The love story between the Geneva-based maison and aventurine is a long-standing one. Czapek has already used the famous glass, capable of creating a starry skylike effect, for the ‘Midnight in Geneva’ limited edition of the Quai des Bergues collection, created in 2019 to celebrate the opening of the brand's first store in Geneva. The maison subsequently embarked on the difficult mission of reducing the size of the aventurine dial for a 38.5 mm diameter case. As with the Quai des Bergues, the new Faubourg de Cracovie features three aventurine dials, as each of the chronograph counters is rapporté, i.e. fixed inside the hours and minutes dial. “Cutting out aventurine, a very fragile glass, is a challenge in itself,” says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “If you add the fact that the indices are applied and not transferred, with the risk of creating fractures by piercing the dial, you appreciate the high end of savoir faire when working with aventurine.” The choice of applied markers on the dark blue dial is aesthetic, aimed at giving the timepiece a sportier look.
“The Faubourg de Cracovie Aventurine represents the epitome of sport-chic without concessions,” says Xavier De Roquemaurel. The Faubourg de Cracovie Aventurine, like all other models in the Faubourg de Cracovie line, has a 41.5- millimeter steel case with crown protectors serving as pushers. The case hosts the SXH3 calibre, a best-in class COSC-certified automatic integrated chronograph movement delivering 65 hours' power reserve from a single barrel that drives the balance wheel at 36,000 vph / 5 Hertz. Produced in a limited edition of 50 pieces, the timepiece will be unveiled for the first time at Watch Time New York (Gotham Hall, October 21-22, 2023)
