The Quai des Bergues N°33s takes the characteristic features of the Quai des Bergues No. 33bis and show them in a new light. It’s what’s known as an “exercise in style,” employing elements that won over the public of the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) last November 2016: the immaculate white of the grand feu dial, the slenderness of the full-gold fleur-de-lys hands, the two subdials in the lower section, with the power reserve connected to the weekdays by a single hand, and, finally, the proprietary manually wound caliber SXH1.
But the Quai des Bergues N°33s's novelty is an iteration in a timeless case measuring 38.5 mm in diameter. This new version still recalls the original François Czapek pocket watch dating to around 1850, but it has been adapted for finer wrists.
The case comes in 5N rose gold or in steel. Its shape underlines the softness of the model's curves and the balance of the dial, a vintage style made popular in the 1950's. Water resistant to 30m, it is topped with a curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface.
The challenge was to get the movement into the new case. The manually wound proprietary caliber SXH1, clocks in at 14 ¼ lines (32 millimeters). Beating at 21,600 VpH, it has a 168-hour power reserve thanks to its 2 barrel-springs and offers the hours, minutes, small second at 7.30 o'clock, and power reserve indication with weekdays at 4.30 o'clock.
The transparent case back opens onto sanded plates, blued screws, thirty-one jewels, double ratchets, which have been skeletonized, and hand-beveled edges.
The watch is fitted with an alligator strap with 5N red gold or steel buckle and will be available as of May 2017 at certified retailers of the brand, like Chronopassion in Paris on rue Saint Honoré, close to Place Vendôme, site of the first Czapek boutique in the city.
