Royal Pop
Royal Pop treats the watch as a transformable object: it can be worn on the wrist, clipped on, worn around the neck or combined with different accessories. Colour, configuration and way of wearing become as much a part of the design as the dial itself, making the collection closer to a pop object that can be styled in different ways than to a traditional timepiece.
8 products
Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop: a watch that changes how it is worn
The Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop starts from an unusual idea for contemporary watchmaking: freeing the watch from a fixed position on the wrist. The collection includes eight Bioceramic pocket watches designed for different configurations, transforming the relationship between the object and the body.
With compatible cords and supports, Royal Pop can be worn around the neck, on the wrist, in a pocket or attached to a bag. Swatch also offers different cord lengths and a support that can turn it into a small desk clock. Accessories therefore become part of the product experience, even when they are not necessarily included with an individual reference.
Within collectible watches, Royal Pop represents a very different approach from the classic wristwatch: movement, case shape and mode of use are designed as parts of the same system.
Royal Oak geometry meets Swatch POP modularity
The design of Royal Pop comes from the meeting of two very different languages. On one side are some of the most recognisable codes of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, introduced in 1972; on the other, the modular, colourful logic of the Swatch POP line from the 1980s.
The front references the octagonal geometry, eight screws and tapisserie-effect dial, but transfers them to a Bioceramic construction with a more matte and colourful character than the steel traditionally associated with the Royal Oak. The vertical satin finish of the bezel and caseback also recalls decorative elements of the Audemars Piguet model.
Royal Pop is not, however, a replica of the Royal Oak in a different material. Its proportions, pocket-watch format, colour and ability to separate the watch head from the support belong to a different project in which Swatch modularity matters as much as the octagonal geometry.
The case, crown and cord attachment are made from Bioceramic, while the front and rear crystals are sapphire with anti-reflective treatment.
Hand-wound SISTEM51: the movement becomes part of the experience
Royal Pop uses a new interpretation of the SISTEM51 mechanical movement, redesigned by Swatch in a hand-wound version. This is an important difference from a quartz watch: before use, the crown winds the movement and introduces a periodic gesture that becomes part of the relationship with the watch.
The transparent caseback allows the calibre to be viewed, accompanied by a digital print inspired by Pop Art. The mainspring barrel is also visible and contributes to reading the state of the power reserve.
This construction also distinguishes Royal Pop from the OMEGA x Swatch MoonSwatch, which instead keeps the structure of a quartz wrist chronograph. The two collaborations share Bioceramic but offer deeply different mechanical experiences and ways of use.
Lépine and Savonnette: two case configurations
The eight Royal Pop watches differ in more than colour. The collection includes models in Lépine and Savonnette configurations, two different interpretations of pocket-watch architecture.
This makes it important to check the individual reference before choosing. Crown position, case configuration and the way the dial is accessed can change and can influence the experience more than a simple front photograph might suggest.
When comparing two Royal Pop models, it is therefore useful to consider reference, Lépine or Savonnette configuration, colour and intended use together rather than treating all eight models as simple colour variations of the same object.
Eight colours, eight interpretations of Royal Pop
The collection uses colour as one of its main differentiators. The eight models combine case, bezel and dial through very different palettes, moving from more essential white or black configurations to contrasts built around red, green, blue, pink and orange.
On Royal Pop, colour becomes particularly important thanks to Bioceramic. The material developed by Swatch combines two thirds ceramic with one third bio-sourced component derived from castor oil and has a smooth, matte, silky surface.
This finish reduces the reflections typical of a metal case and allows colour to become part of the structure of the watch itself. The tapisserie-effect dial then introduces a second texture, creating contrast between the case surface and the central pattern.
Colour choice should therefore not be limited to a favourite shade: it is the relationship between Bioceramic, dial, bezel and details that determines the overall presence of each Royal Pop.
How to wear a Royal Pop
Modularity is one of the elements that most clearly distinguishes the collection. The watch head can be attached to and removed from its support, allowing the configuration to change according to use. The system also produces a characteristic “click” when the watch is fixed in place, which Swatch describes as an acoustic signature of the collection.
With a long cord it can become an accessory worn around the neck; other configurations allow it to be worn closer to the wrist, placed in a pocket or attached to a bag. A dedicated support can also display it as a small desk clock.
This means accessories play a greater role than they would with a normal wristwatch. Before purchasing, it is therefore important to check the individual product page for what is actually included rather than assuming that additional cords or supports are supplied.
How to choose an Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop
To choose a Royal Pop, start with three elements: case configuration, colour and the way you intend to use the watch.
Lépine and Savonnette change the architecture of the reference; the different colour combinations determine whether the watch feels more essential or deliberately pop. Intended use completes the choice: someone planning to wear it mainly around the neck may have different needs from someone who wants to use it in a pocket or integrate it with other accessories.
The hand-wound SISTEM51 movement is common to the project and also creates a more direct relationship with the watch than a quartz model. The external appearance should therefore not be considered alone: mechanics and the winding ritual are part of the Royal Pop identity.
Reference, configuration, colour, included accessories and package contents remain the elements to check on the individual product page. MilanoMarktPlace also explains the process used to verify selected items before sale on the dedicated product authenticity page.