Titanium Ombres

• Limited Edition: 25 pieces
• Case: titanium
• Size: 43.5mm
• Movement: hand-wound caliber SXH2
• Function: off-center tourbillon, second time zone, day/night, power reserve
• Power Reserve: approximately 60 hours
• Water Resistance: 30m
• Dial: smoky grey champlevé center, with black grand feu outer ring
• Caseback: sapphire crystal
• Hands: luminous
• Strap/Bracelet: hand-stitched alligator leather
• Factory Warranty: three years

The Place Vendôme Tourbillon Suspendu collection is named after the Parisian square where François Czapek opened a boutique in the mid-19th Century, assumed to be the first haute horlogerie boutique ever on this world famous square. This limited-edition model features a one-minute suspended tourbillon, together with a second time zone for today’s world travelers, a day/night disk, and a power reserve indicator. Even with the new functionalities, Czapek lovers will easily recognize the watch’s unusual look with the two sundials at 7:30 and 4:30.

The Place Vendôme is the second phase in the Czapek Renaissance. It highlights the travel through time from past to present and now from present to future.

The Place Vendôme “Ombres” is driven by the proprietary, hand-wound SXH2 movement beating at 21,600 vph (3 Hz). The single barrel spring delivers a solid 60 hours of power. The 34.8mm diameter is relatively large, but the height of 9.8mm allows the watch to be discreet and elegant in spite of the many functions. The traditional satin-brushed bridges and openwork ratchet are back again. In the back of the watch is an inscription: Tourbillon suspendu – Ici et Ailleurs, a reference to the second time zone, a gift to global travelers that Czapek himself never knew.

From a technical standpoint, the watch represents an evolution from the more staid, romantic Quai des Bergues. A day-night disc turning counterclockwise has inserted itself between the two subdials, which now carry the tourbillon on the left and the second time zone on the right. The power reserve indicator migrated and now peers out of the clock face at 12 o’clock.