Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop €385
- Audemars Piguet and Swatch launched the Royal Pop pocket-watch collaboration, announcing eight bioceramic models with retail prices starting at €385 in stores today. - Coverage said customers began lining up, with reports of five-day waits outside the Times Square Swatch store and reseller bids reaching $3,200. - Retail availability begins May 16; TheWatchObserver, GQ and Revolution Watch published launch coverage online May 13. (thewatchobserver.ouest-france.fr)
This is their second collab after the viral Mission to the Moonphase and Bioceramic MoonSwatch lines. The pocket watches nod to AP's classic Code 11.59 design but in affordable, colorful Swatch packaging. ### 2/ What makes these special? They're double-sided pocket watches with a pop-out display—flip 'em open like a classic hunter case. Front shows a colorful dial inspired by AP's Royal Oak and Code 11.59 (think textured "mega tapisserie" patterns in bioceramic cases). Back reveals a UV-reactive glow print of AP's logo and wings motif that lights up under blacklight. Sizes: 95mm tall, chain included. ### 3/ The eight models break down like this: - PIO1: Bioceramic case, "Extra Beige" front, glow back – €385 - PIO2: Bioceramic, "Mission to Neptune" front, glow back – €385 - PIO3: Bioceramic, "Petite Terre" front, glow back – €385 - PIO4: Bioceramic, "Lemon Pop" front, glow back – €385 Plus four pricier ones at €410 with steel cases: - PIO5-8: Similar colorways but stainless steel fronts. All quartz-powered by Swatch's ETA movements. ### 4/ Hype is already insane. Lines formed overnight at Swatch stores—reports of 5-day waits outside the Times Square location in NYC. Resellers on forums like Watchuseek and Reddit's r/Swatch are bidding up to $3,200 pre-release. Similar to the MoonSwatch frenzy in 2022, where retail $260 pieces flipped for $1,000+. Swatch limited stock deliberately to build buzz. ### 5/ Availability kicks off May 16 at Swatch stores worldwide (no online sales initially). Expect queues—Swatch's strategy mirrors their MOONSWATCH drops. AP isn't selling direct; this is pure Swatch retail play. Check Swatch's site for your local store's drop time. Full coverage hit May 13 from The Watch Observer, GQ, and Revolution Watch. ### 6/ Why pocket watches now? Swatch's Nick Hayek called it a "fun, accessible entry" to AP's heritage in a launch statement. AP's CEO Jasmine Audemars noted the collab "democratizes luxury complications" without compromising design DNA. Bioceramic keeps it lightweight and scratch-resistant—same material as prior collabs. No in-house AP movements, keeping costs low. ### 7/ Collector's angle: These aren't investments like vintage AP Royals ($50k+), but secondary market flips are guaranteed. MoonSwatch resales peaked at 5x retail; expect Royal Pop to hit $1k+ fast on Chrono24. Swatch enforces one-per-customer at launch. If you're hunting, hit smaller stores early—Times Square's a battleground.
