The Czapek Antarctique P.04 Lanikai for Collective arrives on a cool blue wave
D.C. Hannay- The integrated design of the Czapek Antarctique P.04 Lanikai for Collective is the latest collab project created for the membership of Collective Horology
- A painstakingly crafted blue enamel dial evokes the aquamarine waters of the Pacific near Hawaii
- The in-house SXH5 movement is a visual wonder in its own right, providing an equally exquisite view from the caseback
Collective Horology has just announced their latest collaboration piece, and it’s a true beauty. This time around, they’ve teamed up with Czapek for a limited-to-50 edition of their much-lauded Antarctique, the Czapek Antarctique P.04 Lanikai for Collective, and you might actually get whiplash from the head-turning dial they’ve come up with. Collective Horology has teamed up with brands like IWC, Zenith, H. Moser & Cie, and URWERK for past editions, made exclusively for their membership. Collective seems to have a knack for details geared toward the enthusiast, and with this Czapek collab, they may have dropped their most visually arresting limited edition yet.
It’s hard to pick just one element of the Czapek Antarctique to single out, because everywhere you look, the attention to detail is frankly staggering. But in the case of the Lanikai, the eye is inescapably drawn to that enamelled dial. Collective co-founder Gabe Reilly studied at the University of Hawaii, and was inspired by the ocean waters off Lanikai Beach on the island of Oahu. A lengthy collaboration between Czapek and enamellers Donzé Cadrans followed, resulting in this wave-textured aquamarine vision of incredible depth.
It really does remind me of the gentle linear patterns formed in the sand at the shallows near shore, and the aqua colour is a note-perfect tribute to the waters of the Pacific. A hand-engraved mold stamps the wave texture onto the dial blank, and the enamel is layered and fired in multiple steps to achieve the final result, a process that took over a year of trial and error to refine. The look is simply breathtaking. Thankfully, the design is virtually uninterrupted, save for the lumed steel sword hands, a sand-coloured second hand, and a delicate logo inscribed below 12, ensuring the dial itself remains the star. I don’t know about you, but a date window is the last thing I want to see if I’m wading in the waters of a literal paradise.
Czapek is also renowned for their beautiful movement design, and the SXH5 is certainly exquisite. The in-house automatic is rife with hand-bevelling and gorgeously finished bridge detail. The variable-inertia balance is outfitted with four gold inertia blocks, and the micro-rotor features a mass made from recycled platinum. The movement runs at 4Hz, has 28 jewels, and a power reserve of 60 hours, and it’s nice to see that nothing was neglected in providing an equally captivating view as the dial side.
The visually stunning dial and movement are complemented by the artfully rendered 40.5mm integrated Antarctique case. Visually, the edges are sashimi knife-sharp, and I love the design choice of the radial brushing on the case’s top, which brings a funky ‘70s vibe to the proceedings. A small bumper on the right side acts as a partial crown guard, and the crown itself screws down. And if you find yourself inspired by the dial to take a dip, the watch has a 120 metre water-resistance rating.
The case transitions effortlessly into the bracelet’s taper, where the brushed outer links meet the polished U-shaped centre links. Czapek’s bracelets are on point, and again, even with such a superstar dial, it’s fair to say that no detail of the Antarctique is truly overshadowed by another. Not that you’d be in a hurry to switch it out, but Czapek does include a rubber strap as a second option, and swaps are simple with their easy release system.
Czapek Antarctique P.04 Lanikai for Collective pricing and availability:
The Czapek Antarctique P.04 Lanikai for Collective is available exclusively at collectivehorology.com, limited to 50 pieces, and priced at US$26,500, with delivery in August of 2023.
| Brand | Czapek |
| Model | Antarctique P.04 Lanikai for Collective |
| Case Dimensions | 40.5mm (D) x 10.6mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 120m |
| Dial | Textured blue enamel |
| Crystal | Sapphire, boxed/sapphire caseback |
| Bracelet/Strap | Stainless integrated, rubber |
| Movement | In-house SXH5 automatic |
| Power Reserve | 60 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Preorders now for August 2023 delivery, limited to 50 |
| Price | US$26,500 |