Czapek & Cie is announcing the launch of the Quai des Bergues “Sursum Corda”, the culminating timepiece in the Maison’s 2025 anniversary quartet — a tribute to both 180 years since the founding by master watchmaker François Czapek in Geneva (1845), and a decade since the brand’s modern rebirth in 2015 under new stewardship.

This final celebratory release follows the Antarctique Tourbillon (first in-house complication in the Antarctique line, unveiled at Watches and Wonders), the Antarctique Plique-à-Jour, a modern take on métiers d’art, and the just-released Time Jumper, powered by jumping hours Czapek Caliber 10. With the Quai des Bergues “Sursum Corda,” the Maison returns to its historical roots, re-asserting the quest for Beauty and refined simplicity that define Czapek’s identity.

The Quai des Bergues collection — first unveiled in 2015 — was named after François Czapek’s original workshop on Geneva’s Quai des Bergues, where he established his own atelier before opening boutiques in Paris (Place Vendôme) and Warsaw. 

The founders of modern-day Czapek immersed themselves in the maison’s 19th-century legacy, studying archival pocket watches designs including the 1850s reference 3430 that inspired the original Quai des Bergues wristwatches.

The first production wrist-watch — the Quai des Bergues N° 33 — faithfully reinterpreted the historical pocket-watch aesthetics: elongated Roman numerals, grand feu enamel dial, and the signature dual de-centred sub-dial layout (small seconds and power reserve), executed in a 42.5 mm case and powered by a proprietary calibre developed in collaboration with master movement maker Chronode.

In 2016, the Quai des Bergues 33bis model was awarded the Public Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), underlining the collection’s successful fusion of historical fidelity and modern haute horlogerie.  

From its earliest release, the Quai des Bergues line has embodied Czapek’s philosophy of continuing François Czapek’s quest for Beauty without attempting to define it — creating timepieces that combine perfection with imperfection, timeless elegance with contemporary soul.

The new “Sursum Corda” version — in 18K rose gold with a pristine white grand feu enamel dial — revives the aesthetic codes of the original collection (enamel, Roman numerals, refined hands), while adding powerful, symbolic depth.

The Latin phrase “Sursum Corda” (“Lift up your hearts”) is discreetly integrated under the enamel, revealed only when light strikes the surface at certain angles. This secret sentence is a phrase often used by CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel during the most challenging moments throughout the brand’s entrepreneurial journey, a metaphor for resilience, hope and inner strength. “It’s an invitation to never give up and always give the best of ourselves even when hope would have vanished in the mind of normal people. This sentence has a reference – if you know, you know!” The idea of including it into the dial of the anniversary piece dial actually came from a Czapek team member and not from Xavier.

Alongside, a laser-engraved “10 / 180” logo marks the dual anniversaries: ten years since the modern revival, and 180 years since the brand’s founding. A secret “Czapek” signature — a faithful reproduction of François Czapek’s historical signature from the Geneva archives — lies within the small-seconds subdial.

This interplay of visible and hidden elements reflects Czapek’s vision for this model: minimalist and pure aesthetic enriched by thoughtful details for owners to discover.

The “Sursum Corda” is powered by Czapek’s own manual-winding calibre — the same lineage used for the original Quai des Bergues wristwatches. 

The double barrel construction delivers a 7-day (168-hour) power reserve, providing owners the practicality of weekly winding – as well as a nod to historical practice (many 19th-century pocket watches were wound on Sunday, after the service).

The movement draws on the architecture of mid-19th-century pocket watches (two barrels, symmetrical layout, open ratchets) and is finished with traditional haute horlogerie touches: circular-graining, hand chamfered bridges, and sand-blasted surfaces — all of which echo the historical aesthetic while meeting contemporary expectations for craftsmanship. 

While the original Quai des Bergues wristwatches were offered in 42.5 mm (and later 38.5 mm) cases, the new “Sursum Corda” will be launched in 40.5 mm, a size chosen to balance modern wrist proportions with classical proportions and dial-legibility. This makes the new piece the only upcoming Quai des Bergues size, consolidating the collection’s identity and future direction.

Alongside the anniversary edition, Czapek also introduces the new continuative Quai des Bergues N° 33, also in rose gold with white grand feu enamel dial, and N°25, combining stainless-steel and grand feu enamel. A refined evolution of the 33bis and the 25ter, they both showcase enhanced finishing—including sand-blasted flanks — and offer personalization options such as either historical ‘Fleur-de-Lys’ hands or a contemporary arrow design and a the possibilty of choosing the “secret sentence” written in the enamel dial. The new models cleverly leverage the 7-day calibre, with the sub-dial at 4:30 showing both the power reserve and the day of the week.

“These two new Quai des Bergues timepieces are more than commemorative creations”, says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO, Czapek & Cie. “They are future collectibles and the purest expression of Czapek’s design philosophy. They speak to our history, our community of rare people, and the resilience that defines our journey.”

The new Quai des Bergues “Sursum Corda”, N°33 and N°25 stand as a symbolic closure to the 2025 anniversary circle, from the rebirth to a confident affirmation of identity. Through hidden details, heritage and a movement that bridges centuries, Czapek invites its Rare People community to celebrate perseverance, craftsmanship and passion for watchmaking that are at the core of Czapek’s revival.

The three models will be available via the brand’s official retailers worldwide, the flagship store in Geneva and Czapek.com.

Czapek is a contemporary watchmaking Maison created in the spirit of François Czapek, a 19th-century Czech-born Polish watchmaker. In 1832 Czapek escaped from political turmoil in Warsaw and fled to Geneva, where he created a series of businesses during the 1830s. After establishing Czapek & Cie in 1845, he became Purveyor of the Imperial Court of Napoleon III and opened the first watchmaking boutique on Place Vendôme in Paris.

The Czapek & Cie name was reborn in 2015 by a group of watch enthusiasts who sought to revive the Maison’s heritage and craftsmanship. Inspired by an 1850s Czapek & Cie pocket watch, the leading model of the first collection, Quai des Bergues 33bis, won the 2016 GPHG Public Prize. In 2020, the company launched Antarctique, a sport-chic collection with the first in-house Czapek movement.

Today, Czapek’s haute horlogerie timepieces are known for their distinctive designs, high-quality craftsmanship and limited production. With headquarters in Geneva and its atelier in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Czapek thoroughly defends the concept of établissage in a modern way.

#wecollectrarepeople.

Limited edition	:	10 pieces
Case	:	5N 18k rose gold
Diameter	:	40.5 mm
Lug to lug	:	47.67 mm (north to south)
Thickness	:	11.9 mm 9.5 mm perceived
Glass	:	Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Case back	:	Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Water resistance	:	50 meters (5 atm)
Movement	:	Calibre SXH1 Haute horlogerie proprietary mechanical hand-wound movement
Diameter	:	32 mm – 14 lines ¼
Thickness	:	4.75 mm
Components	:	160
Jewels	:	31
Balance wheel	:	Variable inertia
Frequency	:	3 Hz – 21,600 VpH
Power reserve	:	>168 hours (7 days) on two barrel-springs
Functions	:	Hours & minutes Small seconds at 7:30 Power reserve indication with week days at4:30
Dial	:	White grand feu enamel Secret sentence: “Sursum Corda” at 12:00 and “10/180” at 6:00 Secret signature “Czapek” at 7:30 Czapek signature elongated Roman numerals Blued steel Fleur-de-Lys hands
Finish	:	Bridges open on gear train Double open ratchets, sandblasted bridges and main plate Heat-blued screws, bevelling, final hand-chamfering Circular graining and snailing on wheels
Bracelet	:	Alligator
Clasp	:	18k rose gold pin buckle
Price (before taxes)	:	36,500 CHF • 51,500 USD • 39,400 EUR

Case	:	5N 18k rose gold
Diameter	:	40.5 mm
Lug to lug	:	47.67 mm (north to south)
Thickness	:	11.9 mm 9.5 mm perceived
Glass	:	Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Case back	:	Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Water resistance	:	50 meters (5 atm)
Movement	:	Calibre SXH1 Haute horlogerie proprietary mechanical hand-wound movement
Diameter	:	32 mm – 14 lines ¼
Thickness	:	4.75 mm
Components	:	160
Jewels	:	31
Balance wheel	:	Variable inertia
Frequency	:	3 Hz – 21,600 VpH
Power reserve	:	>168 hours (7 days) on two barrel-springs
Functions	:	Hours & minutes Small seconds at 7:30 Power reserve indication with week days at4:30
Dial	:	White grand feu enamel Czapek signature elongated Roman numerals Blued steel Fleur-de-Lys or arrow hands(personalization option)
Finish	:	Bridges open on gear train Double open ratchets, sandblasted bridges and main plate Heat-blued screws, bevelling, final hand-chamfering Circular graining and snailing on wheels
Bracelet	:	Alligator
Clasp	:	18k rose gold pin buckle
Price (before taxes)	:	34,000 CHF • 47,600 USD • 36,700 EUR

Case	:	Stainless steel
Diameter	:	40.5 mm
Lug to lug	:	47.67 mm (north to south)
Thickness	:	11.9 mm 9.5 mm perceived
Glass	:	Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Case back	:	Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the inside surface
Water resistance	:	50 meters (5 atm)
Movement	:	Calibre SXH1 Haute horlogerie proprietary mechanical hand-wound movement
Diameter	:	32 mm – 14 lines ¼
Thickness	:	4.75 mm
Components	:	160
Jewels	:	31
Balance wheel	:	Variable inertia
Frequency	:	3 Hz – 21,600 VpH
Power reserve	:	>168 hours (7 days) on two barrel-springs
Functions	:	Hours & minutes Small seconds at 7:30 Power reserve indication with week days at4:30
Dial	:	White grand feu enamel Czapek signature elongated Roman numerals Blued steel Fleur-de-Lys or arrow hands(personalization option)
Finish	:	Bridges open on gear train Double open ratchets, sandblasted bridges and main plate Heat-blued screws, bevelling, final hand-chamfering Circular graining and snailing on wheels
Bracelet	:	Alligator
Clasp	:	Stainless steel pin buckle
Price (before taxes)	:	19,200 CHF • 26,900 USD • 20,700 EUR