[In-Depth Analysis] 6 Highly Talked-About Audemars Piguet Collaboration Watches

[In-Depth Analysis] 6 Highly Talked-About Audemars Piguet Collaboration Watches

Cross-industry collaborations are increasingly common in the realm of haute horlogerie, but when it comes to executing them flawlessly, Audemars Piguet (AP) undoubtedly stands out. The recent, highly unconventional AP x Swatch project has already sparked heated discussions across the watchmaking community. Setting aside these more mass-market attempts, looking back at several heavyweight AP collaboration timepieces in recent years, their footprint covers streetwear, high fashion, as well as contemporary film and pop culture. From these collaborative pieces, it is evident that Audemars Piguet is actively expanding into a younger market that pursues individuality. These partnerships are never just about slapping two logos together; rather, they involve a deep integration spanning materials, movement layout, and aesthetic design. Today, let’s conduct an in-depth breakdown of 6 highly talked-about AP collaboration watches to see what unique charm they possess.

Audemars Piguet x KAWS : Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon "Companion"


Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Companion”
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Companion”
當代藝術家 KAWS,本名 Brian Donnelly (From Audemars Piguet)
Contemporary artist KAWS, real name Brian Donnelly (From Audemars Piguet)

When discussing the collision of streetwear and high watchmaking, the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Companion,” co-created by Audemars Piguet and contemporary artist KAWS, is inevitably in the spotlight. The birth of this watch marks the brand’s determination to further embrace street art. Officially unveiled in 2024, the watch features a 43mm titanium case, continuing the futuristic geometric lines of the Concept series. The most fascinating design lies in the center of the dial, where KAWS’s iconic Companion figure is placed three-dimensionally beneath the sapphire crystal, its hands appearing to press against the glass looking outward, full of playfulness. To accommodate this design, the time display was cleverly moved to the periphery of the dial. Pieces that seamlessly integrate high complications with contemporary art symbols tend to attract collectors seeking something truly distinctive in the secondary market, reflecting the modern high-end trend of “toy-ifying” collectibles.

KAWS 標誌性的 Companion 公仔被立體化地放置在藍寶石水晶玻璃之下
KAWS's iconic Companion figure is placed three-dimensionally beneath the sapphire crystal

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Companion” features a 43mm titanium case and is powered by the Caliber 2979 manual-winding tourbillon movement, offering a 72-hour power reserve. Limited to 250 pieces.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept

Audemars Piguet x Ambush : Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Yoon and Verbal Edition

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Yoon and Verbal Edition (From Audemars Piguet)
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Yoon and Verbal Edition (From Audemars Piguet)
饒舌歌手 Verbal 與美籍韓裔設計師 Yoon Ahn 夫妻檔於 2008 年創立 AMBUSH (From Audemars Piguet)
Rapper Verbal and Korean-American designer Yoon Ahn founded AMBUSH in 2008 (From Audemars Piguet)

Another piece that caused massive ripples in the fashion circle this year is the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Yoon and Verbal Edition, launched in collaboration with AMBUSH, a brand founded by designer Yoon Ahn and rapper Verbal. This watch injects AMBUSH’s signature avant-garde metallic style into the timepiece, marking an important step for Audemars Piguet in rallying Asian streetwear influence. The watch uses a 38.5mm titanium case, making it the brand’s second Royal Oak Concept presented in this elegant size. The upper cage of the aluminum flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock undergoes a red anodization process, while the black aventurine dial is outlined by mirror-polished silver-grey chamfers, creating a visual tension of futurism and architecture. This is not just a timepiece, but a piece of wrist art, deeply loved by trendsetters enamored with avant-garde metallic aesthetics.

6 時位置的鋁製飛行陀飛輪上層框架經過紅色陽極氧化處理 (From Audemars Piguet)
The upper cage of the aluminum flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock undergoes a red anodization process (From Audemars Piguet)

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Yoon and Verbal Edition features a 38.5mm titanium case, powered by the Caliber 2982 manual-winding tourbillon movement with a 72-hour power reserve. Limited to 150 pieces.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept

Audemars Piguet x Carolina Bucci : Royal Oak Frosted Gold Carolina Bucci Limited Edition

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold Carolina Bucci Limited Edition (From Audemars Piguet)
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold Carolina Bucci Limited Edition (From Audemars Piguet)
佛羅倫斯珠寶設計師 Carolina Bucci (From Audemars Piguet)
Florentine jewelry designer Carolina Bucci (From Audemars Piguet)

Unlike the streetwear-infused collaborations mentioned above, Audemars Piguet’s partnership with Florentine jewelry designer Carolina Bucci is a profound exploration of metal surface treatment techniques. The two parties first collaborated in 2016 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the women’s Royal Oak series, launching the famous Royal Oak Frosted Gold collection. Carolina Bucci introduced the traditional Florentine frosted gold technique to watchmaking; artisans use a diamond-tipped tool to manually strike the metal surface, creating tiny indentations on the 18K white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold case. This allows the metal to sparkle brilliantly like diamonds, even without any gem-setting. In the special edition released in 2018, it adopted an exquisite 37mm size and unconventionally abandoned the traditional Tapisserie dial in favor of a minimalist mirrored design—an absolute masterstroke. The entire watch exudes a contemporary jewelry style, highly sought after by buyers with refined taste who pursue elegance without being cliché.

極簡的鏡面設計 (From Audemars Piguet)
Minimalist mirrored design (From Audemars Piguet)

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold Carolina Bucci Limited Edition features a 37mm yellow gold case and is equipped with the Caliber 3120 automatic movement, providing a 60-hour power reserve. Limited to 300 pieces.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Audemars Piguet x Travis Scott : Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked "Cactus Jack" Limited Edition

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked "Cactus Jack"
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked "Cactus Jack"
Travis Scott 於 2017 年創立個人品牌 Cactus Jack (From Audemars Piguet)
Travis Scott founded his personal brand Cactus Jack in 2017 (From Audemars Piguet)

Music culture also occupies a core position in Audemars Piguet’s collaboration roster. The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked “Cactus Jack” Limited Edition, launched in late 2023 with American hip-hop superstar Travis Scott and his personal brand Cactus Jack, is a highly representative milestone. This watch measures 41mm and ground-breakingly utilizes the brand’s first-ever brown ceramic case, perfectly echoing the earthy tones synonymous with Cactus Jack. The details of the watch are filled with Travis Scott’s personal hallmarks; for example, the moon phase display is replaced by his iconic stitched smiley face, and the typography for the days and months has been changed to a unique handwritten style. Complicated watches endorsed by top-tier celebrities have always garnered significant attention regarding their liquidity in the market, representing a lifestyle attitude that seamlessly blends high-end watchmaking with street style.

腕錶的細節充滿了 Travis Scott 的個人印記
The details of the watch are filled with Travis Scott's personal hallmarks

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked “Cactus Jack” Limited Edition features a 41mm ceramic case and is powered by the Caliber 5135 automatic movement, offering a 40-hour power reserve. Limited to 200 pieces.

Audemars Piguet x 1017 ALYX 9SM : Royal Oak Selfwinding

錶盤只保留了時、分、秒針以及品牌雙方的 Logo (From Audemars Piguet)
Audemars Piguet x 1017 ALYX 9SM Royal Oak Selfwinding (From Audemars Piguet)
Matthew M. Williams 於 2015 年創立 1017 ALYX 9SM (From Audemars Piguet)
Matthew M. Williams founded 1017 ALYX 9SM in 2015 (From Audemars Piguet)

Led by designer Matthew M. Williams, 1017 ALYX 9SM is renowned for its minimalist industrial style and functional design. Audemars Piguet’s 2023 collaboration with them on several Royal Oak models arguably pushed minimalism to another level. Among them, the highly representative 37mm three-hand model is crafted in yellow gold. The most disruptive aspect of the design is the removal of all hour markers on the dial—even discarding the brand’s iconic Tapisserie pattern—leaving only the hour, minute, and second hands alongside the logos of both brands. This presents a purely unadulterated brushed metal texture. Such an extensive use of negative space tests the true caliber of the brand’s metal finishing techniques. For collectors accustomed to complicated dial designs, this counter-intuitive industrial minimalist approach offers a refreshing feel, making it perhaps the most minimalist Royal Oak ever created.

錶盤只保留了時、分、秒針以及品牌雙方的 Logo (From Audemars Piguet)
The dial only retains the hour, minute, and second hands alongside the logos of both brands (From Audemars Piguet)

The Audemars Piguet x 1017 ALYX 9SM Royal Oak Selfwinding features a 37mm yellow gold case, powered by the Caliber 5909 automatic movement with a 60-hour power reserve.

Audemars Piguet x Marvel : Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man”

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man”
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man”
經過工匠耗時數十小時的手工上色 (From Audemars Piguet)
Painted entirely by hand by artisans over dozens of hours (From Audemars Piguet)

Finally, we step into the realm of film and pop culture. Audemars Piguet’s collaboration with Marvel truly broke the dimensional walls of the watchmaking world. Following the Black Panther, the brand launched the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man” in 2023, once again triggering intense attention globally. This watch has a 42mm size; the case is crafted from lightweight titanium and paired with a scratch-resistant black ceramic bezel. The biggest highlight is the 3D micro-sculpture of Spider-Man placed in the center of the dial, looking as if he is swinging through the complex movement components and the tourbillon. This 3D micro-sculpture is carved from white gold and painted entirely by hand by artisans over dozens of hours, making the details incredibly lifelike. Although blending comic book heroes with high-end timepieces occasionally sparks debate within traditional watchmaking circles, it has undoubtedly succeeded in attracting a new generation of young collectors and pop culture enthusiasts, bringing a breath of fresh air to the industry.

蜘蛛俠 3D 立體白金微雕
Spider-Man 3D white gold micro-sculpture (From Audemars Piguet)

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Spider-Man” features a 42mm titanium case, powered by the Caliber 2974 manual-winding tourbillon movement with a 72-hour power reserve. Limited to 250 pieces.