A secret alloy is the key to the stunning looks of this chronograph watch

Secret ingredients are a staple in family recipes and trendy cocktails, but watches?

Over the weekend I attended the ninth edition of the WatchTime New York watch fair, where I had the pleasure of getting my hands on a number of rare and extremely special pieces from some of the world’s most renowned independent watch brands.

Of all the spectacular watches I encountered, what impressed me most was the new chronograph from Geneva-based independent brand Czapek. The watch was breathtakingly beautiful in every way, from the case to the movement, but the most impressive feature was its dial.

And that’s no coincidence, because Czapek actually used a secret alloy to create this stunning and unique dial.

Wait, who is Czapek?

Czapek (pronounced cha-pek) isn’t exactly a household name, although it is a legendary name in the Swiss watch industry that has been revived in recent times and has become a modern favorite of seasoned collectors. For the uninitiated, here is a brief overview of the brand’s history – which certainly intersects with one very well-known name in watchmaking.

The original incarnation of the brand was called Patek, Czapek & Cie. and was founded in Switzerland in 1839 by two Polish immigrants: François Czapek and Antoni Patek (yes, that Patek). The original company only lasted six years before increasing disagreements led to Czapek and Patek going their separate ways.