Carbon Copy? Not a Chance: Hands-On with the 3D-Printed Apiar Carbon1.0 OG
When the UK-based brand Apiar first arrived, it brought with it a slightly nerdy approach to watchmaking. Now, we have the Carbon1.0 OG, and I have to say, there’s something incredibly satisfying about watching a brand evolve from an initial concept into a polished, production-ready reality. The beta testing phase is over, the details are locked in. Apiar is ready to put serious, additive-manufactured hardware on collectors' wrists.
Because this isn’t some regurgitated press release, we can afford to take off the rose-tinted glasses for a moment and look critically at what Apiar has actually produced. Billed as the brand's first true sports watch, the Carbon1.0 OG is a lightweight, futuristic piece of kit that attempts to push the envelope in materials. And it looks super cool, too.
Beautifully Mad British Engineering
Let’s start with what Apiar absolutely nailed. It threw out the rulebook and 3D-printed its way into the conversation with something called Composite-Based Additive Manufacturing (CBAM) for the Carbon1.0 OG, making it the first time this tech has hit the commercial watch market. Instead of cutting the case from a solid block or using a traditional mould, Apiar builds the carbon-fibre chassis layer by micro-thin layer, stacking woven sheets, blasting them with extreme heat, and fusing them with a special polymer powder. This leaves you with an incredibly tough carbon-fibre outer cage wrapped around a sandblasted, titanium inner core, and because this printing process lets Apiar create complex shapes without losing structural strength, it actually hollows out parts of the carbon frame so you can see that titanium core peeking through. It looks modern, weighs next to nothing, and still keeps those sweeping lines we love in a classic sports watch.
The Brickwork Dial
The dial is just as good, packed with a ton of great industrial texture. It’s CNC-machined from a solid block of aluminium using a tiny 0.6mm drill bit, creating an anodised black, brick-like pattern with overlapping, fragmented layers. Apiar says these broken lines deliberately nod to the choppy carbon strands inside the case. Throw in some sandblasted titanium hands and a generous coating of light blue Super-LumiNova, and you get an industrial-inspired face that really stands out.
What We’d Have Loved to See
Apiar explicitly positions the Carbon1.0 OG as an accessible sports watch. At a sensible 40.5mm across and a remarkably slim 9.2mm thick, it wears like a proper watch, not a chunky carbon-fibre hockey puck. But then you look at the spec sheet and notice the 50-meter water resistance. In reality, that means it’ll survive a brisk walk in the drizzle or a quick hand-wash before lunch, but that's about it. It just feels like a missed opportunity, because if you’re going to the trouble of building a futuristic, incredibly tough carbon-and-titanium case, then capping the water resistance at 50 meters is a touch disappointing. In all honesty, I’d have loved a screw-down crown and a solid 100-meter rating to truly back up that "sports watch" title.
The standard configuration will cost you £1,620. Still, if you want the "Additive Upgrade", which includes a British-made Alcantara strap featuring a 3D-printed titanium buckle and a cool nylon travel cash, the price bumps up to £1,860. While the upgrade package sounds fantastic, a £240 premium for an Alcantara strap and a travel pouch might make a few seasoned collectors wince.
The Movement
Tucked inside that titanium core is a La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement. This was a great call by Apiar. Instead of just grabbing a standard, off-the-shelf Sellita, the brand went with a fantastic Swiss engine that packs a solid 68-hour power reserve. The catch with owning a unique indie piece like the Carbon1.0 OG is that you’ll want it ready to roll the second you pick it up, so if you rotate between a few different watches on your winder, you’ll find it ready for wearing whenever you need it.
Final Thoughts
Apiar's co-founder, Sam White, has made it clear that his goal is pretty straightforward: grow the brand, get more British-made watches out there, and give the UK's local supply chain a serious boost. Even if we have a few minor gripes about the water resistance, you have to hand it to the brand. Apiar is absolutely nailing it. The Carbon1.0 OG is a bold, brave, and incredibly fascinating watch that completely refuses to play it safe. British watchmaking doesn't have to be about drawing from vintage pocket watches. Sometimes, it can just fire up the 3D printer and charge straight into the future.
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