Swiss watch brand
Czapek & Cie: history, models and value
Czapek & Cie carries the name of François Czapek, a 19th-century Geneva watchmaker and early partner of Antoni Patek. Since 2015 it has been an independent Geneva brand known for the Quai des Bergues and the Antarctique.
- Founded
- 1845
- Founder(s)
- François Czapek
- Headquarters
- Geneva
- Owner / group
- Independent
Czapek & Cie: origins and founding
František Czapek (also written Franciszek or François Czapek) was born in 1811 and trained as a watchmaker in Poland. After the failed November Uprising he came to Geneva as a refugee in 1832. In 1839 he went into partnership with another Polish émigré, Antoni Patek, as Patek, Czapek & Cie, with a workshop at Quai des Bergues 29. Czapek ran the watchmaking and Patek the sales. The workshop made about 200 watches a year.
The partnership ended in 1845. Patek went on to the company that became Patek Philippe, while Czapek founded his own firm, Czapek & Cie, registered in Geneva in 1847.
Founders and family
François Czapek led the new company together with Juliusz Grużewski. Watches signed by Czapek appear from 1845 until he retired in the mid-1860s; what happened to him afterward is not known. The modern revival was led by entrepreneurs Harry Guhl and Xavier de Roquemaurel together with watchmaker Sébastien Follonier.
Czapek & Cie history and milestones
- 1850s: shops in Paris (Place Vendôme) and Warsaw. From 1855 the firm supplied Napoleon III.
- Around 1869: the business changed hands, and the original firm faded from view.
- 2012: a Geneva company was renamed Czapek & Cie SA.
- 2015: relaunch with the Quai des Bergues, financed partly by a FINMA-regulated equity crowdfunding round.
- 2016: the Quai des Bergues No. 33bis won the Public Prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.
- 2022: opening of its own manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
- 2025: ten years of the revived brand, with the Time Jumper and an in-house flying tourbillon.
Famous Czapek & Cie models
- Quai des Bergues (2015) – classic dress watch, inspired by Czapek pocket watch no. 3430.
- Place Vendôme (2017) – a suspended tourbillon.
- Faubourg de Cracovie (2018) – the first Czapek chronograph.
- Antarctique (2020) – sports watch with integrated bracelet, now the brand's main line.
- Promenade (2024) and Time Jumper (2025).
Original 19th-century pocket watches signed Czapek also exist and are collected.
Movements and technique
The first modern calibre, the SXH1, is hand-wound with a seven-day power reserve and was developed with Chronode. The chronograph SXH3 was made by Manufacture Vaucher, and the Place Vendôme tourbillon was developed with Jean-François Mojon. The SXH5 automatic micro-rotor in the Antarctique (2020) was the first fully in-house movement. Later calibres include the SXH9 flying tourbillon with 72 hours of reserve and a jumping-hour calibre in the Time Jumper.
Czapek & Cie today
Czapek is an independent brand based in Geneva, led by CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel and owned by about 200 shareholders from several funding rounds. After few retailers took it on in 2016, it became known for selling directly online. Output grew from about 180 watches a year before COVID-19 to about 800. It sits in the independent luxury segment.
Czapek & Cie prices on the pre-owned market
Demand for Czapek grew quickly after the launch of the Antarctique in 2020; by late 2022 the brand had more than 2,000 orders to fill. Antarctique models, limited editions and complications are the pieces most in demand. Early Quai des Bergues watches have a following because they were made in small numbers. Full sets with box, papers and the original bracelet sell best. For 19th-century Czapek pocket watches, value depends on condition, complications, the case metal and whether the signature is genuine.
How to recognise a genuine Czapek & Cie
Modern Czapek watches have a numbered movement and caseback, and these should match the papers. The movement should be the calibre listed for the model, for example a micro-rotor SXH5 in an early Antarctique. For antique pocket watches, check that the movement and dial signatures fit the period and that the case is original; a specialist should look at expensive pieces. More tips: how to spot a fake watch.
What is your Czapek & Cie worth?
Whether it is a modern Antarctique or an antique pocket watch, start with our free watch value estimate from photos. For estates, insurance or a sale, you can order a written watch appraisal.
Frequently asked questions
Is Czapek related to Patek Philippe?
Historically, yes: François Czapek and Antoni Patek were partners in Patek, Czapek & Cie from 1839 to 1845. Today the two companies are completely separate, and the modern Czapek brand was revived in 2015.
Does Czapek make its own movements?
Partly. The Antarctique's SXH5 automatic (2020) was its first fully in-house movement, while earlier calibres were developed with partners such as Chronode and Manufacture Vaucher.
Where are Czapek watches made?
Czapek is based in Geneva and opened its own manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 2022.
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