The calendar year of 2025 marks a significant dual milestone for the Geneva-based manufacturer Czapek & Cie, representing both the 180th anniversary of François Czapek founding his original atelier and the tenth anniversary of the brand’s modern revival. To commemorate this alignment of dates, the company has released a quartet of timepieces throughout the year, each designed to highlight a different facet of their horological identity. The final piece in this celebratory series is the Quai des Bergues “Sursum Corda,” a watch that serves as a quiet but powerful conclusion to the year’s festivities. This model does not seek to reinvent the wheel but rather returns to the foundational aesthetic that launched the brand's contemporary era a decade ago. It is a piece that balances historical reverence with a very specific, almost private, message of resilience integrated directly into the design.
This specific release follows a year of high-complication and experimental introductions, such as the Antarctique Tourbillon and the Time Jumper, yet the “Sursum Corda” feels like a necessary grounding exercise. By revisiting the Quai des Bergues collection, Czapek is effectively coming home to the design language that established its credibility in 2015. The collection derives its name from the location of François Czapek’s first workshop in Geneva, situated on the Quai des Bergues, where he operated before expanding his reach to Paris and Warsaw. The modern iteration of the brand has always placed a heavy emphasis on this lineage, digging into 19th-century archives to find the visual codes that would define their production watches. The new release is deeply entrenched in this history, pulling specific inspiration from the 1850s reference 3430 pocket watch, but it updates those proportions and finishing standards for a contemporary wrist.
Courtesy of Czapek
Visually, the watch presents a striking study in traditional high-end manufacturing, particularly through its use of a Grand Feu enamel dial. This material is notoriously difficult to work with, requiring repeated firings in a kiln at extremely high temperatures to achieve a surface that is impervious to fading or oxidation. The result on this model is a pristine, milky white expanse that offers a depth and gloss simply unattainable with standard lacquers. The enamel surface provides a perfect, high-contrast backdrop for the elongated Roman numerals, which are printed in a crisp black that echoes the typography of the brand’s 19th-century predecessors. The use of enamel here is not just a nod to luxury but a functional choice for longevity, ensuring the face of the watch remains as legible and bright in a century as it is today.
The most intriguing aspect of this dial, and the feature that gives the watch its name, is the inclusion of the Latin phrase “Sursum Corda.” Translated as “Lift up your hearts,” this text is not printed in high contrast like the hour markers but is instead hidden beneath the enamel surface, revealing itself only when the light hits the dial at specific angles. This phantom text, positioned near the twelve o'clock marker, adds a layer of intimacy to the wearing experience; it is a detail likely to be missed by a casual observer standing a few feet away. The phrase has become a personal mantra for the company’s CEO, Xavier de Roquemaurel, symbolizing the resilience required to navigate the tumultuous waters of the independent watch industry. It is a message about maintaining spirit and optimism in the face of adversity, embedded directly into the object itself.
The hands chosen for this model are the classic "Fleur-de-Lys" style, crafted from blued steel that pops vibrantly against the white enamel. The intricate shape of the hands, particularly the stylized tips, requires precise machining and finishing to ensure the edges are sharp and the blueing is uniform. One can see how the thermal blueing process creates a color that shifts from nearly black to electric blue depending on the reflection, adding a dynamic element to an otherwise static and composed dial. These hands are a direct link to the pocket watch era, offering a level of ornateness that has largely fallen out of favor in modern minimalist design, yet here they feel entirely appropriate within the context of the watch’s vintage inspiration.
Courtesy of Czapek
The layout of the dial maintains the signature eccentricity of the Quai des Bergues line, featuring two subdials positioned at four-thirty and seven-thirty. This arrangement, born from the technical architecture of the movement, creates a distinctive "face" that sets the watch apart from the standard three-hand layouts found elsewhere. The subdial at seven-thirty displays the running seconds, while the subdial at four-thirty serves a dual purpose, indicating both the seven-day power reserve and the current day of the week. This combination of information is practical, allowing the wearer to gauge the state of the wind at a glance, a critical feature for a manual-wind timepiece with such a long duration.
Hidden within these subdials are further tributes to the brand's history and this specific anniversary. In the seconds subdial, a laser-engraved reproduction of François Czapek’s original signature is nestled, another detail that rewards close inspection. Meanwhile, the case carries a discreet "10 / 180" engraving, numerically cementing the dual anniversaries of the brand's 1845 founding and 2015 rebirth. These markings are executed with restraint, ensuring they do not clutter the visual purity of the enamel work. It reflects a design philosophy that values discovery over brash branding, allowing the owner to develop a relationship with the finer details of the watch over time.
The case itself is crafted from 5N 18k rose gold, offering a warm, coppery tone that complements the stark white of the dial and the deep blue of the hands. Measuring 40.5 millimeters in diameter, the case represents a refinement in sizing for the collection, landing effectively between the larger 42.5mm and smaller 38.5mm predecessors. This size is increasingly viewed as a sweet spot for modern dress watches, offering enough presence to feel substantial without overwhelming the wrist. The visual profile of the case is characterized by fluid lines and curved lugs that hug the wrist, while the crown is protected by subtle guards that flow organically from the case flank, a modern touch that adds durability to the dressy aesthetic.
Courtesy of Czapek
Turning the watch over reveals the SXH1 caliber, a proprietary movement that is arguably as visually compelling as the dial. Developed in collaboration with Chronode, this manual-wind engine is designed to mirror the architecture of 19th-century pocket watch movements. The most immediate visual feature is the symmetry; two large barrel springs are positioned at the top of the movement, powering the gear train that cascades down the center. This double-barrel system is not merely for show; it provides the massive seven-day power reserve, or 168 hours, ensuring the watch can be left on a dresser for a week and still be running when picked up again.
The finishing on the movement is a deliberate departure from the standard Geneva stripes often seen in Swiss watchmaking. Instead, Czapek has opted for a sandblasted finish on the bridges and mainplate, creating a frosted, granular texture that absorbs light rather than reflecting it. This matte dark grey backdrop makes the polished bevels of the bridges and the gold of the wheels stand out with remarkable clarity. The bridges themselves are open-worked, particularly over the gear train, allowing for a view into the mechanical heart of the watch. This "open ratchet" design is a direct callback to the aesthetics of the 1850s, bridging the gap between antique mechanics and modern manufacturing precision.
The variable inertia balance wheel beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour, or 3 Hertz. While many modern movements opt for higher frequencies, the choice of 3 Hz is traditional and helps contribute to the long power reserve. The balance is held in place by a finely skeletonized cock, which minimizes visual obstruction and adds to the sense of depth when viewing the movement through the sapphire caseback. Every screw is heat-blued, matching the hands on the dial, and sits within chamfered slots, demonstrating a level of attention to detail that permeates every component of the assembly. The visual contrast between the cool steel components, the warm brass wheels, the vibrant rubies, and the frosted bridges creates a technical landscape that is fascinating to explore with a loupe.
Courtesy of Czapek
Functionally, the seven-day power reserve revives a specific ritual from the past: the Sunday wind. In the 19th century, it was common practice to wind one's timepieces once a week, often on a quiet Sunday after church services or before the start of the work week. By engineering the SXH1 caliber to run for a full week, Czapek invites the modern owner to participate in this same slow, deliberate interaction with their machine. The tactile experience of winding the watch, feeling the tension build in the twin barrels, serves as a tangible connection to the mechanical nature of the object, distinguishing it from the automatic watches that dominate the market.
The "Sursum Corda" sits on the wrist with a measured height of 11.9 millimeters, though the perceived thickness is reduced to 9.5 millimeters thanks to the curvature of the case and crystal. This ensures it slides easily under a dress shirt cuff, maintaining the decorum expected of a dress watch. The lug-to-lug measurement of 47.7 millimeters further aids in wearability, keeping the watch centered on the wrist without overhanging. It is paired with a dark blue alligator strap that matches the tone of the hands, secured by an 18k rose gold pin buckle that echoes the case material. The strap choice reinforces the dressy nature of the piece, though the warmth of the rose gold would likely pair equally well with brown or honey-colored leathers for a more casual look.
The decision to standardize the Quai des Bergues collection on this 40.5mm case size is a strategic move for the brand. It simplifies the offering and focuses production on a versatile dimension that appeals to a broad range of collectors. While the "Sursum Corda" is a highly limited anniversary edition, the architectural changes it introduces—specifically the case proportions—will carry forward into future standard production models. This makes the watch not just a celebratory dead-end, but a harbinger of the collection's future identity, consolidating the learnings of the past decade into a single, cohesive package.
The laser engraving of "10 / 180" on the case is a reminder of the fragility and youth of the modern brand compared to the ancient name it bears. Ten years is a significant milestone for an independent maker, a period often colloquially referred to as the "valley of death" for startups. Surviving and thriving for a decade proves the viability of the business model and the resonance of the design language. The "Sursum Corda" motto hidden on the dial is an acknowledgment of the struggle inherent in that survival. It transforms the watch from a mere luxury accessory into a narrative object that speaks to the perseverance of the team behind it.
Courtesy of Czapek
The availability of the Quai des Bergues "Sursum Corda" is severely restricted, with the production run limited to just ten pieces worldwide. This scarcity ensures that it will remain a rare sight, held largely by serious collectors who have likely followed the brand’s journey since the crowdfunding days of 2015. The extreme limitation is fitting for a piece that carries such specific, almost internal, messaging; it is a watch for the inner circle, for those who understand the context of the "Sursum Corda" phrase without needing it explained.
In terms of market positioning, the watch is priced at 51,500 USD. This price point places it squarely in competition with established heavyweights of the industry, a bold assertion of value based on the quality of the Grand Feu enamel, the proprietary nature of the movement, and the precious metal case. It reflects the cost of low-volume, high-craft manufacturing in Switzerland. The watch will be available through the brand’s official retailers, their Geneva flagship boutique, and their online platform, though given the low quantity, it is expected to be allocated quickly to existing clients and friends of the brand.
Case: 5N 18k rose gold construction measuring 40.5mm in diameter with a lug-to-lug distance of 47.7mm. Thickness of 11.9mm with a perceived height of 9.5mm. Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface, sapphire crystal display case back. Water-resistant to 50 meters (5 ATM).
Movement: Czapek Calibre SXH1 proprietary manual-winding mechanical movement. 7-day (168-hour) power reserve via double barrel springs. Frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 VpH), variable inertia balance wheel. Features sandblasted bridges, double open ratchets, heat-blued screws, and hand-chamfered edges. 32mm diameter, 4.75mm height, 160 components, 31 jewels.
Dial: White grand feu enamel with elongated Roman numerals. Features secret "Sursum Corda" text at 12:00, "10/180" at 6:00, and secret "Czapek" signature at 7:30. Blued steel Fleur-de-Lys hands. Small seconds sub-dial at 7:30; power reserve and weekday indication at 4:30.
Strap: Alligator leather strap secured by an 18k rose gold pin buckle.
Price: 51,500 USD
Reference Number: No 33 M ‘Sursum Corda’
Notes: Limited edition of 10 pieces worldwide. Released as the final piece of the 2025 anniversary quartet celebrating 180 years since founding and 10 years since the brand's revival. The Latin phrase "Sursum Corda" translates to "Lift up your hearts."