The Czapek Quai des Bergues Guilloche Now In An Array of Colors

Czapek sets the tone for 2018, with new versions of the Quai des Bergues, full of colors. The independent brand, a revival of the name of Patek’s ex-partner, started its life through an online subscription campaign (yes, quite special for a brand with such high-end watches) and is now becoming more established than ever. New collections, new watches, new styles… For 2018, Czapek unveils its Quai des Bergues watch with colored guilloché dials.

Dress watch dials rarely venture beyond white, silver or black – blue can even be seen as an originality. But, these do not have to be the only colors – especially if you are confident in your ability to carry off colors, or perhaps like to stand out. If this is the case, Czapek presents its Quai des Bergues Guilloché collection in a number of new colors. These include green, red and slate grey paired with a steel case or Havana brown with a pink gold case. Last, the ‘Black Prince’ offers a sleek black-on-black dial-and-case combination.

Introduced in 2017, the Quai des Bergues guilloche collection reflects Czapek ethics to propose finely crafted classics, whose understated style offers a distinctive twist and a distinctive character. The exclusive guilloché pattern applied on the dials is dubbed ‘ricochet’. The intricate, repetitive motif is based on a double focal point to create finely-textured, captivating and distinctive wave interferences on the dial. Originally presented in ‘sea-salt grey’ and ‘aqua-blue’, it is now offered in a number of different hues. As printed at the bottom of the dial, these are manufactured with Metalem (a renowned dial-maker based in Le Locle).

The art of guilloché consists in engraving regular, repetitive patterns with an engine-turning machine (hence the difference with hand-engraving, which rarely is repetitive). For hand-guilloché, a craftsman is driving the machine (with a wheel) and guiding the piece to be engraved by hand. If engraved with a CNC machine, the pattern will be perfect, always the same. With hand-guilloché, each piece becomes unique, the gift of imperfection being authenticity. Guilloché has been practised since the 15th century. The word guilloche is often said to be derived from the name Guillot, a craftsman that has developed a tool or turning machine to apply such patterns.

The Quai des Bergues watches are powered by the hand-wound caliber SHX1 (a proprietary caliber manufactured with Chronode). This twin-barrel movement can store up to seven days of power reserve. Operating at 21,600 vibrations per hour, it features central hours and minutes, a subsidiary small second at 7h30 and the power reserve indication with weekdays at 4h30. Visible through the exhibition caseback, the finishing consist of sandblasted bridges, anglage performed by hand, openwork ratchets and blued screws.

The Quai des Bergues guilloche is available either in the original 42.5mm case or the 38.5mm version offering a proportionate, dressier option for a smaller wrist or simply if you are tired of large-faced watches. The new colored-dial versions are presented in steel, pink gold or ADLC-titanium for the ‘Black Prince’ version. The strap is alligator matching the color of the dial and secured with a pin buckle.

For more information about Czapek watches, please visit www.czapek.com.