Introducing: The Czapek Promenade With A White, Ivory, Or Pink Plissé Dial
Last year, Czapek introduced the new Promenade collection. Its design combines influences from the brand’s Quai des Bergues and Antarctique lines. Apart from the hollowed-out lugs and mid-case, the watches look quite classic. However, the peculiar dial designs are the real stars of the Promenade collection. The same goes for the newly introduced Promenade Plissé, which comes with a textile-inspired dial design.
At Fratello, we’re big fans of Czapek’s Promenade. Last December, we presented our limited-edition version, the Promenade Transparencies Viridian Green. That watch has a transparent and gradient green dial through which you can see Czapek’s SXH7 micro-rotor movement. On the Promenade Plissé, you can only see the movement through the exhibition case back. Luckily, the stamped dial with its distinct texture is truly worth your while. Let’s take a quick look.
The Czapek Promenade Plissé
Like the other watches in the Promenade collection, the Plissé has a 38mm stainless steel case. That measurement includes the subtle crown guards on the side. The thickness, including the domed sapphire crystal, is just under 11mm. Finally, the lugs span only 42mm from tip to tip. This means the Promenade fits a wide variety of wrist sizes quite well. You can choose to get it on either a nubuck leather strap or a stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet.
Then we get to the star of today’s show, the textured plissé (meaning “pleated”) dial. It’s made of brass, which is then stamped to give it its subtle folded pattern. The pearl-white, ivory, and pink colors result from a galvanic treatment. While the plissé texture is indeed reminiscent of the pleats in some garments, it also reminds me of an undulating dune landscape, especially on the ivory version. The texture nicely embraces the azurage-finished sub-seconds dial. Metalem, Czapek’s partner, helped develop this new dial texture. An even application of the diamond-cut hour markers was especially challenging to achieve.
The back side of the Promenade Goutte d’Eau
Platinum micro-rotor inside
The new Czapek Promenade Plissé is powered by the company’s SXH5.1 movement. This is a self-winding caliber with a platinum micro-rotor. It runs at a frequency of 28,800vph, features 26 jewels, and holds a power reserve of 60 hours. If you look through the case back’s sapphire window, you’ll see sandblasted black bridges, beveling, and hand-polished chamfers. The construction of the Promenade makes the watch water-resistant to 50 meters.
Initial impressions
I haven’t seen the new Czapek Promenade Plissé in person yet, so I can only imagine how it reflects the light when you move your wrist around. But with the elegant waves on the dial, I reckon it’s a shiny beauty on the wrist. My favorite is the ivory version as it reminds me of a subtle zen sand garden. In addition, I think I’d opt for the Milanese bracelet because it makes the Promenade feel a bit less formal.
The Czapek Promenade Plissé goes on sale today for CHF 16,000 (excluding VAT). As mentioned, the dials are available in ivory, pearl white, and pink. Only 18 pieces will be made of each dial color, and deliveries will start in the first quarter of 2026.
Let me know in the comments below what you think of the new Czapek Promenade with a plissé dial.
