Czapek - Place Vendôme Complicité

The new Place Vendôme Complicité by Czapek offers a double escapement regulator with two independent oscillators. The retail price is CHF 85,000

Swiss brand Czapek unveiled the Place Vendôme Complicité, their own interpretation of a double escapement regulator, a watchmaking feat very rare in wristwatches, with two independent oscillators beating at their own pace, with rate variations balanced by a differential at 12 o’clock.

The principle of the double escapement regulator involves two balance wheels beating independently, with power delivered from a single barrel via a differential. Any variation in rate (which may be caused by gravity or various other factors inherent in everyday life) will be canceled out, ensuring greater timekeeping accuracy.

The starting point for the Complicité was to respect the dial layout of the original Place Vendôme model, on which the two signature sub-dials form the base of a pyramid, completed by a third sub-dial at the apex. 

On the new model, the escapements would be at 7.30 and 4.30 and the differential that connects them would be at the 12.00 position, with both escapement trains embracing the centre.

Xavier de Roquemaurel, Czapek’a CEO, explained his vision: “The real beauty of the idea lies in this way of expressing the double escapement, with the differential at 12 o’clock as a central element. By bringing the mechanism to the dial side and open-working everything, we would also have a beautiful kinetic sculpture.”

To achieve his challenging goal, he obtained the support of master watchmaker Bernhard Lederer (you can read more about him here), which contributed to define the new double escapement architecture. 

The name of the new timepiece, Place Vendôme Complicité alludes to this collaboration – as well as to the complicity between two independent escapements working in unison.

Housed in a 41.8 mm x 12.4 mm case that is water resistant to 30 metres / 100 feet, Czapek’s new in-house Calibre 8 operates at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour) and is manually wound to provide a power reserve of 72 hours, which is indicated on the dial at 6 o’clock between the balance wheels. Two sapphire bridges reveal the entire gear train on the dial side, protected by a box-style sapphire crystal glass. 

Two variations are offered: white gold with grey dial for the Place Vendôme Complicité Stardust, and rose gold with sapphire blue for the Place Vendôme Complicité Harmony Blue. 

The hands are sword-shaped and open-worked, so as not to obstruct the view of the mechanism, and their shape is echoed by the applied hour markers. All are plated in gold to match the case material and tipped with luminescent coating to enhance legibility in darker environments.

The satin-brushing of the flange and index ring contrasts with the matte grainé surface of the baseplate. The Haute Horlogerie finishes can be appreciated not only on the dial side but also on the back of the movement, where 18 inward angles have been hand-bevelled.

Completed by alligator leather straps fastened with a gold folding clasp, the first two models of the Czapek Place Vendôme Complicité will be offered in limited editions of 50 pieces per iteration and with a retail price of CHF 85,000. czapek.com