Featuring a quite spectacular guilloché dial of deep blue and rich gold contrast, and equipped with a superb hand finished integrated chronograph movement, the Faubourg de Cracovie Océan D’Or by Geneva based independent brand Czapek is a magnificent piece of contemporary haute horlogerie, manufactured in rose gold in an exclusive limited edition of only eight pieces.

Measuring 41.5mm across, the round 18ct 5N rose gold case is mostly polished, with recessed sandblasted inlays around its waist which flow from lug to lug, while on either side of the crown, the sloping chronograph pushers are discretely integrated into the curvature of the case, resulting in a clean, sleek profile.

The glass rim of the box sapphire crystal rises above the bezel and creates an eye catching ring of refraction around the deep blue dial below. Deeply engraved with intersecting and overlapping circles of rose engine guilloché, which catch the light, and emanate away from the two rose gold subdials, the Résonance pattern radiates across the subtly domed ‘bombé’ surface of the dial.

Like the hour and minute hands, the applied gold hour markers and the numerals are coated with powerful Super LumiNova, assuring excellent legibility, even in low light environs. The subdials at the three and nine o’clock positions display the 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph counters respectively, while at the six the small constant seconds is defined only by the small gold indices, and a window to display the date.

Inside, the bespoke Czapek Calibre SXH3 self winding movement is by specialist Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. This state of the art integrated chronograph movement beats at 36’000 vib/h with COSC certified chronometer precision, and delivers a power reserve of 65 hours from its single barrel. Featuring column wheel with vertical clutch and linear hammer which interact seamlessly the chronograph commands are smooth and instantly responsive. A sapphire caseback reveals the complex mechanism beneath the gold rotor and openworked anthracite grey plates.

A stunning piece with hand finishing of the highest order throughout, the Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie Océan d’Or is as irresistible to the eye as it is refined in its horological innovation and traditional craftsmanship.