Czapek Goes Deep with the Antarctic Abyss

After having successfully launched the Terre Adélie and Orion Nebula models in May (both sold out), Czapek & Cie unveils a special edition of its new Antarctic collection with a spectacular hand-varnished dial inspired by the depth of the Antarctic Ocean.

The Austral Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean or the Southern Ocean, comprises the southernmost waters encircling Antarctica. This oceanic zone is where cold, northward flowing waters from the Antarctic mix with warmer sub-Antarctic waters. Geologically the youngest of the oceans, it was formed when Antarctica and South America moved apart, opening the Drake Passage, roughly 30 million years ago. The maximum depth of the Antarctic Ocean was surveyed only in recent times, in early February 2019, when the Five Deeps Expedition found a depth of 7,434 meters.

The deep and ever-moving waters of the Austral Ocean have been the inspiration for the new Czapek Antarctic, named “Abyss.” The timepiece, a limited series of 10 pieces, features a hand-varnished dial manufactured by Metalem. This technique consists of varnishing, hand painting with a brush, lacquering and then polishing the dial. Being crafted by hand, each of the 10 dials will be somehow unique.

The new model features the same movement as the Terre Adélie and Orion Nebula editions, launched in May and now sold out: the SXH5, the first to be entirely conceived in-house by Czapek.

“Watchmaking is a journey that sometimes holds a few surprises, like this incredible dial that came out of a trial on a new varnishing technique with Metalem. It blew us away and the name “Abyss” has imposed itself very naturally. It represents our never-ending quest for creative beauty inspired by Nature and our spirit of collaboration,” says CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel.