By Jovan Krstevski
Czapek’s latest gambit, the Promenade Diamond Drops and struts onto the horological stage with no shortage of sparkle. It takes its cues from the subtle art of fluid motion, this curious creature of haute horlogerie conjures the ephemeral moment a water droplet disturbs a placid surface. Dressed to the nines in diamonds and sapphires, it channels an icy glamour.
The case, cut from 18-karat white gold, sticks to a demure 38mm x 10.8mm silhouette. A sapphire crystal with internal anti-reflective treatment tops things off. The bezel, crown and flange are burdened with 173 brilliant cut diamonds, set with the sort of painstaking care one usually reserves for diplomatic negotiations. It wears lean, sits flush and doesn’t huff or puff to make its presence known.
The actual visual drama lies on the dial. Forged in white gold and snow-set by AB Products, it brims with 679 round-cut gemstones, of which 360 are diamonds and 319 are blue sapphires.
The snow setting technique requires the stones, many under half a millimetre, to nestle together in an irregular pattern, mimicking freshly fallen snow.
From the off-centred small seconds at five o’clock, a blue whirlpool spirals outward, bringing a hushed dynamism to the composition. The hands are blued, openworked and in polite conversation with the overall aesthetic.
Ticking away inside is the in-house calibre SXH5.1, a 4Hz micro-rotor automatic number with a 60 hour power reserve. Openworked bridges, hand chamfered angles and sandblasted black finishing lend a raw, mechanical charisma.
The whole rig is fastened with a blue nubuck leather strap, chosen to echo the icy blues strewn across the dial. Production is capped at a modest ten pieces, all made to order. You’ll need CHF 82,000 and a fair bit of patience if you fancy one.
