Introducing: The Fratello x Czapek Promenade Transparencies “Viridan Green”
What We Know
Our friends over at Fratello Watches have just released a new collaboration with Czapek. This new limited edition model follows their first collaboration with Czapek in 2021, which was a take on Czapek’s integrated bracelet sports watch, the Antarctic, with a “Viridian Green” dial. Fratello has now followed that up with the Promenade Transparencies, also in “Viridian Green.”
It’s a unique skeletonized take on the Promenade design, with the fumé green smoked sapphire dial revealing the skeletonized SXH7 caliber at the heart of the watch. Sitting on top of this sapphire dial are applied hour markers and a printed minute track with Super-Luminova.
On a closer inspection, the gradient of this green dial doesn’t quite start from the center outwards, it’s actually positioned so that the shift in color emits from the small seconds subdial at 4 o’clock. A clever twist that leans into the asymmetry of the dial layout.
The steel case is 38mm in diameter, with a height of 10.8mm and a lug-to-lug of 42mm. Fitted inside is Czapek’s in-house SXH7 movement, a skeletonized micro-rotor caliber that was introduced in 2020 and has now made it across several models in Czapek’s lineup. While the skeletonized architecture is quite industrial in design, with plenty of sandblasting throughout, it is still a very well-finished caliber with plenty of handwork in the anglage. Interestingly, Czapek makes a point to mention that the micro-rotor is crafted from 100% recycled platinum, which I suppose can’t hurt.
The Czapek x Fratello Promenade Transparencies “Viridian Green” is limited to 50 pieces and priced at 32,000 EUR. It will be available for pre-order on the Fratello website on December 6th, with delivery in July of 2025.
What We Think
This is a very pretty watch. When the Promenade was introduced in Czapek’s collection earlier this year, the brand knew that it was going to serve as the model for dial experimentation — the first models saw grand feu enamel and guilloche in the mix. This new collaboration with Fratello seems to fit right into that playbook, given its take on a skeletonized watch that somehow also incorporates a unique sapphire dial.
While skeletonization is certainly not for everyone, perhaps this take is subtle enough to appeal to a larger audience. I appreciate skeletonization when it utilizes as much real estate as possible to show off the caliber’s architecture, as opposed to having a ton of open space that just frames the horrifyingly pale part of my wrist that never sees the light of day when I’m wearing a normal watch. The architecture of the SXH7 caliber achieves that quite well, and when you essentially give the skeletonized movement some sunglasses, it tones down the industrial aesthetics and certainly gives it an aspect of elegance.
While Fratello’s first collaboration with Czapek resulted in a gorgeous watch, I think they’ve somehow managed to top it the second time around by making something that feels much more unique in concept and execution. With the sapphire dial and the use of the SXH7 movement, this is currently the most expensive Czapek Promenade produced — but the customer for this already knows that and probably doesn’t mind.
The Basics
Brand: Czapek x Fratello
Model: Promenade Transparencies “Viridian Green”
Diameter: 38mm
Thickness: 10.8mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Viridian Green
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Printed on dial
Water Resistance: 5 ATM
Strap/Bracelet: Cordura strap
The Movement
Caliber: SXH7
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
Power Reserve: 60 hours
Winding: Microrotor automatic
Frequency: 28,800 VpH
Jewels: 25
Pricing & Availability
Price: €32,000
Availability: December 6, 2024 for pre-order with delivery in 2025
Limited Edition: Yes, 50 pieces.
For more, click here.
Hodinkee
