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Apose is a house that I had the opportunity to discover during my academic studies, carrying strong values of French reindustrialization and rediscovery of the "little step aside" that makes our tricolor "elegance" so unique. With a case that is neither round nor square, the brand has managed to create a truly remarkable visual identity among so many others. Working exclusively with French subcontractors for its edition N°3, Apose breaks the codes by demonstrating that it is still possible to produce in France, something to which I am very sensitive, especially in the current context.

Apose, French style and elegance

Apose is a French watch brand founded in 2020 in Mulhouse by watch designer Didier Finck and physicist Ludovic Zussa. The project set out to build a line of high-end automatic watches with a pared-back aesthetic, to maximise French-made components, and to keep final assembly in Alsace (workshop and assembly in Mulhouse).
<h3>Apose&rsquo;s story (Mulhouse 2020): founders, &ldquo;100% French&rdquo; mission and regional roots</h3>
Born amid the revival of French microbrands, Apose frames a &ldquo;back-to-purity&rdquo; stance against escalating complications and flashy styling: the Finck/Zussa duo &mdash; drawing on Swatch Group and product-innovation experience &mdash; set a crisp brief of minimalist design, France-sourced components wherever feasible, local assembly and tricolour partnerships (dials, hands, straps, presentation) to demonstrate that a contemporary, desirable watch can also showcase domestic know-how, which is why Apose&rsquo;s core promise is the triad &ldquo;French elegance, dependable automatic movements, localised supply chain&rdquo;.
<h3>Minimalist Apose design: French elegance, 40 mm casework and everyday legibility</h3>
The brand&rsquo;s formal identity relies on restrained geometry and controlled contrasts: 316L steel cases with taut facets, often a &ldquo;three-storey&rdquo; architecture, brushed/polished interplay, multi-level dials with integrated markers and textured hands; ergonomics stay universal around a signature 40 mm diameter and moderate thickness, with anti-reflective sapphire crystals and realistic water-resistance (up to 10 ATM depending on reference). The aim is to deliver a city watch genuinely suited to daily use rather than a display piece, meaning legibility and on-wrist comfort consistently outweigh theatrics.
<h3>Apose models n&deg;3-100, n&deg;3-radial, n&deg;3-douzaines: lineup map and use cases</h3>
Apose structures the catalogue into clearly distinct families that illustrate the brand&rsquo;s increasing &ldquo;made-in-France&rdquo; content: the n&deg;3-100 series (exclusively French components), the n&deg;3-radial (fluted ring on the dial) and n&deg;3-douzaines/n&deg;3-pur (more stripped-back aesthetics) &mdash; all geared to refined daily wear rather than outright sport. Straps in steel or full-grain leather have included Longchamp collaborations on some runs, reinforcing the idea of a French urban watch that owns its style without resorting to showy complications, so choosing between lines is chiefly about dial atmosphere and the level of &ldquo;materiality&rdquo; you want.
<ul>
<li>Apose n&deg;3-100 &mdash; Limited series &ldquo;100% French&rdquo;: domestically sourced components, Longchamp-derived leather straps, French Pequignet Initial movement (65 h).</li>
<li>Apose n&deg;3-radial &mdash; Dial accented by an anodised fluted ring, multiple colours (indigo, azur, etc.), straps in matched leather or steel.</li>
<li>Apose n&deg;3-douzaines &mdash; A more understated n&deg;3 dial treatment (very clean read-out); specifics vary by series and model year (per retailer listings).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Pequignet Initial (65 h) movement and Longchamp partnerships: the Apose &ldquo;ecosystem&rdquo; explained</h3>
In 2022 Apose crossed a symbolic threshold with the Apose n&deg;3-100: the edition adopted Pequignet&rsquo;s French-made &ldquo;Initial&rdquo; calibre (65-hour reserve, 4 Hz, tungsten mass) while Longchamp supplied straps cut from offshoots of its leathers &mdash; delivering a &ldquo;100% France&rdquo; spec (components and assembly). The point is not to supersede other n&deg;3 references but to validate the industrial feasibility of a very high French content in a limited run, i.e., the industrial feat exists to reinforce overall coherence (design plus sourcing).
<h3>MSRP, retail and 2025 status: D2C, selected partners&hellip; and court-ordered liquidation</h3>
Initially sold direct (e-store) and then via select retailers &mdash; Longinus in Strasbourg among them &mdash; Apose launched at roughly &euro;1,350&ndash;1,650 for some references, while upper-tier series (n&deg;3-radial, n&deg;3-100) ranged from about &euro;2,250 to &euro;3,750 depending on spec, finishing and limited-edition status. In July 2025, however, the Mulhouse court placed Apose into judicial liquidation following disputes between co-founders, with subsequent press coverage noting a search for a buyer. In practical terms, current availability and after-sales hinge on retailer stock and any potential takeover (status subject to change).
<h3>Buying guide: how to pick the right &ldquo;made-in-France&rdquo; Apose automatic</h3>
Start by choosing the line: n&deg;3-radial if you enjoy a dial animated by a fluted ring and bolder contrasts; n&deg;3-100 if achieving an &ldquo;entirely French&rdquo; build (including the Pequignet movement) is decisive; n&deg;3-douzaines/n&deg;3-pur if you want the most pared-back look. Then decide on dial colour and strap texture (steel or Longchamp leather), and check how the 40 mm diameter and thickness wear on your wrist. Ultimately, the core value of an Apose lies in the balance of design, legibility and component provenance.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Within a few years Apose carved out a recognisable style &mdash; crisp casework, architectural dials, thoughtful straps &mdash; and pushed an unusually ambitious &ldquo;French-content&rdquo; agenda with the Apose n&deg;3-100. The 2025 legal situation clouds distribution, yet the proposition remains clear for buyers: a contemporary automatic that highlights a network of French partners. If you are torn between the more expressive n&deg;3-radial, the manifesto-grade n&deg;3-100 and a more austere variant, weigh first your stance on &ldquo;made in France,&rdquo; preferred colours and versatility; to validate shortlists with real-world feedback, consult Dialicious customer reviews.
(Updated August 2025)

This is the first 100% French watch (for real...) of the 21st century. This watch has a real personality with a very important work on the design. The alternation of polished and brushed surfaces allows, depending on the lighting, to rediscover this watch almost every time. The Initial movement from Péquignet perfectly adjusted by Mr. THIRIET is of a very impressive precision. Only the stop-second leaves something to be desired. In short, since I have had it, my Rolex Submariner remains in its box...

I love it!!!

Everything is made in France cocorico Depending on the brightness it will be sublimated and becomes unique. Precision. Shape of the dial. Original hands Second hand with hexagon. Initial Pequignet movement. Pink gold champagne dial. Dial coating sometimes matte sometimes shiny. Very chiseled winder.

Blue white red

La marque SYE [Start Your Engine] a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 2020 par Arnaud Pezeron &agrave; c&ocirc;t&eacute; de Paris en France. La marque inaugure le Sport Tailoring au poignet. Elle propose des montres sport-chic de caract&egrave;re, fiables, ludiques et abordables inspir&eacute;es de l'univers de la m&eacute;canique auto-moto. La gamme comprend deux mod&egrave;les distincts, la <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/sye/mot1on_automatic_24">SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24 </a>et la <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/sye/mot1on_chronograph">SYE MOT1ON Chronograph</a>.
Cette marque embarque une innovation sur le changement du bracelet disponible en acier ou en cuir. La montre n'offre aucun espace entre le bracelet et la boite d&ucirc; &agrave; l&rsquo;absence de cornes, ce qui am&eacute;liore son confort et sa portabilit&eacute;.
<h2 class="p1">Combien co&ucirc;te une montre&nbsp;SYE&nbsp;?</h2>
La gamme SYE comporte deux mod&egrave;les disponibles sur le site de la marque : La SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24 est propos&eacute;e &agrave; partir de 750&euro;. La SYE MOT1ON Chronograph est propos&eacute;e &agrave; partir de 599 &euro;.
SYE est ind&eacute;pendante et produit plusieurs centaines montres par an tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Pour choisir une SYE qui vous correspond le mieux, les avis clients Dialicious sont une pr&eacute;cieuse ressource pour &eacute;valuer chacun des diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients.
Consultez le <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_francaises">Classement des meilleures marques de montres fran&ccedil;aises</a> dont SYE fait partie.
(Mise &agrave; jour Novembre 2023)

The brand SYE [Start Your Engine] was created in 2020 by Arnaud Pezeron near Paris in France. The brand is introducing Sport Tailoring on the wrist. It offers sporty-chic watches with character, reliability, fun and affordability inspired by the world of car and motorcycle mechanics. The range includes two distinct models, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/sye/mot1on_automatic_24"> SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24</a> and the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/sye/mot1on_chronograph"> SYE MOT1ON Chronograph</a>.
This brand has an innovation in changing the bracelet available in steel or leather. The watch offers no space between the bracelet and the case due to the absence of lugs, which improves its comfort and portability.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a SYE watch cost?</h2>
The SYE range includes two models available on the brand's website: The SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24 is offered from &euro; 750. The SYE MOT1ON Chronograph is offered from &euro; 599.
SYE is independent and produces several hundred watches per year, all models combined. To choose an SYE that best suits you, the Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real customer experience.
Check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands">Ranking of the best French watch brands</a>, including SYE.
(Updated November 2023)

Apose N°3-100 Or Rose & Champagne Owner Review : Elegant, timeless and classy

Apose, French style and elegance

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Technical specifications of Apose N°3-100 Or Rose & Champagne