Czapek & Cie. and Revolution unveil the sought-after Antarctique Révélation as a 20-piece limited edition, featuring enhanced luminescence that shines brilliantly through the night.
Words by Constant Kwong,
Revolution Head of Partnerships & Video Content
The year 2025 marks a major milestone for Revolution magazine, our 20th anniversary. To commemorate this occasion, we wanted to collaborate with close friends in the industry to create unique timepieces that not only reflect our shared passion, but also embody a strong sense of brand identity. Naturally, Czapek came to mind.
My interest in the brand was first sparked during the rise of integrated bracelet sports -chic watches in 2020. Czapek stood out by introducing a bold new design language, defined by its iconic bracelet and a strikingly open dial. It was a fresh interpretation of the category and one that perfectly captured the brand’s philosophy: exquisitely crafted timepieces with a modern edge. That same year, the Czapek Antarctique was launched — a model that has since become the brand’s most popular, spawning numerous variations from hardstone dials to complications, each one building desirability and collecting appeal.
But it was in 2024 that Czapek, in my view, realized one of the most beautiful modern sports-chic watches to date — the fully skeletonized, smaller-sized Antarctique Révélation. That was the turning point for us. Inspired and excited, we initiated a conversation with Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek, to explore a potential collaboration for our 20th anniversary.
As fate would have it, Czapek is also celebrating a milestone: its 180th anniversary since its founding in 1845. This collaboration, therefore, marks a double celebration — a special piece honoring two significant birthdays, making it all the more meaningful.
A Brief History of Czapek & Cie.
Czapek & Cie. was founded in April 1845 by Franciszek Czapek (later Gallicized as François Czapek) and his partner Juliusz Gruzewski, a close friend of the family of French Emperor Napoleon III. A gifted watchmaker and astute businessman, Czapek quickly rose to prominence and became one of the most celebrated horologists of the 19th century. He was appointed Purveyor to the Imperial Court and Watchmaker to His Imperial Highness, Prince Jérôme Napoléon.
Enamelled gold pocket watch created by Czapek & Cie. for Prince Jérôme Napoléon, circa 1860. Image courtesy of Czapek & Cie.
At its peak, the company had boutiques in Geneva, Paris (including the prestigious Place Vendôme, which opened in 1850) and Warsaw (opened in 1854).
Franciszek Czapek also authored the first Polish-language book on watchmaking:
Słów kilka o zegarmistrzowstwie ku użytku zegarmistrzów i publiczności
(“Remarks on Watchmaking for the Use of Watchmakers and the Public”), published in Leipzig in 1850.
For reasons probably due to the death of his business partner Gruzewski in 1865, the company changed hands in the late 1860s, possibly continuing under new ownership.
Mysteriously, Czapek & Cie. vanished from the watchmaking scene in the early-1870s and remained dormant until its revival in 2012. As for its founder, recent research suggests that François Czapek travelled across Europe in the last years of his life, before returning to his native Czech land where he passed away in 1878 at the age of 67 years old.
Czapek’s Modern Revival
On December 12, 2012, the name Czapek & Cie. was officially resurrected. Xavier de Roquemaurel, along with two fellow entrepreneurs, led the revival. Immersing themselves in the brand’s heritage, they studied a library of original Czapek timepieces to better understand the watchmaker’s vision and character. In their own words: “We labored on new designs as though François himself were seated amongst us.”
In 2014, the company relocated to Neuchâtel, Switzerland, reaffirming its roots in Swiss watchmaking excellence.
Czapek & Cie. was officially reintroduced to the world in Geneva, with journalists, friends and collectors in attendance. The brand made history by launching an equity crowdfunding campaign, allowing enthusiasts to invest directly in its rebirth — becoming the first haute horlogerie brand to be revived by a global community of watch lovers.
In 2016, Czapek & Cie. won the coveted Public Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève — often referred to as the “Oscars” of haute horlogerie. This award was a true recognition from a discerning community of collectors and connoisseurs, honoring the beauty and craftsmanship of the brand’s first revival model, the Quai des Bergues No. 33bis.
 Quai des Bergues No. 33bis |  Place Vendôme Tourbillon Suspendu “Ici et Ailleurs” |
 Faubourg De Cracovie with Automatic Integrated Chronograph |  Antarctique powered by the in-house SXH5 automatic movement. |
 Place Vendôme “Complicité” | |
The momentum continued
2017: Launch of the Place Vendôme Tourbillon Suspendu “Ici et Ailleurs,” named after the iconic Parisian square where François Czapek opened a boutique in 1850 — believed to be the first fine watchmaking boutique on Place Vendôme.
2018: Introduction of the Faubourg de Cracovie chronograph, the brand’s third collection, named after the location of Czapek’s third boutique, opened in 1854 in Warsaw, Poland.
2019: Czapek opened its first flagship boutique in Geneva on the emblematic Rue de la Corraterie — just steps from the Quai des Bergues, where François Czapek had his original atelier in the 19th century.
2020: The unveiling of the SXH5 caliber, Czapek’s first fully in-house developed movement, powering the debut Antarctique The first limited edition sold out within weeks, firmly establishing the collection’s desirability.
2022: The company inaugurates its own manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The newly renovated facility integrates machining, milling, and polishing operations — enhancing production capabilities and securing greater independence.
2023: Introduction of the Place Vendôme “Complicité,” a groundbreaking double escapement timepiece created in collaboration with Master Watchmaker Bernhard Lederer — marking yet another major milestone in Czapek’s modern history.
In my opinion, Czapek’s revival under the leadership of Xavier de Roquemaurel and his partners was the right one. They have succeeded in honoring the brand’s traditional watchmaking heritage while seamlessly introducing a modern twist to meet the expectations of today’s collectors.
Czapek × Revolution Antarctique Révélation Spectrum
The idea for this watch was to use the Czapek Antarctique Révélation as a canvas and infuse it with a distinct Revolution twist. The Antarctique Révélation is already a stunning timepiece — showcasing a fully open-worked design with no traditional dial, only a subtle gray chapter ring around the periphery that carries the hour markers and minute track. Czapek masterfully used varying shades of gray and contrasting finishes across the movement bridges and surfaces to enhance legibility and add a sense of visual depth.
When Revolution Founder Wei Koh and I began exploring how to evolve this design while preserving its core identity, we quickly aligned on a direction: to creatively utilize the open spaces within the bridges and introduce bold contrast. Our solution was to apply Super-LumiNova to nearly every visible surface — from the bridges securing the mainspring barrel to the finger bridges supporting the subsidiary seconds.
We also made a daring choice: to feature the first-ever “white” Super-LumiNova on the bridges, paired with blue-lumed hands, creating a dramatic visual contrast unlike anything seen before in a skeletonized integrated bracelet sports-chic watch.
The result is both spectacular and understated. At first glance, it might be mistaken for the standard Antarctique Révélation — but when the lights go down, the watch comes alive. The glowing interplay of white and blue lume highlights the intricate skeletonized movement in a way that’s both striking and unforgettable.
Says Wei, “Since its launch, the Antarctique has become one of the most compelling integrated bracelet sport-chic watches in the world of high watchmaking. The skeletonized version takes this story even further, with its sculptural open-working and beautifully crafted full-bridge movement. The caliber’s finger bridges have been transformed into architectural, flying buttress-like structures — so striking that we felt they deserved to be highlighted, even at night. That’s why we decided to apply Super-LumiNova to all the bridges, allowing the watch to come alive in low light with an incredibly cool and distinctive luminous signature.”
“The Antarctique has become one of the most compelling sport-chic watches. Its skeletonized version features flying buttress-like bridges with Super-LumiNova, creating a luminous signature at night.”
The Czapek × Revolution Antarctique Révélation Spectrum wears exceptionally well on a wide range of wrist sizes. Measuring 40.5mm in diameter and 10.6mm thick, the stainless steel case is sleek and beautifully finished, while the bracelet is remarkably ergonomic, offering excellent wrist comfort.
A standout feature is the dual-sided micro-adjustment system integrated seamlessly into the clasp — a true game changer in daily wearability. This allows for quick, on-the-fly sizing adjustments throughout the day, especially useful during warmer weather when wrist expansion can occur.
In addition to the stainless steel bracelet, the watch also comes with a special white rubber strap, and both options feature a quick-release system for effortless strap changes. This gives you the flexibility to adapt your look instantly. When paired with the rubber strap, the watch takes on an entirely different character — it’s almost like owning two distinct timepieces in one.
On my 6.5-inch wrist, this watch wears incredibly comfortably — and I dare say it would suit wrists even beyond 7.5 inches just as well. Its versatility is truly appreciated. In my view, integrated bracelet sport-chic watches have never been more relevant than they are today. Unlike their emergence in the 1970s, this style now aligns perfectly with the needs and pace of the modern lifestyle.
Czapek Caliber SHX7
The movement inside is no slouch either — the automatic Czapek Caliber SXH7 is a completely different creation from the earlier SXH5 used in the standard three-hand Antarctique models. As expected, it’s fully skeletonized, with much of the bridge material strategically removed to reveal the intricate mechanics beneath.
The “dial” side has been thoughtfully reimagined: the date function and central seconds hand have been removed in favor of a subsidiary seconds display, positioned at 4:30 on a striking black sapphire disk.
The platinum micro-rotor, visible through the open architecture, is exquisitely engraved on both sides and appears to float effortlessly within the space — perpetually oscillating in a captivating display of motion and craftsmanship.
The SXH7 offers a power reserve of 60 hours and beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). The movement is composed of a total of 152 parts.
Despite the reduction in material, the remaining bridges and skeletonized case are finished to the same exceptional standard as the reverse side of the movement, underscoring Czapek’s unwavering commitment to the art of traditional haute horlogerie.
Final Thoughts
After more than a year of conceptualizing, we are incredibly proud to unveil the Czapek × Revolution Antarctique Révélation Spectrum — a timepiece that celebrates the milestones of both our brands. Paying full respect to the original design while introducing a bold, meaningful twist to a watch we deeply admire has been a truly rewarding experience. And we couldn’t be happier with the result.
Limited to just 20 pieces, the Révélation Spectrum has been thoughtfully aligned with our anniversary. Each watch is engraved with “Revolution Edition” and is priced at CHF 42,000 (excl. VAT).
It is available exclusively via our e-shop on the Revolution website.
Delivery: starting from September 2025