[New for 2022] Will smaller diameter wheels become popular in the future? Capek announces the 38.5mm diameter "Antarctic S"

Capek has announced an elegant new case size for its luxury sports Antarctic watch, designed for slimmer wrists. Two years after the successful launch of the Antarctic collection, the Antarctique S has been added, featuring a sporty yet chic 38.5mm case and a new dial.

Antarctic
Passage de Drake Glacier Blue S

　Size matters. The impetus for creating the Antarctic S was the request of the "rare people"—the collectors, shareholders, and partners who form the close-knit community around Capek—resulting in the 38.5mm case size. Following the successful launch of the original 40,5mm Antarctic in May 2020, the smaller case size—more adaptable, elegant, and "more comfortable for slimmer wrists"—was a natural progression based on Capek customer feedback.

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In developing the Antarctic S, not only was the case diameter reduced, but the integrated bracelet was also redesigned. Due to the limited space at the lugs, where the case and bracelet connect, the subtle curves that taper smoothly from the widest point of the case to the narrowest point of the bracelet were carefully considered and adjusted to achieve perfect harmony between the case and bracelet. Like the 40.5mm original, the Antarctic S bracelet is made of brushed steel connected by highly polished links in the shape of a stylized Czapek "C." A quick-change system allows for quick and easy replacement with the included rubber or leather strap.

　The Glacier Blue and Salmon models feature Capek's signature "Stairway to Eternity" pattern, a 3D engraved trapezoid motif, creating a play of light and shadow across the dial. The former appears to alternate between pale blue and silver with wrist movement, while the latter transitions from soft peach tones to a richer, almost honey-like salmon hue.

Antarctic Passage de Drake Salmon S

Antarctic Frozen Star S

　The Frozen Star dial is crafted from osmium, the rarest precious metal on Earth. Extremely hard, dense, and heavy, osmium is one of the six platinum group metals and was discovered in 1803 by British chemist Smithson Tennant. Found primarily in Russia and the Americas, osmium is 11 times rarer than gold and is the least abundant stable element in the Earth's crust.

　Furthermore, pure osmium does not occur in nature. It is available only as a by-product from the processing of nickel or copper ores, with only about one ton thought to be produced annually worldwide. Osmium is notoriously difficult to work with: twice as dense as lead, an extremely hard yet brittle metal, unstable unless crystallized, and able to withstand extremely high temperatures (melting point 3,000°C). Yet, with its pronounced structure that creates a unique surface texture and its intense natural brilliance, crystalline osmium possesses a profound and captivating beauty. The Underctic S's osmium dial catches the light, shimmering from a deep bluish-gray to an almost whitish-blue hue, creating a dramatic contrast with the cool silver tones of the steel case and bracelet.

Caliber SXH5

　Both models are equipped with the caliber SXH5, the same movement used in the first Antarctic model, which was released in May 2020. Its unique design, featuring seven skeletonized bridges inspired by 19th-century pocket watches made by François Czapek, makes it instantly recognizable as a Czapek watch.

　Drawing on the best of both watchmaking's past and present, the movement features a free-sprung balance and an elegant, highly efficient micro-rotor crafted from recycled platinum 950. Finishing in line with fine watchmaking standards includes hand-bevelled inlays.
Word angles and cutting-edge laser engraving combine to create a beautiful play of contrasts: light and dark, textured and smooth, matte and sophisticated.