Introducing Czapek Celebrates the Beauty of Mother-of-Pearl with Two Exceptional Editions

Czapek & Cie is introducing two limited edition timepieces that showcase the artistry and technical mastery of mother-of-pearl dial craftsmanship, the Antarctique S Ice Cloud and the Promenade Midnight Pearl. These remarkable watches celebrate the natural beauty and luminous qualities of mother-of-pearl, each employing distinctive techniques that push the boundaries of traditional dial-making. Mother-of-pearl, or nacre, has long captivated watchmakers and collectors with its iridescent shimmer and organic depth. 

This natural material, formed from the inner shell layer of molluscs, reflects light in constantly changing patterns, ensuring that no two dials are ever identical. In these new releases, Czapek partners with GT Cadrans, a specialist dial manufacturer near Lausanne, to realize two distinct approaches to mother-of-pearl decoration, each requiring exceptional skill and precision. 

Czapek Antarctique S Ice Cloud

The Antarctique S Ice Cloud is housed in a 38.5 mm stainless steel case measuring 10.6 mm in height with a 42.8 mm lug-to-lug span. It features a box-style sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, a sapphire case back with anti-reflective coating on the inner side, a screwed-down crown, and water resistance rated to 120 meters.

The dial offers a poetic interpretation of cloud formations over an icy landscape through a rare decorative technique known as nacre brouillée, or scattered mother-of-pearl. Seldom seen in contemporary watchmaking, this method creates an ethereal effect reminiscent of wisps of clouds drifting across a pale sky. The process begins with a base of polished white mother-of-pearl, worked down to an extraordinary thickness of just 0.2 mm — roughly that of two sheets of paper. Using a horsehair brush, the artisan applies varnish to the underside of the nacre, forming random, cloud-like patterns by hand. Each brushstroke is unique, ensuring every dial possesses its own distinctive character.

For the Ice Cloud edition, a cool blue-tinted varnish evokes the icy atmosphere of Antarctic skies, perfectly complementing the watch’s sporty-elegant aesthetic. The technical challenges are considerable: the varnish application demands exceptional control — too little and the effect is lost; too much and the dial becomes too thick for proper assembly. The artisan must also balance visual coherence across the series while embracing the inherent uniqueness of each piece. Once decoration is complete, the dial is fired in an oven at over 100°C for several hours to permanently set the varnish. Prior to curing, imperfections can be corrected by cleaning and restarting; afterward, the work becomes irreversible.

At the heart of the model beats the SXH5 automatic caliber, Czapek’s first fully in-house-developed movement. This high-performance caliber delivers a robust 60-hour power reserve and features a platinum micro-rotor. It operates at 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and uses a variable-inertia balance wheel fitted with four adjustable gold weights. Seamlessly blending traditional haute horlogerie craftsmanship with modern engineering, the movement measures 30 mm in diameter and 4.2 mm in thickness. Finishing is executed to haute horlogerie standards, including hand-chamfered inward angles, bevelled edges, straight-grained bridge sides, and sandblasted black bridges.

The watch is delivered on an integrated stainless steel bracelet equipped with Czapek’s exclusive Easy Release system and a micro-adjustment device. A rubber strap is included, while an additional calf leather strap is available on request at extra cost.

The Czapek Antarctique S Ice Cloud is issued as a limited edition of 10 pieces and is priced at CHF 24,000 (approximately AED 114,000).

Technical specifications: Czapek Antarctique S Ice Cloud

• Case: stainless steel case, domed sapphire crystal with Anti reflective treatment, sapphire crystal caseback, Screwed-down crown
• Diameter: 38.5 mm
• Height:  : 10.6 mm
• Water resistance: 120 m
• Dial: Mother-of-pearl dial, hand-varnished on the under side and then fired in an oven, evoking a scattered clouds effect, Applied metal indexes, Created in collaboration with GT Cadrans
• Movement: Automatic, caliber  SXH5, recycled platinum micro-rotor, Number of parts 193, Jewels 28
• Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
• Power reserve: 60 hours
• Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
• Bracelet / Strap : Integrated stainless steel bracelet, Rubber strap included
• Availability: Limited edition of 10 pieces
• Price:  CHF 24,000 which is equivalent to 114,000 AED

Czapek Promenade Midnight Pearl

The new Promenade Midnight Pearl is presented in a polished stainless steel case that retains the proportions of previous editions, measuring 38 mm in diameter with a slim height of just 10.8 mm. The design is distinguished by recessed, sandblasted caseband sides, curved crown protection, and a slender rounded bezel. Sapphire crystals protect both the front and back, while water resistance is rated to 50 meters.

The Promenade Midnight Pearl represents an even more complex technical achievement, featuring a patented sandwich construction that layers aventurine glass over Tahitian mother-of-pearl. This innovative technique, protected by patent and executable by only two specialists at GT Cadrans, creates a dial of extraordinary depth and mystery.

Its foundation is Tahitian nacre, selected for its distinctive grey tone and naturally occurring violet and green iridescent reflections. The mother-of-pearl is worked down to just 0.2 mm in thickness and overlaid with blue aventurine glass, a man-made material infused with fine metallic particles that produce a star-like sparkle. The aventurine layer is thinned to approximately 0.2 mm as well, resulting in a total dial thickness of around 0.4 mm, thinner than a standard credit card. Achieving this delicate balance presents formidable technical challenges.

The assembly of these two fragile materials is performed entirely by hand with extraordinary precision. Subsequent machining, cutting the dial’s outer diameter, centre hole, and appliqué positions, requires meticulous CNC programming to prevent damage. The greatest challenge arises in creating the small seconds subdial at 4:30, where a groove must be precisely milled into the aventurine layer without compromising the nacre beneath or exceeding strict thickness tolerances.

The aventurine’s extreme thinness makes it highly susceptible to breakage during the thinning process, demanding patience, skill, and experience. The reward for this painstaking work is a dial that glows with otherworldly luminosity: the natural shimmer of Tahitian nacre filtered through the starry aventurine evokes the appearance of a midnight sky reflected in still water.

Powering the watch is the caliber SXH5.1, the same movement used in previous Promenade models. It operates at 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and is wound by a micro-rotor with a mass crafted from 100% recycled platinum, delivering a 60-hour power reserve.

The watch is fitted with a dark blue nubuck leather strap and is alternatively available with a stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet.

The Czapek Promenade Midnight Pearl is issued as a limited edition of 38 pieces and is priced at CHF 18,800 (approximately AED 89,250).

 Technical specifications: Czapek Promenade Midnight Pearl

• Case: stainless steel case, box sapphire crystal with anti reflective treatment, sapphire case back
• Diameter: 38 mm
• Height:  10.8 mm
• Water resistance: 50 m
• Dial: Patented sandwich construction that layers aventurine glass over Tahitian mother-of-pearl, Applied metal indexes, Created in collaboration with GT Cadrans, small seconds at 4:30
• Movement: in-house caliber SXH5.1, automatic, platinum micro rotor, 127 components, jewels 26
• Functions: hours, minutes, small second
• Power reserve: 60 hours,
• Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
• Bracelet / Strap : nubuck blue leather strap plus an additional stainless steel bracelet 
• Availability: Limited edition of 38 pieces.
• Price: CHF 18,800, equivalent to 89,250 AED

For more information visit Czapek's official website.