Franciszek Czapek

Franciszek Czapek (Czech: František Čapek, French: François Czapek) (born 1811) was a master watchmaker and partner of Antoni Patek in Patek, Czapek & Cie.

Czapek was born (April 4, 1811) in Semonice (now part of Jaroměř), Bohemia, the son of Jan Czapek and Catherine, née Walaschek. He took part in the Polish November Uprising as a soldier of the National Guard, in Warsaw. After his arrival in Geneva, Switzerland (July 1,1832) he gallicised his name, thus becoming François Czapek. In 1834 he created the firm Czapek & Moreau with local Swiss watchmaker Moreau, from Versoix. François Czapek married (October 22, 1836) Marie, the daughter of clock and watchmaker Jonas Pierre François Gevril de Carouge (1777–1854).

Patek, Czapek & Cie. (1839-1845)

On May 1, 1839, Antoni Patek and François Czapek established a six years partnership in Geneva under the name of PATEK, CZAPEK & CIE. This partnership produced some exceptional watches which are part of important horological collection or auctions. Czapek was head of watchmaking (“Finisseur”) while Patek led the sales and the Company. As of July 1840, the firm came gradually to employ a half dozen workmen. Several were Poles: Lilpop from Warsaw; Henryk Majewski from Lwów; Siedlecki and Friedlein from Kraków. Approximately 200 watches were produced yearly.

After the dissolution, Patek established PATEK, PHILIPPE CIE with a new partner. Czapek founded CZAPEK & CIE also with a new partner, Juliusz Gruzewski.

Czapek & Cie.

Francois Czapek founded CZAPEK & CIE with a new partner, Juliusz Gruzewski (1808–1865) a close friend of French Emperor Napoleon III (1808–1873). Czapek’s new company flourished. He became watchmaker to the Court of the Emperor Napoleon III ('Fournisseur de la cour - Purveyors to the Imperial Court") and had an Atelier in Geneva, a shop in Paris, Place Vendome (established 1860), and another in Warsaw (established 1854). Czapek was the author of the first book on watchmaking ever published in the Polish language Remarks on the watchmaking for the use of the watchmakers and the public (Słów kilka o Zegarmistrzowstwie ku użytku zegarmistrzów i publiczności). The work was printed in 1850 in Leipzig.

For unknown reasons, the company was liquidated around 1869. In 2011 CZAPEK & CIE was revived in Basel and moved 2014 to Neuchatel, Switzerland.

Historic Watch Gallery

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  An open-face pocket watch Czapek & Cie., 18 karat gold

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  Back cover open, movement cover with engraved name of the watchmaker, serial No.10630, and (probably) the name of the store for which it was made.

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  Watch movement

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  Back cover with insignia

See also

• Antoni Patek
• Pocket watch
• Watch Wiki

References

• Tellier, Arnaud, & Didier Chaponnière, Mélanie, Timepieces for Royalty, 1850–1910, by Patek Philippe, Geneva, Patek Philippe Museum, 2005 (192 pp.), pp. 14–15.
• Kathleen H. Pritchard, "Swiss Timepiece Makers 1775-1975", published by National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc., 1997 (C-107 - C108 pp.)
• Les Archives d'Etat de Genève (AEG), Czapek & Cie initial registration. 23 March 1847. AEG, Jur. civ, ccm 6, 91 pp.
• Zefix, SOGC, Heading Swiss Commercial Register

External links

• Czapek & Cie, Official Website
• Patek Philippe & Cie, Official Website
• Patek Museum
• History of Patek Czapek & Cie
• Czapek pocket watch on Youtube