Swatch and Audemars Piguet have launched the Royal Pop collection, a collaboration featuring eight colorful pocket watches, marking a unique moment in watch culture.
Unexpected Collaboration
Last Wednesday at Swatch HQ, Audemars Piguet CEO Ilaria Resta and Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek unveiled the collection to select journalists. Resta stated, "The only way to play safe is to not do anything, and that’s not in AP’s DNA." Hayek added, "We are not just bringing a new dial or a new band; we have something new to say."
Design and Features
The Royal Pop collection includes eight pocket watches, each with unique colorways: white (Huit Blanc), pink (Otto Rosso), and more. Each watch features AP's iconic Royal Oak design elements, such as the octagonal shape and bezel with eight screws. The dials incorporate the "Petite Tapisserie" pattern, and hour markers are coated with Grade A Super-LumiNova.
Technical Details
The Swatch SISTEM51 calibre powers the Royal Pop watches, re-engineered as a hand-wound mechanism with a 90-hour power reserve. The movement includes 15 active patents, with a barrel drum acting as a power reserve indicator. The anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring is a notable feature.
Unique Characteristics
Six of the watches are Lépine style, while two Savonnette models feature petite seconde subdials. The 'Huit Blanc' model has unique colored indices, with three million possible bezel screw combinations. Hayek confirmed the collection is a one-off collaboration, adding, "It’s unavoidable—they know that the product will be short."
Availability and Impact
Priced from $400 to $420, the watches will be available at 200 selected Swatch stores. Hayek and Resta emphasize the collaboration's potential to redefine watch wearing, appealing to a younger audience. "We want people to tell us how to use it," said Resta, highlighting the innovative lanyard design.
Source: https://www.gq.com/story/swatch-audemars-piguet-collaboration-every-detail-here
