First Look at the Czapek Antarctique Tourbillon Collection – Watches and Wonders 2025
Czapek Marks Its 10th Anniversary with All-new Antarctique Tourbillon
In 2025, Czapek celebrates the 10th anniversary of its modern rebirth—a milestone that not only marks a decade of remarkable growth, but also of quiet consistency. Over the last ten years, the brand has developed a design language, a mechanical identity, and a manufacturing ethos that are now unmistakably Czapek. To mark the occasion, the independent Swiss brand has introduced arguably its most ambitious watch yet: the Antarctique Révélation Tourbillon—a fully in-house flying tourbillon housed within the familiar lines of the Antarctique case.
A Capstone for Czapek’s First Decade
While there’s no shortage of independent watchmakers introducing technical showpieces, Czapek’s 10th anniversary piece stands out not just for what it is, but for how it came to be. The Antarctique Tourbillon brings together three foundational pillars of Czapek’s modern identity:
- The Antarctique platform, which has grown into the flagship of the brand and is now instantly recognizable thanks to its refined case shape and integrated bracelet
- In-house mechanical development, which began with the SXH5 micro-rotor movement—the brand’s first fully proprietary caliber, introduced in the original Antarctique in 2020
- Handcrafted, modern dial artistry, a Czapek hallmark built in close collaboration with the brand’s longtime dial partner, Metalem
By bringing these elements together in a tourbillon, Czapek hasn’t just added a complication for complication’s sake. This watch is a technical and aesthetic summation of where the brand has been, and a statement of where it’s going.
Familiar Form, Elevated Function
Despite the mechanical complexity within, the Antarctique Tourbillon maintains the proportions that have helped define the collection. The stainless steel case measures 40.5mm in diameter and 45mm lug-to-lug—identical to the time-only Antarctique. Thickness increases only marginally, from 10.6mm to 11.5mm, which is notable given the flying tourbillon’s depth and the architecture of the movement.
In hand and on wrist, this remains very much an Antarctique: sharply finished with a mix of brushing and polishing, featuring the signature C-shaped crown guards and flowing bracelet links that articulate smoothly. The design’s visual balance and wearability remain intact, despite the significant increase in technical complexity.
A Showcase Movement: Calibre SXH7
At the heart of the watch is Calibre SXH7, Czapek’s second in-house movement and its first to feature a tourbillon. And this is no off-the-shelf module or outsourced design—the entire movement was developed internally, and most of its components are machined in-house. That level of vertical integration remains rare even among much larger Swiss brands.
The flying tourbillon, positioned at 6 o’clock, is entirely visible from the dial side, sharing space with an openworked mainspring barrel at 12 o’clock. Together, they form a vertically symmetrical layout that feels deliberate and architectural. The bridges, all hand-bevelled with six inward angles, reflect traditional finishing standards. Meanwhile, a hand-engraved gold rotor on the reverse adds a final flourish—one that nods to the dial work Czapek has become known for.
In many ways, this movement is a thematic and technical coda to the original SXH5 micro-rotor caliber. Where that movement introduced Czapek’s in-house journey, Calibre SXH7 brings it to a crescendo.
Guilloché for the Modern Era
Czapek’s dial work has always been a point of distinction, and this anniversary piece continues that tradition. The Antarctique Tourbillon is available in three dial variations:
- Glacier Blue – a crisp, icy tone with modern polish
- Photon Sphere – a rich golden hue that shifts with the light
- Secret Alloy – a limited edition grey dial crafted from a proprietary gold alloy
Each dial features a bold, contemporary guilloché pattern developed with Metalem. The design mimics a vortex spiraling toward the center of the dial—technically difficult to execute, as it requires a fresh starting point for each rotation through the rose engine. The result is dynamic and layered, offering traditional depth through an untraditional pattern. It’s a distinctly modern interpretation of a classical technique, and emblematic of Czapek’s aesthetic philosophy.
Final Thoughts & Availability
In the crowded world of independent watchmaking, it’s easy for milestone pieces to lean on visual theatrics or pure complication for impact. Czapek’s Antarctique Tourbillon avoids those traps. It’s a watch that reflects genuine mechanical advancement, carefully considered design, and the maturing identity of a brand that has spent a decade earning its place in the conversation.
We’ll be in Geneva soon to go hands-on with this watch and will share more impressions after that. In the meantime, if you’d like to explore the Antarctique Tourbillon, you can do so at collectivehorology.com. Thanks as always for supporting independent watchmaking.