The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

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The Maslenikov Watch Factory (ZIM) excels at making the ordinary work. This is a perfectly ordinary watch (case and movement) that nonetheless looks fantastic.

The case is chrome-plated brass (type 821) with a snap-on stainless steel case back. The caliber is a 2602 with a small seconds subdial. The dial is particularly striking, a silver sunburst finish featuring a deep blue minute track and very large blue numerals, complemented by highly legible black baton hands. The overall look is suitable for any occasion and pairs well with a navy blue strap.

The album to listen to while wearing it is the tribute to Bill Evans by Paul Lay, Clemens Van Der Feen & Dré Pallema, Blue in Green.

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nTMippl0Xm7jBBPNwzK43GKB-bbIJJUQA&si=rT0cXX__MBh8iPm2

Blue over-size 

This Poljot case conveys an impression of both seriousness and nonchalance. It measures 36mm in diameter, 44mm lug to lug, and has a 29mm crystal. It features a large, chrome-plated brass case that tapers upwards and downwards (of the 4281 type). The dial further reinforces this impression of casual respectability with its fabric-like texture and applied metal hour markers. The case back is made of steel, secured by a six-pronged ring, and bears the inscription "shock-resistant movement" and a pentagonal Soviet quality mark.

Poljot (Полёт - flight) is a brand of the 1st Moscow Watch Factory, intended to evoke spaceflight.

The movement is a 2614.2N with 17 jewels.

The soundtrack I would associate with this 4521340 would be the song "Flying Song" by Auktyon, released in 2011 on the album Ioula https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vBYIXSGdS4

The elegance of flight

This small watch (33mm in diameter) features one of the cutest characters in Soviet animation: the lion cub Rrr-Meow, who appears in the film "The Lion Cub and the Tortoise Sing a Song Together" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKEblbzoasI). The song, set to a jazzy tune, evokes nothing particularly special except the joy of basking in the sun and the debate surrounding the right of the performer or AI to adapt a song's lyrics, versus respecting the author's intent and the exact wording. This legal question is treated humorously, as it's a film for young children, and in any case, the USSR's respect for copyright was inconsistent, and generative AI was then purely science fiction.

The 1974 film is by Inessa Kovalevskaya, based on a story by Sergei Kozlov. Under the guise of being an African animal cartoon for very young children, it's actually a veritable ode to laziness, to listening to jazz while sunbathing, in a Brezhnev-era world where effort and hard-won happiness were valued.

The watch dates from the 1980s. It was produced by the Uglich factory under the Tchaïka (the seagull) brand, which isn't even visible on the dial. The only inscription is "Made in the USSR" at 6 o'clock. The lion cub holds an object shaped like a quarter of a disc in its right paw, probably a toy, but I don't know which one. The legibility of the black hands against the colored background is passable, but not very good.
It's a two-hand watch; there's no seconds hand, which is quite common for Tchaïka. The lug width is designed for a 16mm strap. The case back is a snap-on steel case. The movement is a small Tchaika 1601A with 17 jewels. So, naturally, the soundtrack to this watch will be the song of the great tortoise, performed by the lion cub—a reservoir of colorful and naive good humor in a gray and absurd Soviet world. A chance to breathe and soak up the sun.

An ode to good humor and laziness

This 1970s watch, this olive version of the UFO no-date, has a truly radiant appearance thanks to its fluted dial reminiscent of a turbine. The bracelet disappears inside the 43mm diameter case and seems weightless on the wrist. The time is perfectly legible with its large baton hands against a light olive background; the brand name and Soviet quality mark are white and therefore very discreet. The movement is a 2609.NA with a central seconds hand that has a soothing ticking sound. The steel case back is screwed down, but it has the drawback of being paired with a large crown that comes into contact with the skin. This crown is simply chrome-plated brass, which is starting to erode over time. My example is engraved; it clearly belonged to someone named Micha, probably short for Mikhail, but I don't know anything more. The song I would associate with this model would be "Crazy World" by Scorpions. Of course, it's not a song from that era; this model dates from the late 70s, while the song is from 1990. But there you have it, I love this album; it reminds me of the carefree days of another time, and above all, I hope that in ten years or so, we'll be writing songs like this one instead of the soundtrack for a new Terminator movie. The world is crazy, "They spent our money on missiles, for the third world war, Now they're stacked in my backyard, we don't need them no more."

Adjectives: swirling, radiant, ethereal;

Crazy world

Raketa and Zim models with a chrome or gold-plated, fluted bezel are often referred to as Cheburashka (referring to the character's prominent round ears) or UFO (referring to the fluted flying saucers).

This particular model is equipped with a 2628N movement with a double day-date display. The fluting is, of course, characteristic of these models, here in the form of small lozenges that give a more luminous than radiant appearance, creating an impression of circular motion. The triangles are illuminated in one direction or another depending on the case's position relative to the light. Other features of this watch include the minute track and applied hour markers, large two-tone baton hands, and a bracelet that disappears into the lugless case. Ultimately, the bezel gives a strong presence to the 43mm diameter case. The case back is stainless steel with a six-pronged screw-down closure. The case is 12 mm thick. The lack of lugs and the diamond-patterned bezel make the watch sit on the wrist like a levitating UFO.

The song I would listen to with this watch wouldn't be related to the character from the stop-motion film Cheburashka, but rather to Karlson, the character played by Astrid Lindgren. A vintage advertisement featured the watch on the wrist of this egocentric, pedantic, and gluttonous hero, complete with a self-propelled device beloved by children. Karlson, who lives on the rooftop, is himself a drone in the Stockholm sky, a UFO that intrigues the locals. The song is a cover of "Yellow River" by Christie, with the lyrics changed to "Big Karlson" by the Soviet group Poyushchiye Gitary. It's also the theme song for Joe Dassin's "L'Amérique." In short, a song of dreams, waiting, returning, or departing, depending on the performer. But still a song of wild hope.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOCIYm1KXjI

Adjectives: imposing, circular, flying, dreamlike, traveler

Takeoff for the dream

This watch is really fun; they say it's for children, although I'm not so sure, because you buy children watches that are much easier to read. Looking at it, you really have to search for the hands to tell the time; what you see is a rodent staring at you with a happy expression. A rabbit, perhaps, although the ears are more reminiscent of a field mouse or a beaver.

It's an evolution of the teddy bear watch from the Soviet era. The dial was then made of red plastic; today's silver metal suits it quite well. However, what isn't a very positive evolution is the dial itself. Giving the bear a rodent-like appearance certainly makes it a bit cuter, but you can no longer tell what animal it is. And above all, the thin silver hands, meant to match the hour markers and the bear design, make the time illegible. It just goes to show that new versions meant to bring progress are sometimes a real step backward. But the result is still fun.

The movement is a Miyota 2035 quartz. The case back is stainless steel.

The music to listen to with this watch would be the soundtrack from the famous comedy *The Prisoner of the Caucasus*, "A Little Song About Bears."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dExwT_pEr9w

L'Ours mutant

Apose&nbsp;est une marque horlog&egrave;re fran&ccedil;aise fond&eacute;e en&nbsp;2020 &agrave; Mulhouse (France) avec l&rsquo;ambition d&eacute;clar&eacute;e de b&acirc;tir une collection de montres fabriqu&eacute;es en France, automatique, haut de gamme, et au dessin &eacute;pur&eacute;.&nbsp;
<h3 class="p3">Histoire de la marque : mission 100 % France</h3>
N&eacute;e en pleine effervescence des micro-marques hexagonales, Apose revendique une d&eacute;marche &laquo; retour &agrave; la puret&eacute; &raquo; qui s&rsquo;oppose &agrave; la surench&egrave;re de complications et de styles criards. Le cap est clair - dessin minimaliste, composants sourc&eacute;s en France, assemblage local et partenariats tricolores (cadrans, aiguilles, bracelets et &eacute;crins&hellip;), le tout pilot&eacute; par Romain Thieriet, horloger talentueux et r&eacute;gional de l'&eacute;tape, ayant rejoit Apose d&egrave;s le d&eacute;but de l'aventure.
L&rsquo;objectif est de prouver qu&rsquo;une montre contemporaine et d&eacute;sirable peut &eacute;galement servir de vitrine au savoir-faire fran&ccedil;ais, si bien que la promesse d&rsquo;Apose tient dans l&rsquo;&eacute;quation &laquo; &eacute;l&eacute;gance fran&ccedil;aise, fiabilit&eacute; m&eacute;canique et cha&icirc;ne d&rsquo;approvisionnement localis&eacute;e &raquo;.
<h3 class="p3">Apose : design minimaliste et &eacute;l&eacute;gance subtile</h3>
L&rsquo;identit&eacute; formelle d&rsquo;Apose repose sur des volumes sobres et des contrastes ma&icirc;tris&eacute;s : carrure acier 316L aux facettes tendues, architecture de bo&icirc;tier souvent &laquo; en trois &eacute;tages &raquo;, alternance de bross&eacute;s et polis, cadrans &agrave; niveaux avec index sur&eacute;lev&eacute;s et aiguilles singuli&egrave;res. L&rsquo;ergonomie se veut universelle autour d&rsquo;un diam&egrave;tre signature de 40 mm et d&rsquo;une &eacute;paisseur contenue, avec des verres saphir trait&eacute;s antireflets et des &eacute;tanch&eacute;it&eacute;s r&eacute;alistes (jusqu&rsquo;&agrave; 10 ATM selon les r&eacute;f&eacute;rences). L&rsquo;objectif &eacute;tant de faire d&rsquo;une montre de ville, un compagnon &laquo; tous les jours &raquo; plut&ocirc;t qu&rsquo;un objet de vitrine, d&rsquo;o&ugrave; le fait que la lisibilit&eacute; et la tenue au port&eacute; priment syst&eacute;matiquement sur l&rsquo;effet de manche..
<h3 class="p3">Collections Apose : N&deg;3-100, Radial, Douz et Pur</h3>
La gamme Apose s&rsquo;articule en familles clairement diff&eacute;renci&eacute;es, dont l&rsquo;&eacute;volution illustre la mont&eacute;e en &laquo; francisation &raquo; des composants : la s&eacute;rie N&deg;3-100 (collection &agrave; composants exclusivement fran&ccedil;ais), les d&eacute;clinaisons Radial (anneau cannel&eacute; sur cadran), les collections Douz et Pur aux variantes esth&eacute;tiques plus &eacute;pur&eacute;es, chacune pens&eacute;e pour une allure chic au quotidien, plut&ocirc;t que sportive.
Les bracelets, propos&eacute;s en acier ou en cuir pleine fleur, ont &eacute;t&eacute; d&eacute;velopp&eacute;s notamment avec des chutes de cuir Longchamp sur certaines s&eacute;ries, consolidant l&rsquo;ADN d&rsquo;une montre urbaine fran&ccedil;aise qui assume ses choix de style sans recourir &agrave; des complications spectaculaires, de telle sorte que&nbsp;le choix entre les collections tient &agrave; l&rsquo;ambiance et aux styles ces cadrans.
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">Apose n&deg;3-100 - S&eacute;rie limit&eacute;e &laquo; 100 % fran&ccedil;aise &raquo; : composants d&rsquo;origine hexagonale, bracelet issu de chutes de cuir Longchamp, mouvement fran&ccedil;ais Pequignet Initial (65 heures de r&eacute;serve).</li>
<li class="li1">Apose Radial - Cadran soulign&eacute; d&rsquo;un anneau cannel&eacute; anodis&eacute;, multiples coloris (Indigo, Azur, etc.), bracelet acier ou cuir et mouvement France &Eacute;bauches (44 heures de r&eacute;serve).</li>
<li class="li1">Apose Pur - La collection la plus minimaliste de Apose, mais qui en est aussi l&rsquo;essence m&ecirc;me&nbsp;: un cadran poli pour une profondeur de couleur intense. Mouvement France &Eacute;bauches (44 heures de r&eacute;serve).</li>
<li class="li1">Apose Douz - Variation plus sobre du cadran n&deg;3-100 avec mouvement France &Eacute;bauches (44 heures de r&eacute;serve).</li>
</ul>
En 2022, Apose franchit une &eacute;tape symbolique avec la&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/apose/n%C2%B03-100">Apose N&deg;3-100</a> : l&rsquo;&eacute;dition adopte le calibre fran&ccedil;ais &laquo; Initial &raquo; (65 heures de r&eacute;serve de marche, 4Hz, masse oscillante en tungst&egrave;ne) manufactur&eacute; par Pequignet, tandis que les bracelets r&eacute;alis&eacute;s &agrave; partir de chutes de cuir Longchamp viennent au service d&rsquo;un cahier des charges &laquo; 100 % France &raquo; des composants et de l&rsquo;assemblage. Cette configuration n&rsquo;a pas vocation &agrave; rendre obsol&egrave;tes les autres N&deg;3, mais &agrave; d&eacute;montrer la faisabilit&eacute; industrielle d&rsquo;un haut niveau de &laquo; Made in France &raquo; sur une montre de s&eacute;rie limit&eacute;e, c&rsquo;est-&agrave;-dire que le tour de force industriel sert d&rsquo;abord une coh&eacute;rence d&rsquo;ensemble design &agrave; la cha&icirc;ne d&rsquo;approvisionnement.
<h3 class="p3">Guide d&rsquo;achat Apose : comment choisir sa montre automatique fran&ccedil;aise ?</h3>
Pour s&eacute;lectionner votre Apose, commencez par la ligne : Apose Radial si vous aimez un cadran anim&eacute; par un anneau cannel&eacute; et des contrastes plus marqu&eacute;s, Apose N&deg;3-100 si la dimension &laquo; int&eacute;gralement fran&ccedil;aise &raquo; (y compris le mouvement Pequignet) est d&eacute;terminante, Apose Pur ou Apose Douz si vous voulez la sobri&eacute;t&eacute; maximale. Poursuivez par la couleur de cadran et la texture de bracelet (acier ou cuir faits main), puis v&eacute;rifiez le confort &agrave; 40 mm de diam&egrave;tre et l&rsquo;&eacute;paisseur au poignet. Enfin, gardez &agrave; l&rsquo;esprit que le v&eacute;ritable b&eacute;n&eacute;fice d&rsquo;une Apose r&eacute;side dans l&rsquo;&eacute;quilibre entre dessin, lisibilit&eacute; et provenance des composants.
<h3 class="p3">Conclusion</h3>
En quelques ann&eacute;es, Apose a impos&eacute; un style reconnaissable - coupe nette des volumes, cadrans architectur&eacute;s, bracelets soign&eacute;s - et une ambition rare de &laquo; francisation &raquo; int&eacute;grale de la gamme. La proposition est claire et transparente pour l&rsquo;acheteur : une montre automatique au dessin contemporain qui valorise un tissu de partenaires fran&ccedil;ais. Si vous h&eacute;sitez entre une Apose Radial ou une Apose N&deg;3-100 par exemple, pesez d&rsquo;abord votre rapport au &laquo; Made in France &raquo;, &agrave; la couleur et &agrave; la polyvalence ; et pour conforter votre d&eacute;cision par des retours concrets, fiez-vous aux avis clients Dialicious.
(Mise &agrave; jour Mars 2026)

Apose is a French watch brand founded in 2020 in Mulhouse (France) with the stated ambition of building a collection of watches made in France, automatic, high-end, and with a clean design.
<h3 dir="ltr">Brand story: 100% French mission</h3>
Born amidst the burgeoning French micro-brand scene, Apose champions a "return to purity" approach that opposes the overabundance of complications and flashy styles. The direction is clear -minimalist design, components sourced in France, local assembly and tricolor partnerships (dials, hands, bracelets and cases&hellip;), all managed by Romain Thieriet, a talented local watchmaker, who joined Apose from the beginning of the adventure.
The goal is to prove that a contemporary and desirable watch can also showcase French craftsmanship, so the promise of Apose lies in the equation "French elegance, mechanical reliability and a localized supply chain".
<h3 dir="ltr">Apose: minimalist design and subtle elegance</h3>
Apose's formal identity is based on understated volumes and controlled contrasts: a 316L steel case with taut facets, a case architecture often resembling three tiers, alternating brushed and polished finishes, and multi-level dials with raised hour markers and distinctive hands. The ergonomics are designed to be universal, centered around a signature 40mm diameter and a slim profile, with anti-reflective sapphire crystals and realistic water resistance (up to 10 ATM depending on the model). The aim is to create a dress watch, an everyday companion rather than a showpiece, hence the fact that readability and fit when worn always take precedence over the waouh effect.
<h3 dir="ltr">Apose Collections: N&deg;3-100, Radial, Douz and Pur</h3>
The Apose range is structured into clearly differentiated families, whose evolution illustrates the increasing "Frenchification" of the components: the N&deg;3-100 series (collection with exclusively French components), the Radial variations (fluted ring on dial), the Douz and Pur collections with more refined aesthetic variants, each designed for a chic everyday look, rather than a sporty one.
The bracelets, offered in steel or full-grain leather, were developed in particular using offcuts of Longchamp leather for certain series, reinforcing the DNA of a French urban watch that embraces its style choices without resorting to spectacular complications, so that the choice between the collections depends on the atmosphere and style of these dials.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Apose n&deg;3-100 - Limited series &ldquo;100% French&rdquo;: components of French origin, strap made from Longchamp leather hides, French Pequignet Initial movement (65 hours reserve).
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Apose Radial - Dial highlighted by an anodized fluted ring, multiple colours (Indigo, Azure, etc.), steel or leather bracelet and France &Eacute;bauches movement (44 hours reserve).
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Apose Pur - Apose's most minimalist collection, yet also its very essence: a polished dial for intense color depth. France &Eacute;bauches movement (44-hour power reserve).
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Apose Douz - A more understated variation of dial N&deg;3-100 with France &Eacute;bauches movement (44 hours power reserve).
</li>
</ul>
In 2022, Apose reached a symbolic milestone with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/apose/n%C2%B03-100">Apose N&deg;3-100</a> the edition adopts the French "Initial" caliber (65-hour power reserve, 4Hz, tungsten oscillating weight) manufactured by Pequignet, while the straps, made from Longchamp leather offcuts, serve a "100% French" specification for components and assembly. This configuration is not intended to make the other No. 3 models obsolete, but to demonstrate the industrial feasibility of a high level of "Made in France" on a limited-edition watch, meaning that the this industrial feat primarily serves to ensure overall design coherence across the supply chain.
<h3 dir="ltr">Apose Buying Guide: How to choose your French automatic watch?</h3>
To select your Apose, start with the line: Apose Radial if you like a dial enlivened by a fluted ring and more pronounced contrasts, Apose N&deg;3-100 if the "fully French" aspect (including the Pequignet movement) is crucial, Apose Pur or Apose Douz if you want maximum simplicity. Next, consider the dial color and bracelet texture (handmade steel or leather), then check the comfort at 40 mm in diameter and the thickness on the wrist. Finally, keep in mind that the true benefit of an Apose lies in the balance between design, legibility, and the origin of the components.
<h3 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h3>
In just a few years, Apose has established a recognizable style- clean lines, architecturally designed dials, meticulously crafted straps - and a rare ambition to fully "Frenchify" the range. The proposition is clear and transparent for the buyer: an automatic watch with a contemporary design that showcases a network of French partners. If you are hesitating between an Apose Radial or an Apose N&deg;3-100, for example, first consider your relationship to "Made in France," to color, and to versatility.
And to reinforce your decision with concrete feedback, rely on Dialicious customer reviews.
(Updated March 2026)

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