Arpiem - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

---

Created in 2018 in France at the initiative of Vincent Repoux, Arpiem was built around a very specific imagery: motorsport’s golden age, its colors, its scents, its sounds, and a certain idea of racing “romanticism,” when human commitment mattered as much as the machine. The brand claims an accessible and narrative approach: each watch refers to a place, a driver, a period, and aims to turn a track memory into a wrist object. Arpiem speaks to those who like inspired, legible, expressive watches, and who want to bring back, in everyday life, a fragment of car and motorcycle culture rather than a neutral accessory.

RPM, pronounced “ar-pi-em”: a name that sets the tone

The name Arpiem is directly tied to automobiles, because “RPM” refers to “Revolutions Per Minute” in rev-counter culture, and the brand embraces that reference as an identity starting point. This is not a minor marketing detail: it sets a clear promise—design borrowed from driving instruments, circuit signage, and the graphic tension of dashboards.

In its narrative, Arpiem focuses on a time when cars were not “cloned” by aerodynamics and when each machine kept its own personality, linked to its era and its creators. The brand claims a sensory relationship to mechanics: it is not only about speed, but about shapes, colors, materials, and what those elements awaken in enthusiasts.

This positioning explains the importance given to storytelling: an Arpiem is not conceived as an abstract object, but as an evocation. The dial becomes a platform for stories, where references to circuits, characters, and racing codes serve emotion as much as instant recognition on the wrist.

Finally, Arpiem aims to reconcile this “racing-vintage” stance with an accessible proposition, relying on described proven choices and numbered limited series. Visual coherence comes before escalation, placing the brand among high-identity microbrands rather than demonstrative prestige watches.

The “sense of detail”: triple-layer dial and a signature central button

Part of Arpiem’s identity is expressed through recurring elements the brand highlights as its design “signature.” Among them, the “triple-layer” dial is presented as a key marker, because it creates relief, separated planes, and a more “instrument” reading than a simple flat surface.

Arpiem also emphasizes handling and finishing details, such as a colored button and discreet engraving on the central button on certain models. These elements are meant to make the watch feel more alive: you do not only read the time, you interact with an object that openly mirrors the controls and cues of the mechanical world.

Graphically, the brand claims color combinations and typographic choices that refer to places and events from the motorsport world. Contrast is used as a storytelling tool, with the idea that the eye should “get” the mood before reading the indications precisely.

This attention to detail is meant to remain compatible with a “quality accessible” approach, described through a short design/manufacturing/distribution loop and a selection of components presented as quality-focused. The stated goal is to balance style and real wear, so the watch stays usable every day beyond the automotive nod.

Four families, four ways to live racing

Arpiem’s catalog is structured around collections that correspond to distinct uses and graphic worlds, while sharing the same “racing-vintage” grammar. The brand frames its range like a toolkit: chronographs for timing, more versatile automatics for daily wear, and more radical proposals when “instrument” design becomes the main subject.

The chronograph-oriented collection focuses on the “tribute” spirit: circuits, drivers, periods, and colors that evoke competition. The chronograph is treated as a motorsport culture symbol, with an information-rich dial that recalls measuring instruments rather than aiming for minimalism.

Alongside it, an automatic line serves as a daily base, while a “drivers” family highlights a driving-oriented reading, and another pushes the rev-counter analogy toward a more stripped-down aesthetic. Each collection targets a different sensation, letting you enter Arpiem through style, through use, or through the story being told.

• Arpiem Tribute Chrono — Chronographs inspired by circuits, drivers, and eras, with a racing-instrument dial character.
• Arpiem Racematic — “Racing-vintage” automatics designed as everyday watches, with an endurance spirit.
• Arpiem Ride & Drive — Driving-oriented watches presented as an extension of gesture and glance behind the wheel.
• Arpiem Overspeed — A more radical rev-counter-inspired proposal with a highly asserted graphic approach.

Tributes, drivers, and a culture of passing knowledge: the “Drivers Club” mindset

Arpiem does not rely on a generic “vintage racing” imagery: the brand multiplies explicit references to people and places, building a universe of tributes that speaks to enthusiasts. The watch becomes a pretext to tell a legend, whether it is a driver, a circuit, an era, or a paddock atmosphere.

This logic also takes shape in a community approach, with a “Drivers Club” highlighting drivers and the idea of transmission, presented as central to the brand’s DNA. Human qualities are framed as inseparable from the machine: without them, the cars we dream about would be only an assembly of metal and plastic.

In the same spirit, Arpiem also explores more contemporary ground, such as simulator culture, without denying its love for classic machines. Tradition and the digital world are put into dialogue: the past feeds inspiration, while today’s communities extend passion through new practices.

For buyers, the advantage of this approach is straightforward: choosing an Arpiem often means choosing a story to wear. The best compass is the emotion triggered by the reference: if a circuit name or a driver name resonates with you, the watch is more likely to remain desirable over time, beyond a purely aesthetic crush.

• Arpiem Tribute TJL 2 “Jacques Laffite” — A “tribute” chronograph tied to a widely recognizable motorsport figure.
• Arpiem Tribute TSR 3 Carbone “John Woolfe” — A “tribute” variation associated with a racing-culture reference.
• Arpiem Racematic TSR 2 “Bob Wollek” — An automatic presented as a best-seller, anchored in endurance culture.
• Arpiem Tribute TSR 4 “Reims - Gueux” — A chronograph citing a location strongly tied to circuit imagination.
• Arpiem Tribute Group C — An evocation of an era and style linked to prototypes and endurance.
• Arpiem Tribute Flying Finns — A “tribute” series built around a recognizable sporting reference.

Accessible quality: proven movements, 316L steel, and a price-to-pleasure balance

Arpiem claims a “quality accessible” pursuit, referring to a short value chain and technical choices oriented toward reliable solutions. The brand mentions proven Swiss or Japanese movements and stresses the idea that an inspired watch can remain reasonable, in both price and upkeep, if it relies on known architectures and well-chosen components.

In its product arguments, Arpiem mentions 316L steel cases, sapphire crystals, and on certain black watches a surface treatment presented as more resistant than common alternatives. The intention is to offer robustness consistent with a racing universe, even if the watch is meant for daily life rather than actual competition conditions.

Prices visible on the official store place the offer at accessible levels for a French design-focused microbrand: “Tribute” chronographs sit around a few hundred euros, “Racematic” automatics and some “Ride & Drive” editions go higher, while “Overspeed” stands between these logics. The range targets a first passion purchase as much as a secondary buy for collectors of thematic watches.

In practice, it helps to think in concrete priorities: do you want a chronograph function, a versatile automatic, a driving-oriented reading, or a highly graphic piece? The best choice is the one you will wear often, because Arpiem’s identity is enjoyed through repeated use, not through display.

Warranty, 30-day return, and distribution: D2C plus selected retailers

Arpiem communicates clearly about customer commitments, with an announced two-year international warranty from the purchase date, as well as a 30-day return policy. This promise of peace of mind is reassuring for a young brand, because it sets a simple framework if a defect appears or if expectations are not met upon delivery.

The brand relies on direct-to-consumer sales through its website while also listing a network of retailers, notably in France, with addresses in Paris, the North, Provence, and other cities, plus a presence mentioned in Chile. The model blends simplicity and proximity: online purchase for convenience, and physical points for trying on and meeting, which fits a brand where color and depth matter a lot.

This dual channel makes sense for Arpiem because wrist perception can change strongly depending on size, color, and light. Trying on helps validate compatibility, especially with rich dials and instrument-inspired designs where photos do not always capture depth and contrast.

• Arpiem Tribute Chrono — Often chosen for the “timing” appeal and the racing-style dial density.
• Arpiem Racematic — A route to a more versatile automatic, with an endurance spirit.
• Arpiem Ride & Drive — A family for those who want a watch that feels like a driving companion.
• Arpiem Overspeed — For a more index-stripped, more radical design strongly inspired by rev counters.

Conclusion

Arpiem is aimed at motorsport enthusiasts who want to wear a story, colors, and culture, without drifting into something overly serious or overly showy. The brand stands out through strong coherence between its name, its imagery, and its graphic choices, as well as through a range structured into clear families, from the “tribute” chronograph to the more instrument-driven piece. To decide well, the most effective method is to start from real use (timing, driving, daily wear, or embracing a highly graphic watch), then choose the reference that resonates most with your racing memories. To compare that promise with real wrist experience, read Dialicious customer reviews.

(Updated January 2026)