ExclusiveCzapek Have Made A Limited Antarctique Exclusively For An Indian Watch Collector Group
With a ‘cuprita roja’ (or red cuprite) dial, this time-only Antarctique was made by Czapek exclusively for members of the Watch Collectors India group—11 pieces only
May We Recommend
Collector groups in India have gained a lot of prominence in the last few years, as watch brands, retailers, media outlets, etc seek to collaborate with them, in an effort to reach the right audience, among other things. Collectors’ clout within the watch industry is undeniable. It’s not new for a watch manufacturer to create a custom model from one of their collections for a very specific audience. However, when the number of the limited edition is as low as 11, it’s extremely exclusive. Furthermore, Czapek’s highly-coveted Antarctique is not easily available, especially versions with certain dial colours. It’s understandable then that the 11 people from the Watch Collectors India (WCI) group, who will soon own this ‘custom-made’ Antarctique, are over the moon.
The Beloved Archetype
The steel sport watch with an integrated bracelet fits into an archetype of contemporary lifestyle-sport timepieces. It’s a genre that goes back to the 1970s, when celebrated watchmaker Gerald Genta designed a few for brands such as Audemars Piguet, which are some of the most iconic luxury watch collections today. The high-end manufacturing, refinement and attention to detail, which the niche brand Czapek are known for, have propelled their version of the archetype to great heights. So when there was an opportunity for WCI to have a customised watch made by Czapek, it must have seemed like the obvious choice. And as Czapek’s exclusive retail partner in India, Ethos Watch Boutiques played facilitator.
Cuprite: Seeing Red
The 11 pieces made for WCI are numbered and feature ‘WCI edition’ emblazoned on the frame of the sapphire crystal caseback. However the customising doesn’t end there. This edition has a dial that is not seen otherwise in the Antarctique collection. Instead of featuring the ‘stairway to eternity’ pattern that is usually seen on the dials in this collection, this one is made from stone.
The mineral called red cuprite, a significant ore of copper, is the reason why it’s red. This mineral forms in crystals, which gives it an interesting, almost-translucent look. It has veins of copper sulphide, which lends it a natural pattern. This means that even within the 11-piece edition, no two dials can really be identical. Owing to Mexico being the original source of the stone that Czapek used, they have dubbed the dial cuprita roja, which is red cuprite in Spanish. Set against the backdrop of the chiselled steel structure of the Antarctique, there is definite contrast, especially between the dial and the flange. This can appear to be too stark, but it could also grow on you.
Moving Parts And Strap-Swapping
Behind the cuprita roja dial—set within a 40.5mm steel case, water-resistant to 120m—is the Czapek calibre SXH5, which is beautifully decorated, as one should expect from Czapek. From the framing of the parallel bridges and the grained detailing to all the other fine polishing of surfaces and edges, the caseback view of the watch is quite a treat.
There’s also a lot of breathing space, which you don’t see in many movements, and the micro-rotor is small but heftier than other oscillating masses of its kind. It helps the watch store a power reserve of up to 70 hours, with a guarantee of at least 56.
And as though all of the above wasn’t enough, this WCI edition also comes with extra complimentary straps—not one, but multiple. In addition to the default steel bracelet, there are three leather straps—in burgundy, black and blue—and an additional one in black rubber. That’s five straps in total, as well as the tools required to switch between them. These additions are surely the icing on the cake for the WCI wearers of the watch. Now that’s exclusive and abundant as well!
