Czapek

The story of Czapek begins in the 19th century with a Polish watchmaker in Geneva, François Czapek. In 1839, he co-founded a partnership with another Polish émigré, Antoine Norbert de Patek, forming Patek, Czapek & Cie. After a successful six-year run, the two parted ways. Czapek then founded Czapek & Cie in 1845 with a new partner, Juliusz Gruzewski. The firm flourished, becoming a watch supplier to royalty, including Napoleon III, and opening boutiques in Geneva, Paris, and Warsaw. However, after 1869, the brand and its founder mysteriously faded into history. Fast forward to the 21st century. The dormant name was resurrected in 2012 by a trio of entrepreneurs: art expert Harry Guhl, marketing specialist Xavier de Roquemaurel, and watchmaker Sébastien Follonier. They aimed to revive the brand's spirit without relying on a single large investor. Instead of a traditional funding route, they launched a unique equity crowdfunding campaign in 2015. This approach allowed watch enthusiasts and collectors to become shareholders, raising over 1 million Swiss francs and effectively relaunching the company with its own community of backers. This made Czapek the first high-end watchmaking brand to be revived by watch aficionados from around the world. Their first modern watch, the Quai des Bergues, was an immediate success, winning the Public Prize at the prestigious Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève in 2016. This event cemented the brand's return and validated its innovative, community-driven business model.