BAPE Watches

The name isn’t subtle. “Bapex” is BAPE’s own wordplay on the world’s most recognized watch brand, and the collection doesn’t hide it — several silhouettes here are deliberate, openly acknowledged homages to iconic luxury references, reworked with BAPE’s own camo, colorways, and ape-head branding. Where a comparable Swiss original might run into five figures, a Bapex piece typically lands under $500, powered by dependable Japanese quartz instead of a hand-finished Swiss automatic movement. It’s less an attempt to pass as the real thing and more a wink at it — streetwear doing to horology what it’s always done to sneakers and logos. Explore the rest of BAPE Official Store’s Accessories lineup to pair a piece with the rest of a look.

What the “Type” Numbers Actually Mean

Every Bapex model carries a type number — Type 7, Type 9, Type 10, Type 13, Type 17, and others — rather than a standalone name. Each type corresponds to a distinct case shape and dial layout, generally built around a specific reference point in watch design, with color, dial graphics (like camo or Baby Milo detailing), and metal finish varying within that type. Two watches sharing a type number will share their core silhouette even if their finishes look completely different — the Type 7 Bapex Blue Watch and the Type 7 Bapex Shark Seijin Black Watch are built on the same case architecture, for example, despite very different dial treatments.

Understanding Water Resistance Before You Buy

Watch water resistance is measured in ATM (atmospheres), and the number tells you what the case can withstand under lab conditions — not what’s safe in practice:

• 3 ATM handles splashes, rain, and hand-washing, but not swimming or showering.
• 5 ATM tolerates light water exposure like a shower or brief rain, with swimming still not advisable.
• 10 ATM is suitable for swimming and light water sports, though not diving.

Real-world use is always a step below the lab rating, since movement and changing water pressure add stress the static test doesn’t account for. Check the specific ATM rating on any piece before assuming it can handle more than everyday wear.

Why Quartz Instead of Automatic

Unlike the Swiss automatic movements found in the luxury pieces this collection nods to, Bapex watches run on quartz movements. That’s a deliberate trade-off rather than a shortcut: quartz movements keep significantly more accurate time, need no winding or wrist motion to stay powered, and require far less long-term maintenance than a mechanical movement — at the cost of the hand-finished mechanical craftsmanship collectors pay a premium for elsewhere. For a piece meant to be worn daily rather than treated as an heirloom, that trade generally favors quartz.

Shop by Style

Type 7 Series — Available in blue, green, yellow, and the Shark Seijin dial treatment, the widest color range in the current lineup.

Type 9 & Type 10 Series — Includes the Type 9 Bapex Silver Watch and the Type 10 Bapex Gold Watch, leaning toward a dressier metal-forward finish.

Type 13 Milo Series — The Type 13 Bapex Milo Silver Watch brings Baby Milo detailing into the dial itself rather than keeping graphics to the strap or case back.

Type 17 Series — Offered in both silver and black case finishes, generally the most minimal dial layout in the collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is Bapex an official Rolex collaboration? 

Ans: No — Bapex is BAPE’s own in-house watch line, openly designed as a streetwear homage to well-known luxury watch silhouettes rather than a licensed partnership.

Q2: What does the ATM rating on a Bapex watch mean? 

Ans: It indicates water resistance under lab-tested static pressure — 3 ATM handles splashes only, while 10 ATM allows for swimming, though real-world conditions are always somewhat less forgiving than the rating suggests.

Q3: Why does Bapex use quartz movements instead of automatic ones? 

Ans: Quartz movements are more accurate, require no winding, and need less maintenance — a practical trade-off suited to everyday wear rather than mechanical collectability.

Q4: Do all Bapex watches in the same Type number look identical? 

Ans: No — they share the same case and dial architecture, but colorways, metal finish, and graphic details like camo or Baby Milo artwork can vary significantly within a single type.