Audemars Piguet and Swatch Reveal 'Royal Pop' Collaboration

Audemars Piguet and Swatch are teaming up for a new collaboration called the “Royal Pop” collection, merging luxury watch design with the playful spirit of Swatch’s vintage POP watch era. Instead of following the traditional wristwatch format, the project takes a more experimental route through colorful pocket watch-inspired designs.

The collection introduces eight different styles split across two formats: Lépine and Savonnette. Each version uses rounded cases, bold color combinations, and co-branded dial detailing that blends Swatch’s playful identity with elements inspired by Audemars Piguet’s iconic Royal Oak aesthetic.

Bright Pop Art-inspired tones dominate several models, while others opt for cleaner black, white, and multicolor layouts. The collection balances retro energy with modern styling, giving the watches a more collectible and fashion-oriented feel rather than positioning them strictly as traditional luxury timepieces.

One of the more interesting details is the updated movement system. Swatch reworked its SISTEM51 mechanism into a hand-wound configuration for the Royal Pop series, adding a more classic mechanical touch to a collaboration built around accessibility and creativity. That shift helps bridge the gap between Swatch’s playful DNA and Audemars Piguet’s heritage in fine watchmaking.

The design itself also separates the collection from more standard collaborations. Instead of remaining fixed inside a traditional watch case, the dial module can pop into different outer holders, allowing the watch to be styled and displayed in multiple ways. That modular concept leans heavily into the experimental spirit that defined Swatch during the 1980s.

The Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop Collection is scheduled to release on May 16, 2026, through select Swatch stores worldwide.