BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
The Antarctique continues to be Czapek’s best-selling model, hardly a surprise given the classy design and the intrigue that independent Swiss watchmakers currently have. And, of course, there’s the market’s preference, which is still aimed squarely at the integrated-bracelet sports-watch segment. With that in mind, Czapek has just launched two limited editions of the Antarctique called the Frozen Meteor.
In 2024, Czapek released the Antarctique with a green meteorite dial, which, unsurprisingly, caused a lot of buzz. So much so that in 2025, Czapek unveiled a solid gold version of the Antarctique with a green meteorite dial, which we loved. For 2026, meteorite is on the menu once again, but this time in a summery “frozen blue” colour. Czapek has partnered with the dialmaking experts at GT Cadrans to create the dials for both watches; they’re cut from the Gibeon meteorite, which crashed into Earth in the prehistoric era in what’s now Namibia.
The lines on the dial form a pattern called the Windmanstätten pattern, which is particularly attractive in jewellery and the dials on wristwatches. Every meteorite disk that forms a dial is acid-washed, hand-polished, and then coated with successive layers of light blue lacquer, which are hand-polished again. Because the meteorite is a naturally forming object with its patterns being randomised, every meteorite dial is unique.
The two versions of the Antarctique Frozen Meteor are sized at 38.5mm x 10.6mm and 40.5mm x 10.6mm, respectively, and both models have 120m of water resistance, giving them real-world practicality despite their elegant jewellery look. Both models are made from stainless steel and come with Czapek’s “Easy Release” system as well as micro-adjustment for the bracelet, a rarity on a steel bracelet with butterfly clasps. A rubber strap is also included, and calfskin leather straps are available too for an additional cost.
Inside both watches is Czapek’s calibre SXH5, its premier in-house self-winding movement with a 4Hz beat rate and a 60-hour power reserve, plus a modern openworked finish. We’ve covered this calibre in more detail in our in-depth review, which you can read by clicking here. Before taxes, both pieces cost $35,000 each, but the smaller version is limited to 25 pieces worldwide, while the larger one is limited to 38.
