Most of the design world is grappling, often in random ways, with 3D printing: its convenience and the manufacturing swiftness. Watchmaking is no stranger to the adaptation of this new form of manufacturing. In a few cases already, there have been watchmakers who have included the nuance of printing in their watch parts. Something British watchmaker Apiar chooses to do differently. It uses additive manufacturing to design its new Gen1.0 watches.
Apiar Gen1.0 is therefore a stunning example of what’s possible with 3D printing, since the watches are made in a process where metal objects are formed by adding materials, rather than carving, cutting, and stripping them away. The use of additive watch manufacturing technique provides these 3D printed watches textured, web-like dial, which wouldn’t be possible otherwise with traditional manufacturing.
Designer: Apiar
The 3D printed Gen1.0 is part of the new core Gen1.0 range from the British manufacturer, and is available in Dawn and Dusk dial options, with two band color variants: Dove and Orion Gray to choose from. Dawn is basically a refined brushed gold tone, designed to, as the name suggests, catch light across its every ridge. The Dusk, on the other hand, is a brushed blue-grey, inspired by blueprint drawings and complements the titanium construction. The watch, in either option, features an integrated additively manufactured titanium dial that flaunts an anodized aluminum color plate. Case, dial, and lugs are all made from grade 23 titanium, making it an extremely lightweight and robust watch.
According to the information put out on the website, Apex has printed the titanium cases using laser powder bed fusion. This is a process ideally used in rockets and high-performance cars, now it makes way into haute horology, and what’s achieved out of it is incredibly interesting to say the least. The generative design-inspired aesthetics of the watch dial are well complemented by geometric lug design and precision engineering, which is reflected in every bit of the watch.
Of course, the simple watch, with nickel-coated hour and minute hands, looks distinct because of the two different color skeletonized dials, which are textured in a web-like interface and form an integral part of the round case. But it’s also the watch’s bezel that stands out for a different reason. Perhaps it’s the only part on the watch case, which is CNC machined and not made through additive manufacturing. The distinctive Apiar Gen1.0 features a 39mm case, designed to fit comfortably on nearly all wrist sizes. It is powered by an automatic La Joux-Perret movement, offering a 68-hour power reserve. With most components made in the UK and final assembly also taking place there, the Gen1.0 is priced at £2,250.
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