The Borna Bosniak green sapphire dial and skeletonized movement are the highlights of Fratello and Capek’s latest collaboration. Using the brand’s new Promenade collection as a basis, the transparent film “Viridian Green” is housed in a steel case and has a diameter of 38 mm. This watch is limited to 50 pieces, with pre-order deposits accepted beginning June 12, 2024, and delivery scheduled for July 2025. Price: 32,000 euros.
Paris. The home of fashion, art, food, and all the great things people want. At one time it also included watchmaking. French watchmaking has been undergoing a full-scale resurgence in recent years, and the latest Čapek and Fratello collaboration pays homage to a specific color developed in Paris in the mid-19th century, giving this watch its also gives it its name. Čapek Promenade Transparency Film “Viridian Green” has a long name, but the recipe and result are equally deceptively simple and quite astonishing.
Let’s start with the main event. In the case of watches from the Promenade collection (so far), it’s the dial, and the situation is no different here. Using a translucent viridian green sapphire disc as the base, Czapek and Fratello expose the SXH7 movement underneath. However, thanks to the colored finish of sapphire, Promenade “Viridian Green” does not exaggerate its openwork. The dial also has a fairly noticeable gradient finish, starting from the small seconds subdial and getting darker as it radiates out.
But when angled just right, the light shines perfectly through the gaping space between the movement and the green dial, and Fratello’s shots show this off beautifully. Not only is the light streaming in from the large space, but the small gaps in the skeletonized bridge come to life and are a sight to behold. Unlike many skeletonized watches, the Promenade Transparency loses a bit of its printed small seconds when floating over the fourth wheel and its adjacent parts in the light, but at least the important hands are visible. It’s much easier to read. However, your wrist probably won’t have strong backlighting that would cause this problem.
The 38mm steel case remains unchanged from previous Promenade models, so there’s nothing to complain about. Its soft shape is largely polished, with bead-blasted sections hidden within the wavy lug sides, which flow into Čapek’s signature crown guard, which is completely minimalized here. At 10.8mm in height and 42mm in lug-to-lug width, it couldn’t be better for the more dressed up everyday wearer. The 50 meter water resistance rating is a welcome addition, but not guaranteed on this style of watch.
Contrary to what I just said, Fratello and Čapek chose to attach a fairly casual green Cordura strap to the Promenade “Viridian Green”, featuring a curved spring bar to actually integrate it into the case. I am. Although this is a decision in a sporty direction, Czapek also offers the Promenade in a wide range of leather straps, as well as a curved link Milanese mesh that absolutely looks great on this watch.
Flip the Promenade Transparency over to get the best view of the SXH7 movement, which is slightly obscured by the dial tint. The layout may look somewhat familiar, as it’s carried over from last year’s Antarctique Révélation, and you’d be right to think so. However, instead of the blackened bridge and cock surfaces of the SXH7, everything here is finished in a tone-on-tone silver. Although that means there’s less contrast, the raised, polished edges of the bridges and polished surrounds of the jewel bearings look beautiful, as does the overall movement layout – something we’re used to with Capek. It’s the same as being there.
If you’re thinking the SXH7 looks a lot like Czapek’s widely used SXH5, you’d be right again. But it’s not just a skeletonized version of this movement. Čapek made some modifications to make it more pleasing to the eye in an all-on-show format. Notice that the balance wheel is now centered on the front of the dial rather than on the caseback, and the seconds hand has been moved to the 04:30 subdial, allowing it to be driven by a fourth wheel without the need for an additional hand. I understand. A bridge that supports the indirect center seconds of the SXH5. This doesn’t do anything in terms of stated performance, but it’s still commendable with a 4Hz beat rate and 60 hours of power reserve.
The Czapek Promenade Goutte d’Eau is already on the list of the best blue dials (the guilloché variation isn’t too shabby either), and I’m sure I’m not the only one who agrees that the Promenade Transparency deserves it. I am. This is a challenge to the Green List. Although Čapek’s best works often seem to be produced in limited quantities, the transparent film “Viridian Green” is excellent evidence that the shape and layout of the Promenade also works well in a skeletonized format. is.
Čapek Promenade OHP film “Viridian Green” x Fratello price and availability
Čapek Promenade Transparent Film “Viridian Green” x Fratello is scheduled to be released on June 12, 2024, and delivered in July 2025. Limited to 50 pieces, available from the Fratello Shop. Price: 32,000 EUR (~34,000 USD)
Brand Czapek Model Promenade Transparencies “Viridian Green” x Fratello Case dimensions 38mm (D) x 10.8mm (T) x 42mm (LTL) Case material Stainless steel Water resistance 50 meters Crystal Sapphire front and back Dial Green Fumé Sapphire Strap Green Cordura, steel pin buckle movement SXH7.1, manufactured in-house, micro-rotor automatic power reserve 60 hours Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds Quantity in stock 50 pieces, on sale June 12, 2024 Price €32,000
