Czapek & Cie have unveiled a new member of the Place Vendôme Tourbillon collection called ‘Dark Matter’ – the ‘rockest’ version of its most luxurious collection. Inspired by the Place Vendôme ‘Ombres’ in titanium, it features a black titanium case with ADLC coating and dark bridges with PVD treatment. Dark Matter is offered as a limited edition of just ten pieces.
In a family, there’s always a rebel, a black sheep as some say. The Place Vendôme, among the three families of Czapek & Cie watches, is the most refined and complex. Launched in 2017 with two limited-edition models in platinum and red gold, the collection boasts a proprietary calibre with a ‘suspended’ tourbillon, a GMT function and the indication of day and night in the second time zone, as well as of the power reserve.
At Baselword 2019, Czapek presented two new entries in the collection: a sumptuous version in platinum with a baguette-cut diamonds setting, ‘Etincelles’, and a sporty model in titanium with a black enamel ring, ‘Ombres’. At this year’s Geneva Watch Days, the exclusive high watchmaking event of 2020, the Geneva-based brand unveiled the ‘bad boy’ of the Place Vendôme collection – Dark Matter.
The new timepiece is not only inspired by the Ombres tourbillon in titanium, but takes elements from other watches in the Czapek portfolio. The 43.5mm case, in 5-grade titanium, features the same black ADLC coating as the Faubourg de Cracovie ‘Courage every second’ chronograph – the unique piece donated by Czapek to the 2019 Only Watch charity event and auctioned off by Christie’s for CHF 110,000.
The fine-looking black bridges of the Dark Matter have been treated with PVD coating, ensuring the conservation of the colour over time, by the same company that crafts the blued gold Fleur-de-Lys hands in the Quai des Bergues collection.
“Within our Place Vendôme line, we started with the most luscious version, and we are now launching the ‘rockest’ one”, says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. “While the rose gold tourbillons are sold out, proving the public appreciation of those models, the Only Watch auction success showed us that collectors were eager to also have sportier models with unusual materials combinations, still made with best-in-class haute horlogerie craftsmanship”.
Manufactured in a limited edition of 10 pieces, the timepiece will be available only at the brand’s official retailers and on czapek.com.
