Czapek & Cie Antarctique Rattrapante was calling for a complication that would amaze watch aficionados

2022 Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante Ice Blue – A Watch Exploring Aesthetics and Engineering.

The sportive, open-worked split-second chronograph Antarctique Rattrapante by Czapek & Cie, the Geneva-based maker of watches, re-established in 2011, now appears with a touch of blue that enhances the hands and rings on its dial.

This latest iteration of the Antarctique is named “Ice Blue.” As the name suggests, this new Rattrapante reveals the special qualities of this colour, which exudes calm and poise.

“We are continuing to explore the many possibilities offered by this very attractive and popular new family of watches,” says Czapek CEO, Xavier de Roquemaurel. “Adding the blue is like a signature for the whole collection: Antarctica, blue sky, blue sea, blue ice.”

This luxury watch model features traditionally blued hands that harmonise well with the weave of metallic greys inside the open-worked watch. A closer look reveals a fumé blue shimmer emanating from the minute track and the two totalizer tracks. The effect is produced by the use of sapphire crystal rings that have been treated with metal oxides applied by an evaporation process.

Adding to the visual dynamism of the dial is the red chrono hand, known as the trotteuse in French, and the small red “60” at 12 o’clock.

Another salient visual aspect, though, is the dance of levers and cams on the dial of this split second chronograph and the clamp, which instantly immobilizes one of the chrono wheels when the split-second pusher is activated. The other chronograph hand must then continue its timecounting undisturbed. When the clamp is released, the immobilized hand will “catch up” (rattraper in French) to its companion. Each part must be manufactured to the highest specifications to ensure absolute precision.

Driving the Rattrapante Ice Blue is the Czapek’s high-performance proprietary caliber SHX6.

It was created in collaboration with Chronode and is both a mechanical and aesthetic work of art.

“The split-second runs on energy tapped from the second wheel,” explains Xavier. “And in this movement, we favored a horizontal clutch rather than a vertical one to highlight the aesthetics of the transmission.” Furthermore, to ensure the streamlined look of the watch, the number of parts and their thickness was reduced to a minimum. Everything had to fit in the 42.5-millimeter case.

The Antarctique Rattrapante Ice Blue comes on Czapek’s own stainless steel case bracelet, whose links are shaped like the letter.