Feeling blue? Well, perhaps this new Promenade Transparencies from Czapek can relate, presented in a new Aqua Blue rendition.
Czapek has always been such an interesting case to me. Since mysteriously disappearing in the late 19th century, the brand was revived in 2015 thanks to the efforts of Xavier de Roquemaurel and his team. Sure, much of the traditional craft and archives are still lost to time, but Czapek manages to make up for it with its exacting passion for haute horlogerie.
Perhaps where this is best seen is in its Promenade collection, introduced in 2024 to bridge the gap between the contemporary Antarctique and classically informed Quai des Bergues lines. The simplistic, sharp layout of the Promenade has allowed it to be a canvas for artistic expression, as evidenced by watches like the Promenade Diamond Drops.
In 2024, one of its first forays into this artistic side was done alongside Dutch watch publication Fratello, which debuted the Promenade Transparencies Viridian Green with a skeletonised movement and smoky sapphire dial. This year, Czapek harnesses that same idea in a completely different dial tone, as it unveils the new Promenade Transparencies model in a rich Aqua Blue.
Let Me Be Clear
Measuring 38mm in case diameter, 42mm lug-to-lug, and 10.8mm thick, the Czapek Promenade Transparencies Aqua Blue shares the same desirable dimensions as its predecessor. Like a true dress watch, it wears relatively inoffensively on the wrist thanks to its short lugs.
However, the profile still manages to maintain a sportier appeal with a hollowed-out case flank akin to watches like H. Moser & Cie.’s Pioneer Central Seconds. Encased in stainless steel, the predominantly polished finish across the case and bezel gives the watch plenty of light play, which is contrasted by the depth of the dial, but we’ll get into that later. The flat crown also protrudes rather dominantly from the case, enabling ease of use without disrupting the overall elegance of the watch.
Personally, a more traditional crown may have suited well here, but maybe that’s just because I’m more partial to the Quai des Bergues collection. In line with the dressier nature of the lineup, the Promenade Transparencies comes on a blue leather strap, complete with a steel pin buckle to match. Underpinned by a 50m water resistance, the new watch can be worn just about anywhere that isn’t a pool.
Crystal Blue Persuasion
But of course, it’s not the case we’re here to talk about, but the stunning dial at hand. Just like the Viridian Green that came before it, this new version of the Promenade Transparencies bears a translucent sapphire dial. But unlike the previous reference, the dial now comes in a new colourway the brand calls ‘Aqua Blue’.
This consists of a, you guessed it, blue tone, which has also been given a fumé finish. The gradient is produced through metallisation, a vapour-deposition process in which a metallic coating is applied to the underside of the sapphire disc. This results in a graduation of colour that begins relatively clear in the centre, but fades to shades of blue and black as the eye moves outward.
Beyond the dial is the standard, but no less stunning, dial layout you’ve come to expect from the Promenade collection. Skeletonised arrow hands stretch towards the white-painted minute track, followed by indexes of applied light blue lume.
The hands have also been given the same lume, all of which still shows off their light blue colouration in broad daylight. It’s a nice pop of contrast to the blue fumé sapphire and further reinforces the Promenade’s contemporary identity. Once again, the watch bridges the gap between traditional looks and the abstractions of modern tech, creating a new version of the Promenade Transparencies that is uniquely its own.
Skeletons In The Closet
But if you know me, then you’ll know that the dial, with all due respect, is hardly the highlight in my eyes. While you hardly have to turn the watch around to see it, the sapphire window at the back showcases the movement in all its glory. Powering the watch is the Cal. SXH7, a skeletonised version of the now-classic in-house calibre SXH5, which powers most of the Antarctique watches.
Running at the luxury standard beat rate of 4Hz (28,800VpH), the Cal. SXH7 delivers a respectable 60-hour power reserve with micro-rotor automatic winding. While it only powers the small seconds complication beyond the time-telling hours and minutes, it’s still such an impressive movement to behold.
Immediately recognisable by its seven skeletonised bridges holding the gear train, the Cal. SXH7 delivers in the presentation department as much as it does technically. Finishing includes an open-worked barrel, sandblasting across the bridges, and hand-chamfered flanks that truly make the watch shine, even beyond the front’s blue barrier.
Initial Thoughts
Czapek’s existence might mystify many, but nobody has questioned the quality of its work since returning in 2015. It’s carved out a niche for itself in the independent scene, a task that’s getting continually harder to do with encroaching talent.
Furthermore, it’s done so by staying as passionate about the arts and sciences of watchmaking as the original Czapek brand was so many years ago. The Promenade Transparencies, while no longer associated with a collaborative effort, now stands alone as a unique take on even Czapek’s singular brand of watchmaking. Mixing cues from the dress and modern sports scenes, they’ve created a watch that is as bold and exacting as the movements they make.
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | Promenade Transparencies Aqua Blue |
| Dimensions | 38mm case diameter x 42mm lug-to-lug x 10.8mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Dial | Fumé blue metallised translucent sapphire |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic micro-rotor Cal. SXH7 with small seconds complication |
| Power Reserve | 60h |
| Beat Rate | 4Hz / 28,800VpH |
| Water Resistance | 50m / 5bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Blue leather strap with steel pin buckle |