The Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante R.U.R. brings a playful robot animation to a means-business split-seconds chronograph
Zach BlassMechanical watchmaking has traditionally been fearful of the digital age, worried that the technology of the future would dwarf and shadow the romantic relics we are all, fortunately, faithfully fascinated by. This may have been the line of thought during the emergence of the quartz crisis, but, naturally, many watch brands have embraced robotics and advanced technologies to aid in the creation and fabrication of their timepieces – treading the line between handcraft and computer-aided.
Czapek is one of those brands. A watchmaker with deep roots dating back to 1834 that is simultaneously quite youthful, having been resurrected in 2015, Czapek has garnered attention and acclaim for its haute horology and high-end watchmaking that has certainly benefited from the brand’s leadership and collector-driven outlook. For Geneva Watch Days 2025, the brand has cheekily brought a robotic twist to the fore for its new Antarctique Rattrapante R.U.R.
First things first, the Antarctique is Czapek’s most sporty watch collection, very much what I would classify as a design of “robust elegance”. Despite being a monopusher split-seconds chronograph, the stainless steel case – 42.5mm in diameter, 15.3mm thick, and 46.6mm lug-to-lug – is notably 120 metres water-resistant. The crown at the 3 o’clock position is a screw-down, so added security is provided there. Perhaps the sole Achilles heel regarding aquatic adventures with this watch is ensuring the monopusher at 10 o’clock is not depressed underwater.
I imagine some might read a measurement like 15.3mm and think it could be too beefy, but this is a highly complex chronograph that does boast a 120-metre depth rating. And, to be clear, the 15.3mm measurement includes its boxed sapphire crystal covering the dial.
According to Czapek, the Antarctique Rattrapante was the world’s first watch to feature an openworked dial that showcases the split-seconds chronograph mechanism on the front side. Normally, the elements of the mechanism would be visible on the back side of the watch, but the SXH6 has been designed to bring the perhaps most interesting element of the movement front and centre.
Decoding the visually complex dial, at the 7:30 position, you have a small seconds counter and at the 4:30 position, an elapsed minutes counter for the chronograph. Between these two rings of grey fumé sapphire glass made with PVD evaporation (also used for the outer minutes ring), you will notice a split-seconds on/off indicator at the 6 o’clock position. But this is not the only chronograph status indicator on the dial.
At 12 o’clock, you will find the head of a robot that is cut from titanium and then hand-polished and laser-engraved. You will then notice the micro-painted eyes, but what you would not immediately know until revealed is that these eyes change colour. When the chronograph is stopped, the eyes will appear red. When the chronograph is running, they will appear yellow. Once the chronograph is stopped, but it has yet to be reset, the eyes will appear blue. These micro-painted, neon-coloured eyes not only bring a playful dynamic to the dial, but also provide a useful indication that ensures you are always aware of the current status of the chronograph mechanism.
The robotic element of the dial may seem very random, and to an extent, it is. But it is not as much of a reach as you might expect. When the Antarctique Rattrapante was created in 2021, one of Czapek’s shareholders had suggested incorporating a robot into the movement, as a way of celebrating the beauty of the mechanism. The full explanation, however, takes a far more poetic step further.
“The Czapek team’s discovery that the word robot had been introduced to the wider world exactly a century earlier by another man called Čapek (with the Czech spelling), made the rattrapante-with-robot idea irresistible,” Czapek explains. “A prominent Czech intellectual, Karel Čapek, was deeply concerned about the scientific materialism that emerged in the early 20th century. His play, R.U.R. – Rossum’s Universal Robots, about mechanical men that were built to work on factory assembly lines but that rebel against their human masters, was a critique of the dehumanising potential of science and technology.”
For better or for worse, Čapek’s play is obviously relevant in today’s time of emerging AI technologies and unclear paths forward in regard to how it is incorporated into our lives and economies… And an interesting inspiration for a complicated mechanical timepiece.
As the Antarctique line is known to incorporate, the case-matching bracelet and the bundled rubber strap both feature interchangeable systems that allow you to swap between them with ease. A third leather strap option is notably available on demand as well. The bracelet cleverly affords the familiarity of integrated style with a twist, utilising polished C-shaped links as a bridge between each brushed piece as a tribute to the brand’s name and founder. Its clasp features a micro-adjustment system that allows you to further fine-tune its fit on the wrist.
On the reverse side, the movement can also be seen through its exhibition caseback, but it is a much more sterile view than the dial. This is not to say it is not handsomely finished, but the bridges do cover a lot of real estate and are frosted for a more futuristic look. The edges, however, are finely bevelled. And do keep in mind that if the reverse side feels a bit tamer visually, it is because the party was brought to the front for our constant viewing pleasure. The SXH6 is an automatic movement with a very respectable 60 hours of power reserve. Its openworked oscillator utilises an 18k gold weight to ensure more efficient self-winding.
The verdict
Overall, I have to say that I am a fan. I think when brands bring characters or figures to a dial, it can run the risk of feeling childish or toy-like, but the openworked nature of the dial and overall aesthetic of the watch feels very modern and future-forward. Therefore, the robot figure at the top of the dial does not feel out of place. It is also very impressive that a monopusher split-seconds watch of such higher quality is being offered for CHF 58,000, excluding taxes. For this level of finish and complication, plenty of other brands would have been far greedier.
I would not have batted an eye if the asking price was in the six figures. For those who can play halfway or so into the five-figures, and want to acquire a complicated watch with daily-wearer traits and capabilities, this is a very intriguing proposition in my mind. But it is limited to 77 pieces, so do not take too much time to decide…
Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante R.U.R. pricing and availability
The Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante R.U.R. is available now as a limited edition of 77 pieces. Price: CHF 58,000 (excl. taxes)
| Brand | Czapek |
| Model | Antarctique Rattrapante R.U.R. |
| Case Dimensions | 42.5mm (D) x 15.3mm (T) x 46.6mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 120 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Openworked, Robot Head chronograph state indicator (running/yellow, stopped/red, reset/blue) |
| Strap | Interchangeable, integrated stainless steel bracelet, easy-release micro adjust Complementary rubber strap Additional calf leather strap on demand |
| Movement | Calibre SXH6, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 60 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, split-second monopusher chronograph, chronograph state indicator |
| Availability | Limited to 77 pieces |
| Price | CHF 58,000 (excl. taxes) |