highlights


Czapek Place Vendôme Complicité: two friends, two hearts, one watch

Español
October 2023


Czapek Place Vendôme Complicité: two friends, two hearts, one watch

In collaboration with master watchmaker Bernhard Lederer, the independent brand unveils a reinterpretation of a double escapement combination initially created in 1930, a very rare mechanism in a wristwatch.

T

he principle of the double escapement regulator is that, with two balance wheels beating independently, and power delivered from a single barrel via a differential, any variation in rate will be cancelled out, thus ensuring greater timekeeping accuracy. The idea for the watch was born in 2018 as an evolution of Czapek’s renowned initial models, Quai des Bergues and Place Vendôme; the movement architecture of those pieces translates into a distinctive Czapek ‘face’ with sub-dials at the 7.30 and 4.30 positions on the dial.

“The real beauty of the idea lies in this way of expressing the double escapement, with the differential at 12 o’clock as a central element,” explains Czapek CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel. “And by bringing the mechanism to the dial side and open-working everything, we also have a beautiful kinetic sculpture.”

Czapek Place Vendôme Complicité: two friends, two hearts, one watch

However, building such a movement was easier said than done; a story of family and friendship brought it to life. Paul, one of Xavier’s children, was in the same school class in Neuchâtel as the daughter of watchmaker Bernhard Lederer, and a mutual friend introduced the two fathers. Their encounter led to a friendship, mutual exchanges of ideas, advice and help and, ultimately, resolved the problem, made the new double escapement architecture possible and gave birth to the watch. The name of the new timepiece alludes to this collaboration – as well as to the camaraderie between two independent escapements working in unison.

Price: CHF 85,000

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

The Europa Star Newsletter