LWR News
LEADING WATCH RETAILERS
OSTER JEWELERS HOSTS CZAPEK PREVIEW
wiss watchmaker Czapek unveiled its new Faubourg
de Cracovie Panda Bleu watch at Oster Jewelers in
Denver, the first U.S. dealer of the brand. The watch, a
limited edition of eighteen pieces, will be exclusively
on sale in the Colorado boutique until the world launch in 2019.
The new watch comes after Czapek introduces the much-
applauded L’Heure Bleue Dioné et Rhéa (Black Panda) models,
both high-performance chronographs with a refined handmade
guilloche dial.
The new Panda Bleu is a combination of these two
predecessors with a two-tone engine turned blue dial with white
‘eyes.’ Part of the Faubourg de Cracovie collection, and powered
by a fast-beat column-wheel integrated chronograph, the newest
model employs one of the oldest and fascinating crafts in the
watchmaking art: guilloché. This traditional
technique, which actually dates to the late eighteenth century
with François Czapek himself, was made possible by the
then-new rose engine lathe. The bas-relief squares pattern on
the dial, called ‘Résonance’, are formed by intersecting circular
lines recalling the wave interference pattern a stone might make
when ricocheting on water.
The engine-turned blue dial is once again handcrafted by
Czapek partner Metalem, in Le Locle, one of the top Swiss watch
dial factories, established in 1928 the Jura region of Switzerland.
Like the other two Faubourg de Cracovie guilloche models,
the Czapek Panda Bleu ($24,800) comes in a 41.5-millimeter steel
case where the crown protectors also serve as pushers. It is
driven by the SXH3 Caliber, a bespoke automatic integrated
chronograph movement built by Vaucher, delivering 65 hours
power reserve from a single barrel that drives the balance wheel
at 36,000 vph.
“We came up with this idea together with Oster Jewelers, but
from different paths,” says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of
Czapek. “Providing a high-frequency, high performance
integrated chronograph with an engine-turned handmade dial
was already a daring move. With the Panda Bleu we went a step
forward, a guilloche dial chrono is uncommon, and a blue panda
is even more rare. We are very proud to be partnering with
Oster Jewelers to address the U.S. market. With them we share
the same willingness to offer to our customers excellence in
quality, uniqueness and rarity.”
S
48 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | WINTER 2019
The Czapek Faubourg
De Cracovie Panda Bleu
iWMAGAZINE .COM