BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
Geneva Watch Days 2026 is upon us, and that all kinds of news is getting fired left, right, and centre. My email inbox has been full to the brim with all manner of releases that coincide with this which has to be one of the biggest events on the horological calendar outside of Watches & Wonders Geneva. Our friends at Czapek have been working overtime to prepare for the event, and they’e come out with a few surprises.
Place Vendôme Complicité Glacier Blue
Czapek’s Place Vendôme Complicité was an unexpected move from the brand when it was first unveiled, but the more you get exposed to their watches the more you understand their way of thinking – it’s a lot less focused on “what do we think can sell the most and make us a fortune?” and more “how can we stay as a viable business while experimenting with watches and making something we’re proud of?”. The brand is no stranger to working with outside partners and Bernhard Lederer, friend of Czapek CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel, was involved in the creation of the Place Vendôme Complicité.
The two balance wheels of the new watch are connected via a differential exposed at 12 O’clock. Theoretically, this setup should mean that the natural variances in the timing of each escapement mechanism is cancelled out by the other.
It’s also a bit of a way to show off Czapek’s technical ability, making a watch like this with 293 components is no easy task. The Glacier Blue colour is applied by PVD with a ‘grainé’ finish on the mainplate, and the partial minutes and hours track has a blue PVD colour applied too.
The Calibre 8 has a 3Hz beat rate for each escapement and a 72-hour power reserve. It’s set inside a 950 platinum case measuring 41.8mm x 14.8mm with 50m of water resistance and paired with a blue alligator leather strap. Limited to 10 examples worldwide, this piece costs $144,200.
Quai des Bergues “Midnight in Geneva“
I knew I’d gotten lucky when I had the chance to review the Quai des Bergues, Czapek’s first watch when it launched in 2015, but the people getting to see this new ‘Midnight in Geneva’ piece in person are perhaps even luckier than I. Dark blue aventurine glass makes up the dial of this new piece, and working with it is even trickier when we consider the different layers of the dial such as where the twin subdials sit slightly lower than the rest. That’s hard to do, and yet it’s been done here. I like the ‘Fleur de Lys’ hands too, they were one of the stand out features of the Quai des Bergues when Czapek returned.
The stainless steel case of the new piece measures 40.5mm x 11.9mm and with 50m of water resistance. Although I have yet to see this particular piece in the metal, I’ve been fortunate to have had extensive experience with the 40.5mm Quai des Bergues and let me say that this is definitely the ‘Goldilocks’ size for most people – it’s just right.
The dial layout is based off of François Czapek’s pocket watch no. 3430 with the small seconds at the bottom of the dial alongside the power reserve indicator which also doubles as a day-of-the-week indicator.
This is possible thanks to the 168-hour (seven day) power reserve of the hand-wound calibre SXH1. It’s an excellent movement, and you should read my review above to find out more about it and what it’s like to live with. Presented on a blue alligator leather strap, this watch is limited to $28,600 and is limited to 18 pieces, a callback to Czapek’s first modern boutique address: Rue de la Corraterie 18, Geneva.
A new flagship boutique for Czapek – Quai des Bergues 27, Geneva
If you’re a follow of Czapek’s CEO Xavier on Instagram, you’ll know about the hard work that’s gone into the launching of Czapek’s new flagship boutique at Quai des Bergues 27 in Geneva.
Quai des Bergues 29 in Geneva is where François Czapek worked with another Polish watchmaker to begin what is one of the most prestigious names in horology, although they parted ways in 1845 leading to a name change.
Czapek’s boutique mixes mirrored steel, American walnut and raw stone in a layout that creates a conversational space, rather than one which makes you feel like just one half of a transaction.
The main gallery allows the visitor to see the entire collection while a separate lounge space invites them in to make themselves at home. It suits the brand to a fault: different but just as approachable, if not more so.
