Review - Apogaum Militaire GMT
Looking at the Apogaum is kind of like watching the Japanese do comedy - the cues are alien, the laughs are strange and manic, and the effort seems over the top but fascinating. No slight against the Japanese - their shows kick ass - but to see a Swiss via Hong Kong Panerai knock-off with a GMT hand and enough odd design cues is enough to spin your aesthetics like a top and is definitely disorienting.
Apogaum, which seems to have something to do with the word “apogee,” is based on the same body as the familiar Marina Miltaire pieces available on the eBay. Sold by Eddie Kong, this line of watches is not so much an homage to the Panerai is it is to the snap down crown style of diver that Panerai pioneered. But this is not a Panerai. It’s as light as a feather, first off, and the unadorned, yet surprisingly beefy, movement has no draw.
The face is a bit busy, with a fat logo above the 6 and the standard MILITAIRE logo below the 12. A 24-hour clock surrounds the edge of the face which the hands, two half swords and one white GMT time indicator, are shiny and slightly distracting. The date cyclops is sub-par and distorts the date with a vengeance.
The movement, while ostensibly Swiss, is quite loose and the watch unwound overnight. The face, while occasionally luminous, is definitely also sub-par.
What’s good about this piece? Well, it’s inexpensive. My goal in this series was to find the GMT complication at a sub-$1000 price point and I wasn’t disappointed. Now that I know more about the watch industry, I understand the draw of Panerai and this would never fool a real connoisseur - and the average Joe doesn’t know their Panerai from a dinner plate anyway, so that’s not an issue. At about $100, this is a bright, huge watch that will make the average bear a blinging hustler in no time.
Quality: 2/5
Style: 3/5
Overall: 2.5/5
– John
Looking for a GMT…
Also Consider:
Dual Automatic Self Winding Movements in a 50mm Stainless Steel Case, Exhibition Back - $199
July 23rd, 2005 at 8:55 pm
Hmmm, looks kind of familiar.
Chris
http://amateureconblog.blogspot.com/
January 8th, 2006 at 8:26 am
Hi
Do you have a contact address for the Hong Kong supplier of these watches. Bought one for Xmas, arrived with no paperwork, has now stopped. Think it might be the battery?
August 14th, 2006 at 8:57 am
I bought an Apogaum GMT and it is FIRST CLASS rubbish. Not water resistant - glass is not sapphire - GMT function doesn’t work - movement made in China - basically total crap. Similar watch sell at the market in HK for €15. I think you have been too kind!
August 31st, 2006 at 6:54 am
I’ve purchased one of the newer versions of the watches, and it works beautifully. It looks brilliant, all its functions are good and the glass is good enough to be sapphire - I love these watches and you wait, they will become better, and stand the test of time.
September 4th, 2006 at 7:19 pm
I purchased a Apogaum Speedmaster Chrono. No they are not real chrono’s but a calender chrono. It will show date, 24hr period, day 1-7, month 1-12. It is not swiss. My watch has not stopped since I have had it, and keeps good time. The case & strap are stainless and very well finished for the price. The face and glass(thick) very clear, no dust or mist even in bright sunlight. The hands are on the thin side, well made though. I have had mine for 4 months, no problems as yet. Will let you know more later on in its life!
September 18th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
Hi, I got my Apogaum for Xmas, and its still going very strong, there isn’t even a scratch on the glass, and that’s saying something considering I work in forestry. These watches are superb and they even have a site now:
http://www.apogaum.co.uk
You see, they may have used to be crap, but recently, they have bettered their quality by miles!
April 25th, 2007 at 10:48 am
Apogaum watches are buyable on ebay for about 75 euros + 15 euros for airmail, the seller is called javier138 and his email is diddier831@yahoo.co.uk
May 9th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
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August 19th, 2007 at 7:32 am
I have had an Apogaum for over a year, it came with a hallow bracelet, and the chron is ay and date. The watch looked over the top bright gold when i got it. I put on a nice leather strap the watch looks great, and keeps good time. I am happy with this watch
April 25th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I bought an Apogaum Automatic about a year ago.
The moment i began to wind it I realized it was garbage. Sadly, I was right! It never began to keep decent time, losing as much as 10 minutes per 24 hours.
I threw it in a drawer, and haven’t any interest in it whatsoever!
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October 2nd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I bought my apogaum (automatic US Aircraft Lockheed) before 3 days and many of my friends told its very nice watch… And in this 3 days, it doesnt lost any minute, so by far its precise…. and “Grant” who said that it is loosing 10 minutes in 24hrs is full of crap, and lying son of a bitch… sorry for my language