After months of rumours and teaser campaigns, Swatch and Audemars Piguet have finally confirmed one of the most unexpected collaborations in recent memory. Dubbed ‘Royal Pop’, the upcoming collection looks set to bring AP’s iconic Royal Oak aesthetic to an entirely new audience and the watch world can’t stop talking about it.
Following the success of the MoonSwatch and Blancpain collaborations, Swatch is once again tapping into luxury watch culture. This time, however, things feel even bigger. Audemars Piguet sits firmly within horology’s elite, with the Royal Oak widely regarded as one of the most influential watch designs ever created. Now, that DNA appears to be getting the Swatch treatment.
Early teasers point towards Early leaks and mock ups suggested the Royal Pop collection could feature detachable cases, vibrant colourways and even pocket-watch inspired styling in a nod to Swatch’s original POP models from the ‘80s. Remember the ToyWatch trend from the early 2010s? Kinda like that.
Today, Swatch officially revealed what the collection actually looks like. The watches are presented as a series of colourful, pop-art inspired designs that reworks the Royal Oak in a far more playful way. The biggest twist? The Royal Pop is presented as a pendant, adding to the unique, avant garde look. They can also be worn as a wrist or pocket watch, making this an extremely wearable and accessible collection.
As expected, reactions online have been split. Some collectors see the collaboration as a bold way to introduce younger audiences to Audemars Piguet, while others believe it risks diluting the exclusivity of the Royal Oak name.
For people in the sneaker world this is nothing new, especially all the buzz surrounding mock-ups. We’ve seen high-profile fashion labels like Dior, Prada and LV put out several collabs with brands like adidas and Nike. Although, none quite as reasonably priced as Royal Pop. Either way, the hype is undeniable, with queues already forming ahead of release day. Again, nothing new to sneakerheads. In fact, our own Social Media Manager, CK is camping out as we speak.
The Swatch x Audemars Piguet ‘Royal Pop’ collection is set to release on 16 May at select Swatch locations worldwide. If the frenzy around the MoonSwatch taught us anything, expect these to disappear fast.
