The Czapek Antarctique Purple Storm is a new addition to the Antarctique collection, presented as an 18-piece limited edition. This timepiece was introduced at The Horology Club’s 3rd Anniversary event in Hong Kong on November 20, 2024. It’s standout feature? A hand-varnished dial by Swiss specialists Metalem.
The concept started when Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie, encountered an artist working with Metalem who specialized in creating unique hand-varnished dials. These designs were so distinctive that they hadn’t been offered to any brand, with one dial even resembling a cosmic nebula. During Dubai Watch Week, Xavier met an Instagram collector, ‘@Tranqated,’ whose fascination with astronomy inspired a lively discussion. This encounter planted the seed for a space-themed dial. By May 2020, as Czapek prepared to launch its Antarctique collection, this idea materialized into the Antarctique Orion Nebula series—10 unique pieces featuring galaxy-inspired dials, which sold out quickly. Subsequent designs included the turquoise Abyss, green Emerald Iceberg, and Celestial. The newest addition, the Purple Storm, is the first to showcase vibrant violet tones using this specialized dial-making technique.
The dial of the Antarctique Purple Storm has a striking violet gradient, capturing the mood and intensity of a natural storm. Designed to evoke movement and mystery, the dials reveal swirling layers of purple that mimic storm clouds when touched by light. Housed in a stainless steel case, the watch is powered by Czapek’s in-house SXH5 caliber, an automatic movement with a 60-hour power reserve. The movement features a variable inertia balance wheel for enhanced precision and efficiency. Its micro-rotor is made from recycled platinum and is visible through the sapphire case back.
