Czapek

[ChetBaker]

Even the crownguards seem to have been pasted straight from the Antarctique. Shame on CW for this.

[enjoythemusic]

Love CW and their efforts, yet when you turn their new timepiece over and see a SW200 movement versus the amazing Czapek movement. What color rubber strap options will CW offer? This is where I find the Czapek Monochrome so very versatile to other timepieces within my collection. jmho

[thesingularity7]

I just posted this on the other CW thread, but I figured it was worth adding here too.

To everyone calling out the perceived similarity between the 12 and the Antarctique, I think it is worth noting that both brands share the same designer in their teams.

Adrian Buchmann, Christopher Ward's Swiss head of product design is also one of Czapek's designers and worked closely with the Antarctique. The industry is a lot more intertwined than people seem to realize.

Czapek Antarctique: https://blogantarctique.czapek.com/concept/



Christopher Ward: https://www.christopherward.com/int/...English-design

[usmc_k9_vet]

If it’s the same designer you’d think he would put forth a bit more effort to be more creative and come up with completely new ideas, not just take a design and idea from one brand he works with any apply it to another. Seems very lazy and uninspired.


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[Russell996]

Originally Posted by usmc_k9_vet

If it’s the same designer you’d think he would put forth a bit more effort to be more creative and come up with completely new ideas, not just take a design and idea from one brand he works with any apply it to another. Seems very lazy and uninspired.


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Possibly a fairly small overlap in customer base when the Czapek costs 21x as much.

[Gebbeth]

Originally Posted by usmc_k9_vet

If it’s the same designer you’d think he would put forth a bit more effort to be more creative and come up with completely new ideas, not just take a design and idea from one brand he works with any apply it to another. Seems very lazy and uninspired.


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What was Gerald Genta's excuse?

[Bug04]

Good point. But, to my eyes, RO, Nautilus and Ingenieur similarities appear not only as a different pond, but as a different ocean compared to this case :-).

Originally Posted by Gebbeth

What was Gerald Genta's excuse?

[thesingularity7]

Originally Posted by usmc_k9_vet

Seems very lazy and uninspired.


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Fair criticism. But I also feel that way about the Antarctique to begin with. It seems like a design that didn't evolve very much past the "look like a Gerald Genta / Royal Oak". It looks more like a Royal Oak than the Nautilus does, and those two were designed by the same dude too

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Gebbeth

What was Gerald Genta's excuse?

Was gonna say lol genta the copy and paste genius.

[enjoythemusic]

Man, i should become a 'watch designer'. Does it pay well?

[ndrs63]

Originally Posted by usmc_k9_vet

If it’s the same designer you’d think he would put forth a bit more effort to be more creative and come up with completely new ideas, not just take a design and idea from one brand he works with any apply it to another. Seems very lazy and uninspired.


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Even the Antarctique has some Genta DNA


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[dchang81]

the CW looks more like a zenith Seiko presage baby. I like the Antarctique but I wouldn't use that as the arbiter of originality of design

[usmc_k9_vet]

Originally Posted by Gebbeth

What was Gerald Genta's excuse?

I have no idea. Two things can be true at once though even if you believe Genta wasn’t being creative or something. That doesn’t take away from the fact that this designer designed two watches that are very much alike, one very much a copy and paste from the other.


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[enjoythemusic]

Maybe there's watch designer software like EDM guys use for beats. Copy, paste, invert this phrase, done.

[thesingularity7]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Maybe there's watch designer software like EDM guys use for beats. Copy, paste, invert this phrase, done.

There has to be. It would explain most of this industry.

[enjoythemusic]

ChatGTP-designed is next? Hmmm... I could make a fortune using AI to design timepieces. ;-)

[INC]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

ChatGTP-designed is next? Hmmm... I could make a fortune using AI to design timepieces. ;-)

Let me be started with some Bing:

[charger_vital]

Originally Posted by usmc_k9_vet

I have no idea. Two things can be true at once though even if you believe Genta wasn’t being creative or something. That doesn’t take away from the fact that this designer designed two watches that are very much alike, one very much a copy and paste from the other.


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Looks more like a Zenith copy and paste than a Czapek… who designed the Defy?





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[Bug04]

The Czapek similarity is more extreme with the Drake than with the above posted Adelie, due to the dial pattern.

Originally Posted by charger_vital

Looks more like a Zenith copy and paste than a Czapek… who designed the Defy?


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[INC]

Originally Posted by charger_vital

Looks more like a Zenith copy and paste than a Czapek… who designed the Defy?

You are right, the bezels are the same. It should therefore be a good idea to add to the above opinions that the 12 is nothing more than a Czapek Antarctique with a Zenith frame. But to be honest, regardless of this, Zenith's overall look does not remind me of Czapek at all.

[charger_vital]

Originally Posted by INC

You are right, the bezels are the same. It should therefore be a good idea to add to the above opinions that the 12 is nothing more than a Czapek Antarctique with a Zenith frame. But to be honest, regardless of this, Zenith's overall look does not remind me of Czapek at all.

Originally Posted by Bug04

The Czapek similarity is more extreme with the Drake than with the above posted Adelie, due to the dial pattern.

The defining feature of the Czapek is the bracelet (and possibly the movement for geeky watch folk), not the dial. There is very little in common between the CW and Czapek other than generic design cues that most watches have.
But if it is an attempt to copy the Czapek, which I don't see but apparently some of you do, then bravo to Czapek. Makings of an Icon.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by charger_vital

...then bravo to Czapek. Makings of an Icon.

Agreed, it seems more like a Zenith with Czapek look-alike-ish dial. A mashup of sorts. If you like the CW, then check out AliExpress as they sell many fashionable mashup timepieces like that with basic mechanical movement.

As we all know they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So yes bravo Czapek

Am elated with the Czapek Monochrome, not a 'showoff' dial yet with expanded thinking that's that beauty of it and what makes it so very versatile. Any strap type (leather, rubber, etc), any color strap... it's all good.

[Bug04]

I tend to disagree that the defining feature of the Czapek is the bracelet. Very limiting to a watch that in reality has many key (and same/more important) aspects … from unseen before caliber to case shape to crown protections to dial.

The dial of the drake, which is a very peculiar one, has been basically transferred by CW to its Twelve. As said, bravo to Czapek and … in the end … good looking result for CW at a price that does not apppear crazy.

Originally Posted by charger_vital

The defining feature of the Czapek is the bracelet (and possibly the movement for geeky watch folk), not the dial. There is very little in common between the CW and Czapek other than generic design cues that most watches have.
But if it is an attempt to copy the Czapek, which I don't see but apparently some of you do, then bravo to Czapek. Makings of an Icon.

[thesingularity7]

Some more interesting findings:

It appears that Czapek & Cie (2011) co-founder/invester Harry Guhl also started Chronotechna, which makes some interesting watches in the $1000-1500 range - https://www.chronotechna.com/

And also Sequent smart watches, where Adrian Buchmann (CW & Czapek designer) is a co-founder as well - https://sequentworld.com/en-us

The Chronotechna stuff looks a lot like a Christopher Ward C60 case with a 8-bit MING dial:

[ricky64]

And also the design a bit like the Dark Sector??!!

[ricky64]

Originally Posted by charger_vital

The defining feature of the Czapek is the bracelet (and possibly the movement for geeky watch folk), not the dial. There is very little in common between the CW and Czapek other than generic design cues that most watches have.
But if it is an attempt to copy the Czapek, which I don't see but apparently some of you do, then bravo to Czapek. Makings of an Icon.

Interesting take. The bracelet seems to be polarizing. I feel that the bracelet is a clear case of form and function following the case. Low profile with angular and sharp edges...

Or did the case design come after the bracelet. Maybe... but... nahhh....

[ricky64]

Originally Posted by thesingularity7

Some more interesting findings:

It appears that Czapek & Cie (2011) co-founder/invester Harry Guhl also started Chronotechna, which makes some interesting watches in the $1000-1500 range - https://www.chronotechna.com/

And also Sequent smart watches, where Adrian Buchmann (CW & Czapek designer) is a co-founder as well - https://sequentworld.com/en-us

The Chronotechna stuff looks a lot like a Christopher Ward C60 case with a 8-bit MING dial:

Have to say I really like this watch...

[swaini3]

After a long wait, I received my 38.5 Antarctique S. Im very happy I chose this over the 40.5.
Will report in a week or so after the honeymoon period. Sharing some pics:

[enjoythemusic]

^^^ congrats!

[Bug04]

A quality catch! Enjoy it