Czapek Launches the New Antarctique Mount Erebus Timepiece in Rose and Yellow Gold

In 2020, Czapek introduced the Antarctique, the brand's first premium sports watch, which also included the watchmaker’s first in-house calibre. The design by and large adhered to the traditional features of a luxury sports watch, such as a curved case, an integrated band, and a textured face. Nevertheless, the model was fresh, unique, and wonderfully completed. In response to the high consumer demand for the model, the brand has now released the new Antarctique Mount Erebus Deep Blue variants in both rose and yellow gold, just ahead of Watches and Wonders 2024. Giving in to popular demand, the brand has dressed up Antarctique in the precious metal for the very first time. The Rose Gold model is limited to 100 pieces while only 50 pieces of the Yellow Gold model are on offer. 

Located on Ross Island in the frozen continent, the Mountain (from which the new Antarctique “Mount Erebus” derives its name) is the world's southernmost active volcano and one of the few volcanoes that have remained constantly active. It was named after one of the expedition ships that discovered Ross Island in 1841. Captained by Sir James Clark Ross, HMS Erebus was named after a Greek mythological figure born of Chaos, personifying darkness. This volcano's lava contains gold, which is projected into the atmosphere at an estimated rate of 80 grams per day; it gets dissolved in the fleeing volcanic gases and hence, impossible to extract.

The 40.5 mm Czapek Antarctique Mount Erebus collection is crafted from rose gold and yellow gold; these can also be found on the crown, the crown protectors, and the polished bezel. For this gold Antarctique Mount Erebus collection, Czapek has returned to the original Lamé dial, which was unveiled when the series made its debut four years ago. It is manufactured with dial specialist Metalem and has a textured satin finish achieved with a unique comb. The deep blue colour is obtained through CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition). The sword-shaped hour and minute hands and the hour markers, which match the colour of the case, are equipped with an illuminating material. At 6 o’clock, one can find the large date window, which frames a colour-matched date wheel with white numerals in an elegant font.

The Antarctique Mount Erebus is powered by the self-winding calibre SXH5. This 30 mm movement is the first movement that has been developed and produced in-house by Czapek. It offers a power reserve of 60 hours through a single barrel. The watch is wound via a recycled platinum micro-rotor, which is placed off-centre to allow a full view of the mechanism. There is a free-sprung balance wheel at 6 o'clock, with variable inertia provided by four gold adjustable weights, enabling the highest level of precision tuning. 

The gear train is held in place by a series of seven skeletonised black bridges. Both rose and yellow gold versions are finished on integrated bracelets, matching their respective cases. Wearers will also get an optional rubber strap whose deployment buckle will match the case material as well.