What Czapek & Cie does

Czapek & Cie SA is an independent Swiss luxury watchmaker headquartered in Geneva, with a manufacturing facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Originally founded in 1845 by François Czapek (a former partner of Antoine Norbert de Patek), the brand operated until 1871 when Czapek disappeared; the name was officially resurrected in December 2012 and relaunched in 2015 through an equity crowdfunding campaign, making it the first Haute Horlogerie brand revived by watch enthusiasts worldwide. The company employs 11–50 staff and is led by CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel.

Czapek designs and produces limited-edition mechanical timepieces (typically 25–100 pieces per reference) priced between CHF 32,000 and CHF 67,000. Core collections include Antarctique (sport/titanium integrated bracelet), Promenade (dress watches with Grand Feu enamel dials), Quai des Bergues, Faubourg de Cracovie (chronographs), Place Vendôme (grand complications), and the 10th Anniversary line. The technical platform comprises nine proprietary in-house calibers (SXH1–SXH9, Calibre 8, 9, 10) featuring tourbillons, split-second rattrapante chronographs, double escapements with differentials, and jumping hours — developed in collaboration with partners including Chronode (Jean-François Mojon), Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, Bernhard Lederer, Donzé Cadrans (Grand Feu enamel), Metalem (guilloché), and independent artisans for hand-engraving and micro-painting. Three patent-pending mechanisms and proprietary assets (Cosmic Blue dial, Guilloché Singularité pattern) are registered or in process.

The business operates a hybrid distribution model: direct-to-consumer sales through czapek.com and czapek.us (on-demand with 25–30% deposits), complemented by 50+ authorized retailers globally, including Bucherer, Cellini Jewelers, and Watches of Switzerland. Ancillary revenue streams include after-sales service (3-year warranty), bespoke commissions, branded publications (e.g., CHF 120 coffee-table book), and a blockchain-based Digital Product Passport via the Aura Blockchain Consortium. The "Rare People" community of collector-shareholders functions simultaneously as a customer base, marketing channel, and brand ambassador network.

Name

Czapek & Cie

Legal name

Czapek & Cie SA

Website

https://czapek.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1845

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Czapek & Cie is an independent Swiss haute horlogerie watchmaker, revived in 2015 via equity crowdfunding, producing limited-edition mechanical timepieces (CHF 32,000–67,000) with proprietary in-house calibers sold through DTC and 50+ authorized retailers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Swiss Mechanical Watches

NAICS

Jewelry, Watch, Precious Stone, and Precious Metal Merchant Wholesalers (42394)

SIC

Jewelry, Precious Metal (3911), Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals (5094)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Mechanical Watches (CRAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Complications & Haute Horlogerie (CRAKADAG), Watch Retail (Authorized Dealers, Boutiques, Omnichannel) (CRAKADAL)

Keywords

• Luxury Swiss watches
• Haute horlogerie timepieces
• Mechanical watchmaking
• Independent watch manufacturer
• Limited edition watches

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Luxury Timepiece Sales: Primary revenue from sale of high-end Swiss mechanical watches through direct sales and authorized retailers. Watches are produced on-demand with deposits required to confirm orders. Limited edition models (25-100 pieces) command premium prices from CHF 32,000 to CHF 67,000+.
2. Publications and Books: Sale of coffee table books documenting brand history, such as the 'We Collect Rare People' 10th anniversary book priced at CHF 120.
3. After-Sales Service and Warranty: 3-year international product warranty and after-sales maintenance services. Watchmakers provide repair services and maintenance support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Czapek & Cie designs, develops, and manufactures handcrafted limited-edition Swiss luxury mechanical watches across six collections (Antarctique, Promenade, Quai des Bergues, Faubourg de Cracovie, Place Vendôme, 10th Anniversary), powered by proprietary in-house calibers with complications such as tourbillons, split-second chronographs, double escapements, and jumping hours. Watches are produced in small batches of 25 to 100 pieces, priced from CHF 32,000 to over CHF 67,000, and complemented by bespoke commissions, after-sales service, and branded publications.

Product overview

Czapek & Cie is an independent Swiss luxury watchmaker offering handcrafted timepieces across several collections. The core product lines include the Antarctique (sports/lifestyle watches with integrated bracelets), Promenade (dress watches), and Place Vendôme (grand complication) collections. The brand develops proprietary in-house movements (calibres SXH1-SXH6 and Calibre 8, 9, 10) in collaboration with partners like Chronode, Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, and Bernhard Lederer. Key differentiators include distinctive dial designs (guilloché, Grand Feu enamel), skeletonized movements, and complications like tourbillons, split-second chronographs, and jumping hours. Products are sold as limited editions with prices ranging from approximately CHF 32,000 to CHF 67,000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Antarctique: Main collection featuring titanium and steel sport watches with proprietary movements, including Tourbillon, Dark Sector, and Revelation models.
• Promenade
• Quai des Bergues
• Faubourg de Cracovie
• Place Vendôme
• 10th Anniversary

Products and services

• Antarctique Titanium Dark Sector Cosmic Blue Titanium sports watch with 40.5mm/38.5mm tonneau case featuring a sector dial design with concentric circles and Cosmic Blue velouté finish, powered by in-house SXH5 automatic micro-rotor movement with 60-hour power reserve. Targeted at collectors seeking a lightweight luxury sports watch.
• Antarctique S Titanium Révélation Cosmic Blue Skeletonized titanium watch with 38.5mm case featuring open-worked SXH7 movement exposing the escapement on the dial side, paired with a smoked sapphire sub-dial at 4:30 and a Cosmic Blue peripheral ring. Targeted at collectors seeking a more intimate, skeletonized haute horlogerie piece.
• Antarctique Tourbillon Titanium Cosmic Blue Flying tourbillon titanium watch with 40.5mm case featuring exclusive Guilloché Singularité dial and 100-hour power reserve, powered by in-house Calibre 9 with convex gold rotor. Targeted at haute horlogerie collectors.
• Antarctique Rattrapante R.U.R. Split-seconds chronograph in 42.5mm case featuring a robotic animation beneath a grey-metallised sapphire dial where the robot's eyes change color (yellow/red/blue) when the chronograph starts, stops, and resets. Powered by the in-house SXH6 caliber with patented satellite minute train. Tribute to Karel Čapek.
• Promenade Goutte de Rosée 38mm 18K yellow gold dress watch with green Grand Feu enamel dial featuring a rippling wave pattern created with master artisan Donzé Cadrans, limited to 25 pieces, powered by in-house SXH5.1 movement. Targeted at collectors of classic dress watches with artistic dials.
• Time Jumper - Calibre 10.01 (10th Anniversary) Flying saucer-shaped 40.5mm jumping hour watch featuring patent-pending central jumping hours on a 24-hour register with trailing minutes on a peripheral ring, powered by the new in-house Calibre 10.01 with 55-hour power reserve. Available in 3N yellow gold (limited to 30 pieces) for the brand's 10th anniversary.
• We Collect Rare People Coffee Table Book Coffee-table book documenting Czapek's brand history, collectors, artisans, and revival story. Priced at CHF 120. A commemorative publication sold as a standalone product.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won Public Prize at Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève 2016
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• MaxScene Films (Leo and Maxine)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Filmmakers who documented Czapek's story over a decade, creating 'An Unexpected Renaissance' - a 50-minute film tracing the brand's revival, vision, team, partners, and collectors. Filmed starting before the 2015 relaunch.
• Chronode (Jean-François Mojon)coreTechnology or IntegrationFounded in 2007 by industry veteran Jean-François Mojon in Le Locle, Chronode is dedicated to researching, developing, and producing mechanical movements, modules, and sophisticated horological complications. Has collaborated with Czapek on multiple calibers including SXH1, SXH2, and others, seeking unexplored horological principles.
• Vaucher Manufacture FleuriercoreTechnology or IntegrationOutstanding craftspeople at Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier in the Jura mountains build the SXH3, Czapek's bespoke automatic chronograph movement - an integrated 5 Hz chronograph making use of advanced mechanical elements.
• Donzé CadranscoreTechnology or IntegrationMaster artisan creating Grand Feu enamel dials for Czapek. The technique involves applying oxides to the dial and firing at 800-900°C multiple times to allow motif and colors to appear gradually, creating unalterable and refined decoration.
• Metalem SAcoreTechnology or IntegrationDial maker with roots in the Jura region since 1928, mastering entire manufacturing process for 100% Swiss-made haut de gamme dials. Produces Czapek's guilloché, flinqué, and hand-painted dials. Developed exclusive Guilloché Singularité pattern for Czapek.
• Bernhard LederercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaster watchmaker who collaborated with Czapek on Calibre 8, the double escapement timepiece with differential. Contributed crown wheel mechanism integrated into movement design as subtle tribute to his development work.
• AB Concept & AB Product (Aurélien Bouchet)supportingTechnology or IntegrationCompanies founded by Aurélien Bouchet in 2003, now fully integrated manufacture. Responsible for titanium crown protector built into the stretcher as a Boolean function, and the Fleur de Lys hands chased by a tool of 0.15mm.
• Waeber HMSsupportingTechnology or IntegrationFamily business and independent company positioned as reference among Swiss hands producers. Masters 20 manual operations necessary to create watch hands found in Czapek timepieces.
• Michèle R. (Michèle Rothen)supportingTechnology or IntegrationIndependent master engraver preserving the rare craft of hand engraving. Czapek's cherished partner who hand-engraved the gold rotor with black-hole-inspired pattern for the Antarctique Tourbillon.
• André M.supportingTechnology or IntegrationArtisan specialized in micro-painting artistic craft. Creates bespoke watches displaying coat of arms, family crests, symbols, and designs for Czapek clients.
• Aura Blockchain ConsortiumsupportingTechnology or IntegrationNon-profit association of luxury brands investing in innovative technologies. Czapek partnered with them to launch Digital Product Passports for timepieces, providing secure digital identity and ownership history tracking via blockchain.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Greubel Forsey: Ultra-high-end independent Swiss watchmaker focused on tourbillon complications and proprietary movements, frequently co-listed with Czapek among the top independent brands.
• H. Moser & Cie. Schaffhausen-based independent producing in-house caliber mechanical watches with limited annual production and global authorized retail — directly comparable business model and target customer.
• MB&F: Independent Swiss 'horological lab' producing very low-volume avant-garde mechanical watches with proprietary movements, sharing Czapek's boutique-scale, collector-driven model.
• Laurent Ferrier: Independent Geneva-based watchmaker producing classically-styled limited-edition mechanical watches with in-house calibers, serving the same collector segment at similar price points.
• F.P. Journe: Geneva-based independent haute horlogerie brand making in-house calibers and limited-edition mechanical timepieces at comparable CHF 30K–300K+ price points. The most-cited comparable independent alongside Czapek.
• Urwerk: Independent Zurich-based watchmaker producing avant-garde limited-edition mechanical watches with proprietary movements, sharing Czapek's small-scale, design-led independent positioning.
• Kari Voutilainen: Independent master watchmaker (Finland/Switzerland) producing extremely limited hand-finished mechanical watches with proprietary movements, comparable in production scale and craft focus.
• De Bethune: Independent Swiss watchmaker producing limited haute horlogerie pieces with proprietary in-house movements and artisanal finishing, frequently listed alongside Czapek in independent watch rankings.

Broad incumbents

• Audemars Piguet: Established Swiss haute horlogerie conglomerate with independent ownership structure; competes for the same HNW collector customer and is often listed alongside the top independent brands Czapek is grouped with.
• Patek Philippe: Generationally established Geneva luxury watchmaker and historical reference point — François Czapek was Antoine Patek's partner before founding Czapek & Cie. Represents the heritage and standard Czapek's positioning is benchmarked against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzRvYVrphleU0nq0cbF9L0g
• Facebookfacebook.com/czapekgeneve
• Instagraminstagram.com/czapek_geneve
• Xx.com/czapekgeneve

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Czapek & Cie