Coming Soon: Czapek × Fratello Promenade Transparencies “Viridian Green”
Following the success of the Czapek × Fratello Antarctique Passage de Drake Viridian Green, we knew we wanted to continue working with one of the most exciting brands in Haute Horlogerie. Without further ado, we introduce you to the Czapek × Fratello Promenade Transparencies “Viridian Green,” a watch that proudly celebrates its namesake color.
Despite being relatively young in its rebirth as a brand, the Czapek name is steeped in rich history. François Czapek was one of the greatest watchmakers of the 19th century. At the height of his renown, Czapek had boutiques in Geneva (Quai des Bergues), Warsaw (Faubourg de Cracovie), and Paris (Place Vendôme). You may recognize these locations as the names of three of Czapek’s modern-day collections. However, it is the final stop in this tour of Europe where our story begins — Paris.
A distinctly Parisian Promenade
Paris is a city famous for its undeniable beauty. It rarely fails to capture those who allow themselves to be absorbed by its ubiquitous history. Indeed, the famous 20th-century German philosopher Walter Benjamin declared Paris “the capital of the 19th century,” such was its importance in the artistic and cultural happenings of the 1800s. Many well-known artists and philosophers frequented the streets and promenades of Paris in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Henri Matisse, Gertrude Stein, and F. Scott Fitzgerald were but a few of the big players of that time. All called Paris their home and stomping ground for a significant part of their lives.
Being the home of the French (and, arguably, European) art scene of the era, Paris was engulfed by an incredible diversity of artistic expressions. First, the iconic café culture exploded onto the scene, as did cabarets, anarchism, and the breakdown of class separation. The radicalization of art and artistic movements, caused by a newfound boisterousness and willingness to shock, made for a stunning vibrancy, and this vibrancy has remained into the present day.
Every story has a beginning
It’s only apt, then, that the story of our beautiful viridian green should begin in this city at this time. Viridian pigment was first prepared in 1838 in Paris amid this artistic radicalization. Parisian color chemist and painter Antoine-Claude Pannetier discovered the pigment as a hydrated form of chromium oxide. The preparation process was demanding, expensive, and shrouded in secrecy.
In the early 19th century, Parisian artists tended to turn to emerald green, an energetic and vivid pigment also known as Paris green. Although cheap, its high arsenic content proved deadly when the material degraded in damp conditions, releasing highly toxic arsine gas. By comparison, viridian green, equally vibrant and lively in color, was stable and, therefore, a safer alternative to emerald green. Initially, viridian green was too expensive for the average struggling artist. However, in 1859, French painter Adrian Guignet improved on Pannetier’s recipe, patenting the cheaper production method and making it more accessible. This led to viridian green becoming a staple color on the palettes of impressionist artists of the time.
The Promenade Transparencies is the perfect canvas
Czapek’s Promenade was a logical step to continue our exploration and celebration of viridian green together. The model’s name evokes the romantic mystery of our beautiful hue’s artistic beginnings. You can think of the Czapek × Fratello Promenade Transparencies “Viridian Green” as a homecoming of sorts.
It was at Geneva Watch Days 2022 that I first learned of the Promenade. In a sit-down meeting with Xavier de Roquemaurel, the larger-than-life CEO of Czapek, I was handed a small resin 3D print. It was fairly offhand, with very little fanfare or explanation other than, “This is something we’re working on.” The conversation quickly turned to early prototypes of the Antarctique Dark Sector and other fully formed novelties. However, this small 3D print stuck in my head. It was intriguing and mysterious. It was several months later that I discovered more about what would become the Promenade.
First introduced in a different guise at Watches And Wonders 2024 and sitting somewhere between the sporty coolness of the Antarctique and the dressy classicism of the Quai des Bergues, the Promenade is a versatile canvas that effortlessly assumes the personality “painted” onto the dial. The Promenade Transparencies collection adds a touch of artistic flair to the wrist without compromising the horological value that Czapek has long been known for.
Art meets art in mechanical form
Like Pannetier’s secretive method for conjuring up the beautiful pigment, the viridian green smoked sapphire dial lets the wearer glimpse the complicated secret within the Promenade’s 38mm stainless steel case. Of course, that complicated secret is none other than the stunning caliber SXH7, which Czapek debuted at Watches and Wonder 2023 in the aptly named Antarctique Révélation.
The SXH7 was born by popular demand. The brand’s collectors always remarked how beautiful the Antarctique’s SXH5 movement was. Czapek decided to create a skeleton version of its Antarctique to highlight the movement and make it a visible treat from the dial side too. While that may sound as simple as removing the dial and cutting a few holes in the movement plates, it is not.
Taking the beautiful caliber SXH5 as a starting point, Czapek’s watchmakers had to flip part of it around to achieve the desired effect. For example, they reversed the entire escapement. Additionally, the platinum micro-rotor now has engraved text on both sides. Furthermore, Czapek had to redesign the entire crown and keyless works, now visible on the dial side. The seconds hand could no longer be connected to the central pinion via a bridge. Instead, it now sits in a beautiful smoked sapphire sub-dial between 4 and 5 o’clock. As a result, the SXH7 is as visually stunning from the front as it is from the back.
The Promenade Transparencies is dialed into color and beauty
Despite the horological beauty of the SHX7 movement peeking from within, for me, it is the dial of the Promenade Transparencies that is the final flair. A closer look at the fumé sapphire dial reveals the transition of green shades emanating from the sub-seconds register. It’s not difficult to imagine an artist’s palette with different mixes of viridian green, each waiting patiently to be applied to its creator’s latest masterpiece.
A strap to match
We decided to pair a sportier strap with the Czapek × Fratello Promenade Transparencies “Viridian Green.” This beautiful green Cordura strap complemented the green dial and highlighted the Promenade’s versatility. While Czapek’s core-collection variants exude more demure personalities, we wanted to match the boldness of the skeletonized movement with the strap. The strap has leather reinforcement on the pin holes and a branded Czapek pin buckle.
Czapek × Fratello Promenade Transparencies “Viridian Green” price and availability
The Czapek × Fratello Promenade Transparencies “Viridian Green” is a limited edition of just 50 pieces. The brand makes rare watches for rare people, and this edition is no different. It’s an entirely new personality for the Promenade collection. It allows the beautiful case silhouette to display the equally impressive skeletonized movement within.
The Czapek × Fratello Promenade Transparencies “Viridian Green” will cost €32,000 ex. VAT. Pre-orders will open on Friday, December 6th, in the Fratello Shop. To reserve yours, you can place a deposit of €9,600 ex. VAT (30% of the full price). We will contact you to collect the balance when the watch is ready for delivery. Czapek aims to deliver all 50 pieces by the end of July 2025. We’re thrilled to finally share this watch with the Fratello community. Indeed, we hope you like it as much as we do. As always, please let us know your thoughts on the watch in the comments below.
Please note: should you change your mind and request to cancel within 14 days of placing your order, Fratello will offer a full refund of your deposit. After this 14-day grace period, all orders will be final, and we will be unable to cancel your order or offer a refund of the deposit.
