautiful dial was designed to fit a modern timepiece, but with the aesthetics of old pocket watches in mind, such as for instance the sub-dials or the secret signature. The dial comprises classical elongated Roman numerals and polished, cambered and finely cut ’Fleur de Lys’ red gold hands with black rodhium plating. The house of Czapek Genève also offered a choice of blued steel arrow hands.
The hours and minutes are classically displayed on the central axis, while a running second counter is located between 7 and 8 o’clock positions and a special indicator that marks the power reserve and the calendar days at the same time is placed between 4 and 5 o’clock positions. Here I just want to mention that the latter is not a real day display, but since the power reserve is 7 days, it could indicate 7 days of the week.
Czapek Genève 33 bis Quai des Bergues is teamed up with an alligator leather strap, fitted with a 5N red gold buckle. The watch is issued in the limited quantity of 188 pieces. The retail price is 23,980 Swiss francs.
This retro-looking watch has been selected for the annual GPHG 2016 award in the Men’s category together with other 23 timepieces of which, interestingly, nearly half feature a small seconds indication. The jury will now be tasked with pre-selecting six timepieces in 12 categories that will be heading a world tour with three stops (in Seoul, Rome and Dubai) before the final judging in Geneva.
