The Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads Chronograph

Launched in 2018, the Faubourg de Cracovie was Czapek’s third mannequin and first chronograph, powered by Vaucher’s refined high-frequency column-wheel motion. Sustaining the model’s spirit of recent classicism, the 41.5mm chronograph defied the canon of most sporty stopwatches by flaunting conventional guilloché dials. This autumn, Czapek releases two iterations of its chronograph with a racing-style tachymeter scale on the flange and a sportier Crossroads guilloché sample.

Whereas there have been many dial variations through the years, one factor that by no means modifications is the fashionable but discreet 41.5mm case. A far cry from burly chronographs with outsized protruding pushers, the model’s hallmark crown guards are seamlessly reworked into pushers, sustaining the streamlined case profile and revealing the engaging recessed areas on the case flanks.

Though the primary mannequin with a tachymeter scale was the Faubourg de Cracovie California Dreamin’, the brand new editions spotlight the black angled tachymeter scale on the flange with an adjoining silver-coloured seconds/minutes observe. The precision observe, which permits for 1/tenth of a second readings, additionally buffers the tachymetre scale from the eye-catching ornament of the guilloché dial.

To accommodate the racing-style flange, the principle part of the dial needed to be diminished, which in flip led to the discount of the sub-dials. To spotlight the sportier nature of the brand new fashions, Czapek turned to dial-making companion Metalem to create a brand new guilloché sample. A reinterpretation of the Double Soleil guilloché created for the Quai des Bergues, the brand new Crossroads sample has straighter, extra deeply etched strains and wider spacing, meant to evoke tyre treads.

Two dial colors, Deep Blue with contrasting silver counters and a monochrome gray Secret Alloy dial, develop the gathering. Each dials use the dear metal Secret Alloy 401 as a base. Developed for Czapek by Metalem, the alloy is fabricated from gold, platinum, palladium and silver. Polished earlier than the guillochage, the alloy produces intense reflections that emphasise the crispness of the engraved sample.

One other element that units these watches aside is the elimination of the Arabic 12, changed by double indices. Retaining the identical handset as earlier editions, the fingers and indices are handled with Tremendous-LumiNova, and the central chronograph seconds hand has a crimson curved tip. The 2 chronograph counters at 3 and 9 o’clock are snailed with lacquered fingers, with the small seconds at 6 o’clock with a date window.

Inside is the automated calibre SHX3, a contemporary high-grade chronograph motion with a column wheel and vertical clutch. Made with Vaucher Manufacture, this high-frequency COSC-certified motion runs at 5 Hz, permitting measurements of 1/10^th of a second. Its energy reserve is of 65 hours when absolutely wound. The trendy, technical-looking end relies on anthracite sandblasted and diamond-polished bridges contrasting with the pink gold openworked rotor.

The Faubourg de Cracovie Crossroads will be ordered on an alligator or Alcantara strap with a metal pin buckle. The Secret Alloy is a restricted version of fifty items. Each fashions retail for CHF 36,000 (excl. tax) and can be found at Czapek.com and all Czapek retailers worldwide. Deliveries begin in Might 2025.