Today we’re introducing another funky design from the Behrens team. I have reviewed watches from several brands over the past few years. This Chinese brand always finds a way to impress me with its interesting take on telling time while offering watches at very reasonable prices. The Behrens Apolar Producer Michael Limited Edition Watch is an interesting fusion of avant-garde design and Behrens’ signature look, resulting from a collaboration with Producer Michael.
I think most watch enthusiasts know about Behrens, but since it’s a relatively young brand in the Western market, let’s do a quick review. Founded in 2012 by Lin Bingqiang, Behrens has carved out a niche in the watch industry through its commitment to creating unconventional time displays and complex mechanical modules. Over the years, Behrens has developed in-house capabilities such as CNC machining and 3D printing, allowing it to manufacture unique components and concepts that make its watches stand out. If you look at some of my other reviews, you’ll see that each watch is completely different yet “very Behrens” in nature. In particular, the Apolar model was nominated for the 2020 Geneva Grand Prix Horlogerie (GPHG) in the Best Calendar and Astronomy category.
Who the hell is this producer Michael?
Producer Michael (real name Michael Blakey) is a British musician and producer known for his passion for luxury goods and the lifestyle that goes with them. He’s an interesting character and I watched a lot of his videos when I was still new to the YouTube game. These days, YouTubers who create watch-related content earn ten pennies, and he was one of the first to do so. He has a certain “style” to his videos, but that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. It’s crazy to flaunt your wealth and buy expensive luxury goods like candy.
Although I have long since graduated from that style of content in my watch collecting journey, there is still a certain nostalgia for it. It’s oddly interesting in a way to see how these super-rich spend their cash. It’s basically fake reality television. We hate it, but we still watch it from time to time. Love him or hate him, he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. I’ll never know how he ended up collaborating with Behrens on this limited edition. Still, the result of this collaboration is surprisingly light and kind of cool. Colorful, quirky and guaranteed to be different from most others in your collection.
Crystallized titanium?
Perhaps the first thing that stands out about the Apolar Producer Michael Limited Edition is its crystallized titanium dial. Although it is not the most well-known material in watchmaking, it is one that Behrens has used in previous collaborations with Konstantin Chaikin. Despite its textured appearance, the surface is completely smooth, providing a tactile feel that contrasts with the visual complexity. I can’t touch on it this time, but it’s still an interesting observation.
The 42mm case is made from 316L stainless steel. The same case appears in several different models of the Behrens collection, namely my NaviGraph and the aforementioned Konstantin Chaykin collaboration. The large box-shaped sapphire crystal provides excellent clarity, allowing the intricate dial structure to be viewed from various angles. This watch is available with your choice of black or white rubber strap, offering comfort and a modern touch that complements the overall design.
There’s a lot going on on the dial (in a good way)
The Behrens Apolar dial is a perfect example of the brand’s ingenuity. The centerpiece is a three-dimensional rotating globe that rotates once every 24 hours and acts as a dynamic AM/PM indicator. A small arrow over the Pacific Ocean indicates the current 24-hour time. This micromoon orbits the Earth and follows a 28-day cycle, reflecting the phases of the moon. This celestial display provides a fascinating visual representation of the real relationship between the Earth and the Moon. However, this is a conceptual representation rather than a completely accurate one. Here, the moon rotates in an orbit featuring seven different colored sections. The rainbow colors are another touch of Michael, a producer known for his love of bright colors. The last thing to note about the moon’s path is its angle. Viewed from the side, you can see through the generously tall sapphire crystal.
For example, the time here is 02:35.
The time is displayed by two distributed discs located at the bottom of the dial. The left disk displays the hour numbers and a 30 minute dot, and the right disk displays the minutes. Two small markers indicate the current time. This unconventional timekeeping approach eliminates traditional hands and offers a fresh perspective on time display. A small central seconds hand is placed in the center, enhancing functionality without compromising the aesthetic harmony of the watch. In reality, Apolar is all about aesthetics, and the time display is almost a secondary feature. This is by no means a tool watch. If you are looking for such functionality, you are in the wrong place.
Affordable price thanks to modular movement
The Apolar is equipped with a Swiss-made Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement. Behrens enhances this movement with an in-house designed mechanical module that facilitates the time display disc and the complex Earth-Moon mechanism. This combination ensures the watch’s precise operation and proves the brand’s technical prowess in mechanical innovation. While Behrens could have designed and built this movement from scratch, the modular approach allows the brand to offer these watches at a much more affordable price point. The Sellita movement is visible from the back of the showcase, partially obscured by producer Michael’s signature.
Limited to 88 pieces
The Apolar Producer Michael Limited Edition is limited to 88 pieces. Each watch features producer Michael’s signature colors, his logo on the red anodized crown and his signature on the case back. The logo on the crown is very subtle and the signature on the case is unlikely to be seen or noticed, so if you don’t care about Michael’s relationship with the watch, it’s easy to ignore and forget. I’m not saying it’s a deal breaker here. Instead, if you like bold, colorful designs, use that as your guide.
Behrens knows how to make watches comfortable to wear
Apolar provides a balanced and comfortable fit when worn on the wrist. The 42mm diameter and 50mm length make it versatile and suitable for a variety of wrist sizes. The size may be considered “large” now, but the fitted rubber strap fits snugly around your wrist, making it an excellent fit for your wrist. My favorite option is the white rubber strap, but the black strap adds a little more aesthetic sophistication, which some may find appealing. The domed sapphire crystal and three-dimensional dial elements create a sense of depth, making this watch a conversation starter and visual delight for the wearer. I find that when I wear a Behrens watch, it always sparks interesting conversations with non-watch enthusiasts and enthusiasts alike.
Final thoughts on Behrens Apolar Producer Michael Limited Edition
The Behrens Apolar Producer Michael Limited Edition is a perfect combination of artistic design and mechanical sophistication. The crystallized titanium dial, innovative time display, and celestial complication are features not often found in the sub-€5,000 price range. It’s a pretty fun and quirky design, certainly not to everyone’s taste, but it’s the essence of Behrens. There are millions of different tool watches out there, but Apolar is unlike any of them.
The Behrens Apolar Producer Michael Limited Edition is available for purchase through Behrens Europe. Price is £3,745 / €4,530.95 including tax. Please note that there is a currency conversion here, so the price may change slightly depending on the region you are shipping to and the daily exchange rate.
What do you think about Behrens Apolar Producer Michael Limited Edition or Behrens and Apolar? Let us know in the comments!
