Czapek Place Vendôme Tourbillon Suspendu 'Ici Et Ailleurs'
2017 GPHG Travel Time Category Finalist
With the taste of 2016 GPHG victory still lingering, Czapek returns with the new Place Vendôme Tourbillon Suspendu 'Ici Et Ailleurs' and the credentials to prove that the Public Prize was no flash in the pan success, in their pursuit of a jury prize this time.
These guys have enjoyed a spectacular couple of years since the launch of their Bis 33 Quai des Bergues, culminating in last year's GPHG Prix de Public Aiguille. Old yet new, and contemporary but with an enviable historic pedigree, Czapek's star has catapulted into the conscience of collectors and media around the world, thanks to the quality of the master watchmakers' finesse in creating beautifully executed Haute Horlogerie wristwatches, inspired by the pocket watches of the mid-1800s made by François Czapek.
More than any of the six preselected finalists in the GPHG 2017 Travel Time category, the Place Vendôme Tourbillon Suspendu 'Ici Et Ailleurs' evokes that traditional essence of watchmaking's pioneers, with features like the grand feu enamel ring dial, ornate blued fleur de lys hands, and of course the magnificent tourbillon which is suspended from above. The travel time feature however is more modern in its appearance with a brushed steel open-worked hour disc rotating beneath the bridge, which tapers to form a pointer to indicate the hour, and it's complemented by the tiny two-tone day/night disc at the bottom of the dial, which effects accurate information on that second time zone.
As a piece of work it is exquisite, sophisticated and elegant; as a travel time watch it is also perfectly practical and easy to monitor, so although maybe overqualified for the category, it is certainly a legitimate contender, and it might well be more than that too. So will Czapek score a one-two in subsequent years at the GPHG and scoop the jury decision this year?
The Watch Press prediction
Yes, I think it will. And I think in part that is down to the fact that, as well as the exceptional standard of workmanship throughout, there is also the groundswell of interest, and, for want of a better word, love for the brand.
The pertinents
- CASE: Platinum
- BRACELET/STRAP: Leather
- BUCKLE: Pin buckle
- MOVEMENT: manual winding mechanical. Power reserve: 60 h, 21'600 vph
- FUNCTIONS: Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Power reserve, Second time zone, Tourbillon
- SIZE: ø 43.5 mm
- THICKNESS: 12.15 mm
- WATERPROOFNESS: 30 m
- PRICE EXCL.VAT: 100'000 CHF
