Podcast Summary: The Real Time Show

Episode: Geneva Watch Days 2025 — Xavier de Roquemaurel, Czapek
Date: September 6, 2025
Host(s): Rob Nudds & Alon Ben Joseph
Guest: Xavier de Roquemaurel (CEO, Czapek)

Overview

This episode, recorded at Geneva Watch Days 2025, sees hosts Rob Nudds and Alon Ben Joseph joined by Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek. The conversation centers on the innovative and playful integration of robots in Czapek’s new Rattrapante watch, the brand’s unique approach to modern horology, and a forthcoming historical book about Czapek himself. Woven through are themes of creativity, community, and the joyful eccentricities that drive independent watchmaking.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Robot-Themed Rattrapante: Inspiration and Execution

• Science Fiction Roots
  • Xavier recounts his lifelong love for science fiction, beginning at age 11, and how this influenced the design of a new Rattrapante with a robot motif.
    • "I've always been a fan of science fiction. I started reading it at the age of 11... And I discovered a long time later... that the first man who actually conceived the concept of the robot... was a Capek." — Xavier [01:34]
• Tribute to Karel Capek
  • The robot theme pays homage to Karel Capek, writer of "R.U.R."—the play that introduced the word “robot” and discussed questions about AI and consciousness that remain relevant.
    • "Karel Capek... wrote this play... and put down the questions that are still alive today... How far artificial intelligence can get close to human intelligence? Where is the limit of consciousness?" — Xavier [02:17]
• Design Integration
  • The robot isn't a mere gimmick but is integrated into the mechanics: the robot’s head covers the column wheel, and the eyes change color (yellow, red, blue) to indicate chronograph functions.
    • "It's not exactly a complication. It's pushing the idea of the chronograph further, because... these lights are showing the situation of the chronograph." — Xavier [05:24]

2. Robots, Playfulness & Approachability in Watchmaking

• Building Accessibility
  • The introduction of the robot both in the watch and the brand’s event space is meant to make Czapek approachable, drawing in people who might have found haute horlogerie intimidating.
    • "I'm wondering at a forum like Geneva Watch Days... is something like a robot a good way of introducing people to Czapek?" — Alon [06:38]
    • "We're crazy. The earliest they know it, the best. We're free. Every morning you are free. This is a reality." — Xavier [07:08]
• Letting People Find Their Own Answer
  • Emphasizes individual interpretation and embracing the brand’s quirky, creative side:
    • "Let's leave the question to everyone so that everyone finds the answer himself to the question." — Xavier [07:57]

3. Czapek’s Interactive Robot, “Capture”

• Event Innovation
  • Czapek’s booth features a life-size AI robot (“Capture”) that interacts with visitors, answering questions about horology, Czapek, and even gently mocking those it stumps.
    • "You walk into the Capex suite and you're confronted by, say, not quite life size... and you can ask your questions and he's been superbly trained... Because you ask him a question, you try and get him off base... I tried to make him say a naughty word... he pivoted and said, 'Oh, that's not a good thing to talk about. Why don't we talk about what Chapek did before he was a watchmaker, do you know?'" — Rob [10:02]
• Tech-Driven Engagement
  • The AI is continually updated and, as Xavier notes, both “exciting and frightening” in its evolving abilities.
    • "It's very cool... it's super cool, it's very funny, and it's improving day after day, which is... exciting and frightening at the same time." — Xavier [09:18]

4. The Real History Behind Czapek

• Francois Czapek’s Past
  • The AI reveals lesser-known stories, like Francois Czapek’s military service and involvement in the 1831–32 Polish uprising.
    • "He [Czapek] was in the National Guard... he took the Polish cause and made this cause his cause... he fought against the Russians." — Xavier [12:03]
• Not Just About Patek
  • Xavier is quick to differentiate Czapek’s legacy from its famous entanglement with Patek, focusing on the broader history.
    • "I don't want to be related to that. This is not our history." — Xavier [13:36]

5. New Book on Czapek’s History

• Work in Progress
  • A multi-author book is set to be published November 12, 2025, celebrating 180 years of Czapek and 10 years since the brand’s revival.
    • "So it's a collective book... the book will be released on November 12th, which is the anniversary date of... 180 years of Czapek and 10 years of revival." — Xavier [16:05]
• Research and Contributors
  • Historian Pierre Yves Danset and Benjamin Chapla conducted extensive research, with Xavier contributing his own perspective (deadline pressure included).
    • "Two historians... Pierre Yves Danset... and Benjamin Chapla, who did the field research for three years on Capek..." — Xavier [14:23]

6. Czapek’s Community-First Approach

• Crowdfunding Origins
  • In relaunching the brand, Czapek avoided the typical billionaire-backed model, choosing instead to open its ownership and processes to a broad base of small investors and friends.
    • "We just wanted to have a different access to autorlogerie... What came to Ari's mind was to actually use crowdfunding equity..." — Xavier [18:31]
• Transparent, Open Culture
  • The transparency and collaboration led organically to a close-knit, passionate community, rather than a traditionally exclusive clientele.
    • "By opening the books, we became collaborative. People started saying, yeah, but we could do that. And that. Oh, that's interesting. So you need to develop a mindset of being open, of actually seeking the feedback and the inputs." — Xavier [20:18]
• Individual Connection
  • Xavier emphasizes that everyone is treated as unique, not just a number or a prospect.
    • "The idea is that the meeting is regardless of how the person looks... And this is what is beyond exclusivity, is to be treated as a unique person every time you deal with a brand." — Xavier [21:36]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the robot-themed Rattrapante:
  "The most difficult was actually to find a way to have the face of the robot... matching perfectly, the steel of the levers... so that everything seems to be a robot. So it's a watch and a robot at the same time." — Xavier [05:24]

• On Czapek’s openness:
  "We're free. Every morning you are free. This is a reality. This is a reality of your uniqueness... Tomorrow starts today." — Xavier [07:08]

• On the booth robot, “Capture”:
  "I was standing there thinking, oh, my God, I'm being made a fool of by a robot. And he kept mocking me. The robot was going, 'You don't know, do you? You don't know. Are you Googling it? How dare you?'" — Rob [10:42]

• On crowdfunding and community:
  "That's why we are non ego company, so that we can respect actually the style and the personality of Capek... They became loving us and they became sharing that love, and that became a community. But we never really tried to make a community. We just tried to make friends." — Xavier [18:31, 22:30]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:34] — Xavier shares his science-fiction inspiration and the link between Czapek and robots
• [05:01] — How the robot design fits into the Rattrapante and its playful, functional nature
• [06:38] — Discussing how robots can make high-end watchmaking more accessible
• [10:02] — Rob narrates his hilarious and slightly unnerving experience with the “Capture” robot at the Czapek suite
• [12:03] — The true history of Francois Czapek’s military involvement
• [16:05] — Details and release date of the upcoming “180/10” book on Czapek
• [18:31] — Xavier explains the origins and organic development of the Czapek community

Final Notes

This episode is a celebration of creativity, heritage, and the pure joy of watchmaking. Xavier demonstrates that innovation and history can coexist, and that in the world of haute horlogerie, warmth, humor, and human connection matter just as much as mechanical mastery.

Closing words:
“That is where we're going to end this episode, because that is a great lesson for life. As always, Xavier, thank you so much for coming... Until then, stay safe and keep on ticking.” — Rob [22:46]