British watch‑making brand Apiar has launched the Gen1.0 MR², a limited-edition titanium watch produced using additive manufacturing (AM). With fewer than ten units remaining from the 30-piece series, the watch demonstrates how 3D printing can be applied to precision engineering and small-batch production, creating complex geometries that are impossible to achieve with traditional methods.
Design and Manufacturing Innovation
The Gen1.0 MR² originated from an unexpected collaboration sparked when Time + Tide confused two individuals named Max Resnick, one the designer of the watch, the other a blockchain researcher. This mix-up inspired a project that merges aerospace-inspired engineering with cryptographic elements, shaping both the aesthetics and technical features of the timepiece.
The dial draws on Resnick’s engagement with the Solana blockchain ecosystem. Instead of merely applying a logo, the Solana emblem was reimagined as a CNC-milled motif, combining sand-blasted and high-polished finishes beneath a tinted lacquer. The result is a refined grey dial that balances legibility with a subtle play of light, offering a sophisticated nod to Solana while staying true to Apiar’s engineering-led design philosophy.
Central to the watch is a grade 23 titanium case produced via laser powder bed fusion. This process enables fluid, organic geometries that are lightweight yet robust, showcasing the potential of additive manufacturing in high-precision products.
On the reverse, the generatively designed caseback features a laser-annealed engraving based on the SHA-256 cryptographic core, incorporating technical specifications, collaboration credits, and the watch’s series number.
UK-Based Partners and Advanced Manufacturing
Apiar works with a network of specialized UK manufacturers to realize the Gen1.0 MR². UK‑based metal additive manufacturing company Apex Additive Technologies produces the titanium cases using laser powder bed fusion, allowing complex forms impossible with conventional methods. Next, UK‑based precision machining subcontractor Silvey Engineering applies advanced 5-axis CNC machining to the printed titanium, shaping waterproof sealing surfaces, press-fit grooves, and bezel interfaces with micron-level accuracy.
Finally, Bedford Dials, a family-run watchmaking atelier with centuries of experience, completes the watch by pad-printing numerals and markers on the underside of the sapphire crystal, producing a refined floating effect that blends technical precision with artisanal craftsmanship.
3D Printing in Watch Manufacturing
The use of 3D printing in watchmaking is not new. In 2018, STAINLESS, an international supplier of specialist metals, and Utinam Besançon, a French clockmaker, 3D printed a metal watch. The watch was designed by Utinam’s Grand Prix-winning clockmaker Philippe Lebru and produced by the company’s apprentices at the Créativ Lab of the Union des Industries et Métiers de la Métallurgie de Franche-Comté (UIMM).
More recently, in October, Swiss watch brand Horologer MING unveiled the Polymesh, described as the world’s first 3D printed titanium bracelet-strap hybrid. Designed to combine the “flow” of a metal bracelet with the flexibility of a fabric strap, the Polymesh is made entirely from grade 5 titanium and consists of 1,693 interconnected components produced in a single 3D printing process—eliminating the need for pins or screws.
Elsewhere, Apple has detailed its use of laser powder bed fusion to produce titanium cases for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and titanium Series 11 models. Using 100 percent recycled aerospace-grade titanium powder, the company builds each enclosure layer by layer, reducing raw-material use by approximately 50 percent compared to earlier forged designs. The process not only highlights the potential of additive manufacturing in consumer electronics but also supports Apple’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its entire supply chain by 2030.
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Featured image shows Gen1.0 MR². Image via Apiar.
