The Royal Oak Concept Companion is the latest in Audemars Piguet’s pop culture collaborations
Audemars Piguet has, once again, caused quite a stir in watch circles. While some watchmakers maintain a distance from the hubbub of pop culture, Audemars Piguet has well and truly embraced it, working with some of the most recognisable icons to create unique timepieces.
We don’t have to dig too deep into the brand’s archives either; the brand’s collaboration with Travis Scott last year, as well as the Royal Oak Concept Black Panther from 2021, evince this approach.
Continuing this endeavour, Audemars Piguet has unveiled the 43mm Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Companion, a collaborative effort with American artist Kaws. The American designer, known for his subversive depictions of cartoon-like characters, has adorned the Royal Oak Concept silhouette with his signature skull and cross bone character, Companion.
Gracing the titanium dial plate of the limited-to-250 timepiece in the form of a miniature model, the motif is decorated in an elegant combination of satin-brushed and sandblasted finishes. The result is a striking figure that immediately captures the eye, thanks to, in no small part, the contrasting sunburst-finished dial plate. Also made from titanium, the model is further accentuated by a tourbillon placed at the six o’clock.
“Audemars Piguet has always been part of the culture of the moment,” says Ilaria Resta, chief executive officer of Audemars Piguet. “By placing a miniature Companion at the heart of a Royal Oak Concept, he (Kaws) not only challenged us to push new boundaries, but he also encouraged us to look at our craftsmanship from a more humanistic perspective.”
Impressively, the timepiece features a new hand-wound movement designed to minimise any distractions from the Companion model. Rather than traditional hour and minute hands, the timepiece features two arrowhead-shaped indicators affixed onto two visible gear wheels. As time passes, the two gear wheels rotate, allowing the arrowhead-shaped markers to indicate the time.
With its peripheral time display, we expect we’ll see the 72-hour power reserve calibre 2979t used in future Royal Oak Concept timepieces. Knowing Audemars Piguet, we probably won’t have to wait too long.
