"Promenade Diamond Drops" by Czapek - a puzzle of light and colour
"Promenade Diamond Drops" by Czapek - a puzzle of light and colour
A sparkling swirl forms the canvas for the precision of the latest addition to the "Promenade" collection from Czapek. The highly appropriate name is "Diamond Drops".
This is because no fewer than 533 diamonds adorn the dial, bezel, rehaut and crown. There are also 319 blue sapphires. The time display almost fades into the background.
Of course, the manufacture does not lose sight of its customary precision and watchmaking artistry in the face of all the precious stones.
The flat, 38-millimetre white gold case houses the in-house micro-rotor calibre SXH5.1. The automatic movement is characterised by its striking seven skeletonised bridges, inspired by the historic pocket watches of the 19th century by François Czapek. The power reserve is 60 hours. It is built up using the oscillating weight made from 100 per cent recycled platinum.
The new dial is a further development of the "Promenade Goutte d'Eau", which stylises the wave movements on the dial that occur after a drop of water hits the surface. The starting point is the off-centre small seconds.
"After the great success of the 'Goutte d'Eau', which was sold out at its premiere at Watches & Wonders 2024, we immediately began to explore new ways of representing water," explains Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. "We thought about how rays of light dance on water, how morning dew sparkles or how water freezes - and incorporated these impressions into design, colours, materials and the setting of gemstones."
The result is a reinterpretation of the wave effect in the form of diamonds and sapphires, which cover the entire dial surface in an intricate snow setting.
Rather than setting rows of gemstones that are as uniform as possible, many different sizes are used. These are set in tiny milled recesses made from 18 carat white gold. Each stone is individually adjusted and set as close as possible to its neighbour - like a microscopic puzzle of light and colour.
Czapek relied on his long-standing partner AB Products to realise this vision. It took eight days to set the total of 696 gemstones.
The "Diamond Drops" is made exclusively to order and is limited to ten pieces worldwide. Customers can choose between a sapphire blue calfskin strap and a Milanaise bracelet in white gold. The watch is available from selected Czapek partners worldwide, in the Czapek boutique in Geneva and on Czapek.com.
(RRP € 103,500)
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