The Audemars Piguet x Kaws Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon ‘Companion’ is a collaboration between the Swiss luxury watchmaker and contemporary artist Kaws, introducing a character-driven design to the Royal Oak Concept platform.
This 43 mm titanium watch showcases Kaws’ iconic “Companion” figure with its recognizable skull-shaped head, X-shaped eyes, and gloves seemingly pressing against the sapphire crystal. The figure is intricately crafted from brushed and sandblasted titanium, complementing the gray lacquer details and the open tourbillon cage visible through the dial.
Audemars Piguet’s innovative peripheral time display replaces traditional hands, with lumed titanium markers set on gear wheels along the inner bezel. This design is powered by the hand-wound Calibre 2979 movement, featuring a 60-second tourbillon, 72-hour power reserve, and black PVD-coated bridges. Kaws’ artistic influence extends to the movement, where the ratchet wheel incorporates the artist’s signature X motif.
The watch’s titanium case, slightly larger than previous Marvel collaborations, measures 43 mm in diameter and 17.4 mm in thickness, with contrasting brushed and polished finishes. A black ceramic crown and hexagonal screws with Kaws’ X detail complete the angular aesthetic. It is water-resistant to 100 meters and comes with two calfskin leather straps, both embossed with a textile pattern.
Limited to 250 pieces, the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon ‘Companion’ retails for 200,000 CHF (~$225,560.52) and is available exclusively through Audemars Piguet boutiques. The collaboration reflects a seamless integration of Kaws’ pop-art sensibilities and AP’s innovative watchmaking, offering collectors a wearable extension of Kaws’ artistic universe.
This release also hints at future character-centric designs utilizing the new peripheral display, marking a notable evolution in AP’s approach to high-end artistic timepieces.
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