Combining joyful boldness and positive provocation in the art of fine watchmaking, Swatch celebrates Audemars Piguet’s iconic Royal Oak with Royal Pop, a groundbreaking watch collection with eight models, that is inspired by the legendary 1972 Royal Oak collection, and the Swatch POP watches of the 1980s.
Images courtesy of Swatch.
More than a tribute, this team-up is a disruptive collaboration between two icons of Swiss watchmaking, and blends some of their hallmark features into a disruptive pocket watch that is designed to be worn in a variety of ways.
This collection breaks free from the traditional mode of watch-wearing, allowing you to wear the watch in unexpected, playful and dynamic ways. Featuring a high-quality calfskin lanyard with contrasting stitching, you can choose however you’d like to wear the watch.
Images courtesy of Swatch.
Whether it is around your neck, on your wrist, in your pocket, attached to a handbag, there are no limitations as to how you would like to display your watch as it comes with three lanyard lengths and a small removable stand that also lets you turn it into a desk watch.
The collection of eight Swiss-made Bioceramic models is powered by Swatch’s signature, innovative SISTEM51 movement, now offered in a hand-wound version with 15 active patents. A true industrial feat, SISTEM51 is the only Swiss-made mechanical movement in the world with a 100% automated assembly.
Images courtesy of Swatch.
Among its features are over 90 hours of power reserve, the anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring (developed in collaboration with Audemars Piguet), and laser-based precision adjustment performed directly at the factory. This magnificent movement is also partially visible, thanks to the transparent caseback of the eight watches, each with its own unique colour scheme.
Images courtesy of Swatch.
In addition to the colours, you will also be able to select from two versions of the watch: a Lépine-style pocket watch (available in six models) with a winding crown positioned at 12 o’clock and simplified time reading using two hands; and a Savonnette-style pocket watch (available in two models) with the winding crown at 3 o’clock, featuring a dial with a small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock.
Images courtesy of Swatch.
If you’re wondering why exactly eight models for the Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop collaboration, this is to pay homage to the eight sizes of the case and the eight screws on the Royal Oak’s signature bezel. As the original Royal Oak’s case is complex, the Royal Pop also has 8 additional patents for the case construction, which combines the rounded octagon, circle and the barrel shape.
One of these patents is the design of the barrel drum which indicates the watch’s power reserve. When the barrel chambers are grey, it reveals the coils of the mainspring which requires the watch to be wound, and when the colour is gold, it indicates that the watch is fully wound and running at full power.
Images courtesy of Swatch.
Another defining aesthetic feature that you might recognise is the Royal Oak’s bezel and its eight hexagonal screws. The Royal Pop reflects this same aesthetic especially in the white model named HUIT BLANC, which boldly features the screws in eight different hues.
The entire collection also features two sapphire crystals on the front and back of the case, and is pad-printed with the Royal Pop logo on its caseback.
