Czapek and Cie., founded by Franciszek Czapek, a Polish watchmaker who later gallicised his name to François. Recognised among the most notable watchmakers of the 19th century, the brand manufactured bespoke pieces for the European nobility. In an interesting plot twist, Czapek disappeared mysteriously until its renaissance in 2012. Since then, they have been reviving their lost heritage and contemporising the brand.