When discussing watchmaking, few topics spark as much ongoing debate as weight: some enthusiasts find comfort in the reassuring heft of a substantial timepiece, while others prefer the near‑weightless sensation of a feather‑light watch. At Watches and Wonders Geneva, Czapek & Cie leans into the sporty elegance of titanium—celebrated for its remarkable strength-to-weight ratio—by unveiling three new Antarctique references: the Antarctique Dark Sector, Révélation, and Tourbillon Cosmic Blue.

Titanium, often regarded as one of the most advanced metals available, is prized for its lightness, yet that characteristic hides its impressive robustness and ductility. It is bio-compatible, resistant to corrosion, paramagnetic, and offers low thermal and electrical conductivity along with exceptional fatigue resistance. Its refinement is costly and its machining notoriously challenging—an intriguing contradiction that aligns perfectly with Czapek’s taste for the unconventional.

These new models highlight titanium’s signature silvery-grey tone through striking dials rendered in Czapek’s proprietary Cosmic Blue. This particular shade—selected after an extensive exploration of sapphire-inspired hues—was chosen for its depth and vibrancy. In true Czapek fashion, the brand introduces a visual twist: although the blue appears to vary from one model to another, the effect is simply the result of differing materials and textures interacting with light.

“Colour – and the freedom to play with it in different ways – has always been a key part of our constant quest for new ways to express beauty,” says Xavier de Roqumaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “We originally developed Cosmic Blue for the first iteration of the Antarctique Tourbillon but when we realised how beautifully it resonates with the exact tone of titanium, we decided to wait and use it as the unifying story for these three new pieces.”

The titanium case and bracelet remain faithful to the Antarctique design language: the box-shaped sapphire crystal, the slim rounded bezel, and the integrated bracelet with C‑shaped central links—now offered for the first time in titanium with either fully brushed links or a brushed-and-polished combination. The bracelet incorporates Czapek’s micro-adjustment system for precise sizing, along with an ‘easy release’ mechanism that allows quick switching to the included rubber strap.

Antarctique Dark Sector Cosmic Blue

Titanium first entered the Antarctique family in 2023 with the Dark Sector model, known for its distinctive dial architecture. Czapek now revisits the design, pairing titanium with Cosmic Blue and introducing a velouté finish that enhances the colour’s richness and depth.

The dial reinterprets the traditional sector layout: a peripheral minute track surrounds two polished, slightly domed concentric circles. These are interrupted at twelve points, marking each hour with an empty space rather than a conventional index. As the luminescent sword hands sweep across the dial, they create subtle visual interactions—most notably the hour hand aligning with each void, and the minute and seconds hands briefly covering them. The hour track echoes the design of the Calibre SXH5 bridges, with a hollowed centre framed by raised, polished rings.

Through the sapphire caseback, the architecture of Calibre SXH5 is fully visible: seven skeletonised bridges inspired by François Czapek’s 19th‑century pocket watches, an off‑centre micro‑rotor, and a blend of sandblasted, bevelled, and black‑polished finishes. Introduced in 2020, SXH5 marked Czapek’s first fully in‑house movement, combining haute horlogerie aesthetics with sports‑watch performance. Its recycled 950 platinum micro‑rotor winds bi‑directionally, the balance beats at 4Hz, and the single barrel delivers a 60‑hour power reserve.

The Antarctique Dark Sector Cosmic Blue will be produced in 40.5 mm (25 pieces) and 38.5 mm ‘S’ (10 pieces).

Antarctique Révélation Titanium Cosmic Blue

Czapek’s fascination with mechanical artistry took centre stage in 2023 with the Antarctique Révélation, whose skeletonised Calibre SXH7 reimagines the original SXH5. Rather than simply open-working the movement, the calibre was re-engineered after a collector requested that it be inverted to reveal typically hidden components. The escapement and stop‑seconds mechanism were repositioned to the dial side, and the main plate was skeletonised to create the illusion of multiple bridges reminiscent of SXH5. A small seconds display at 4:30 replaces the traditional central seconds, and a smoked sapphire sub-dial ensures clarity without obstructing the view. The oscillating mass, now visible from both sides, is fully engraved and decorated.

The new Titanium Cosmic Blue edition enhances legibility by contrasting the vivid peripheral dial with the titanium case and exposed mechanics, creating a stronger visual anchor for the indications.

It will be available in the 40.5 mm Antarctique case (up to 50 pieces per year) and the 38.5 mm Antarctique S case (up to 25 pieces per year).

Antarctique Tourbillon Titanium Cosmic Blue

The original Antarctique Tourbillon was conceived to showcase the essential elements of Calibre 9 on the dial side: the flying tourbillon, gear train, and barrel aligned vertically and appearing to hover above the hand‑guilloché ‘Singularité’ pattern created by Metalem. Named after the astronomical concept of a singularity—where space and time collapse into infinity—the motif creates a vortex-like visual effect.

In the new titanium version, the Cosmic Blue dial intensifies this sense of depth, heightening the contrast between the floating mechanical elements and the void beneath them. The hour markers, mounted on the flange rather than the dial, further accentuate the impression of suspension. Light dances across the polished bevels of the gear train bridge, the open-worked barrel bridge, and the satin-finished arms of the tourbillon cage. On the reverse, the 18k gold rotor continues the floating theme, its convex surface engraved with a black‑hole‑inspired pattern by master engraver Michèle R.

Calibre 9 represents a major step in Czapek’s technical evolution: not only designed and developed in-house, but largely machined there as well. Its innovations include a convex titanium tourbillon cage and a proprietary anticlockwise crown wheel. As the Manufacture expands its capabilities, more finishing—such as bevelling and sandblasting of the central bridge—is now executed internally.

The Antarctique Tourbillon Titanium Cosmic Blue will be produced in a 40.5 mm case, limited to 25 pieces.

“We chose these three calibres as each represents a milestone in Czapek’s evolution,” says Xavier de Roquemaurel. “SXH5 was the first calibre that we conceived, developed and assembled in-house – and has really become our emblem; the Révélation enabled us to take that original calibre in a completely different direction, driven by the idea of expressing its beauty differently; and Calibre 9 was a milestone for our expansion of the Manufacture’s capabilities. As well as conceiving and developing movements in-house, we are now machining and finishing the majority of components – up to 70 percent – in the Manufacture,” he continued. “In our quest for excellence as an independent Manufacture, we have no intention of excluding external partners because we believe deeply in the principle of établissage,” he adds. “Expanding our in-house capabilities means that we ensure our independence while remaining free to harness the expertise of Switzerland’s finest specialists for cases, dials and certain specialised components.”

The three Antarctique Titanium Cosmic Blue models will be available for pre-order through Czapek’s authorised retailers, the Geneva boutique, and Czapek.com.