Introducing Czapek Unveils the Antarctique Rattrapante R.U.R.

Czapek is a Geneva-based maison with roots dating back to 1845, when Polish watchmaker François Czapek founded the brand after fleeing political unrest in Warsaw. Known for becoming purveyor to Napoleon III and for opening the first watch boutique on Paris’s Place Vendôme, the name was revived in 2015, and since then, Czapek has lived up to its heritage, blending traditional craftsmanship with modernity, most notably through the Antarctique collection introduced in 2020, which has steadily grown over the years.

In 2021, the brand launched the Antarctique Rattrapante collection. As its name suggests, it features a rattrapante, or split-seconds chronograph, one of the most complex complications to execute. This year, the line welcomes the Antarctique Rattrapante R.U.R., inspired by Karel Čapek’s 1921 play Rossum’s Universal Robots, which introduced the word “robot” to the world.

The watch is presented in a 42.5 mm stainless-steel case with thickness of 15.3 mm. The case is equipped with a sapphire crystal glass box featuring anti-reflective treatment, and the back also uses sapphire with coating on the inside. Water resistance is rated at 120 meters, thanks to the screwed-down crown.

This model showcases an open-worked dial where the split-seconds chronograph is visible from the front. A robot head positioned at 12 o’clock indicates the state of the chronograph, yellow for running, red for stopped, and blue for reset. The sword-shaped hours and minutes hands feature Super-LumiNova, while the split-seconds hand is finished in blue with a white tip, and the main chronograph seconds hand is white with a blue tip. The dial also holds a grey fumé sapphire glass minute ring and counters add further visual depth. Sub-dials are placed at 4:30 for chronograph minutes and 7:30 for small seconds, with the split-seconds pusher at 10:30 and an ON/OFF indicator at 6 o’clock.

Powering the watch is the automatic Calibre SXH6, it operates at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz), delivering a 60-hour power reserve. The calibre is equipped with two column wheels, horizontal clutch, and includes a recycled 5N rose gold rotor adorned with the Czapek logo.

The watch comes with an integrated stainless-steel bracelet featuring Czapek’s “Easy Release” system and a micro-adjustment device for comfort. A rubber strap is included, with the option of an additional calf leather strap available on demand.

The watch is limited to 77 pieces, and will be available from September 5, 2025, with a price of CHF 58,000, which is approximately AED 266,400.

For more information, visit Czapek’s official website.