{"id":613912,"date":"2026-05-31T16:21:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T16:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/613912\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T16:21:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T16:21:23","slug":"hands-on-review-the-ap-x-swatch-royal-pop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/613912\/","title":{"rendered":"Hands-on Review: The AP x Swatch \u2018Royal Pop\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u201cRoyal Pop\u201d is here. This collaboration between luxury marque Audemars Piguet and Swatch\u2014two iconic Swiss brands that follow completely different paths\u2014has generated buzz, lines, and controversy around the world.<\/p>\n

What was most surprising was that instead of the affordable wristwatch many had dreamed of, it was a non-wrist-worn design with a lanyard-type hanging strap attachment. Nevertheless, with a total of eight models available, and a design that lives up to Swatch\u2019s deep-cut \u201cPop\u201d collection from the \u201980s, demand has been high. Right now, the pocket watches\u2014which retail for between $400 and $420\u2014are going for thousands of dollars on the resale market.<\/p>\n

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Kenichiro Higa (Kenichiro Higa)<\/p>\n

In stores, all eight watches are displayed in glass cases, with design callbacks to Warhol\u2019s infamous \u201cShot Sage Blue Marilyn\u201d (1964). But enough of the preamble: Let\u2019s get into the actual watches.<\/p>\n

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Kenichiro Higa (Kenichiro Higa)<\/p>\n

The level of craftsmanship is high, especially considering the price. The most iconic feature of AP\u2019s legendary Royal Oak is undoubtedly its screw-down octagonal bezel. As with the Royal Pop\u2019s case, this bezel is made of bioceramic (biodegradable plastic), a specialty of Swatch, all complete with brushed finish. The screws on the bezel are not merely decorative, created by embossing or painting; separate screw-shaped parts are properly glued on. The hexagonal edges and slotted notches also have sharp edges.<\/p>\n

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And the \u201cPetite Tapisserie\u201d dial, another iconic feature of the Royal Oak, is also exquisitely crafted. Not only are the corners of the finely raised squares granular, but the surface even replicates the decorative grooves that radiate concentrically from the central axis.<\/p>\n

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Kenichiro Higa (Kenichiro Higa)<\/p>\n

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Kenichiro Higa (Kenichiro Higa)<\/p>\n

Another detail watch enthusiasts will appreciate is the sapphire crystal with an antireflective coating on both the crystal and case back\u2014something that we also saw in Swatch\u2019s Fifty Fathoms collaboration with Blancpain.<\/p>\n

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Kenichiro Higa (Kenichiro Higa)<\/p>\n

The lanyard attachment is press fit and easily removable. While three different lengths are available, these are sold separately as online-only accessories. Additionally, a stand that allows it to also be used a desk clock is available exclusively online.<\/p>\n

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Kenichiro Higa (Kenichiro Higa)<\/p>\n

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Kenichiro Higa (Kenichiro Higa)<\/p>\n

It all begs the question: Where\u2019s the best place to hang it? Considering current trends and its 40mm size, the first thing that comes to mind is using it as a bag charm\u2014although you\u2019re just as likely to see it threaded through belt loops.<\/p>\n

Of course, it goes without saying that third-party designers are currently in an arms race to create the definitive watch strap to go alongside it.<\/p>\n

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Kenichiro Higa (Kenichiro Higa)<\/p>\n

The adoption of the hand-wound Sistem51<\/p>\n

In addition to the Royal Pop\u2019s classic design based on a pocket watch, it\u2019s also noteworthy that it houses the newly manufactured hand-wound \u201cSistem51\u201d movement.<\/p>\n

In 2013, the 30th anniversary of Swatch\u2019s founding, a mechanical automatic winding movement made of 51 parts and assembled through automated manufacturing was introduced. That was the Sistem51. Now a hand-wound version has also been released. Equipped with a Nivachron balance spring, which is also used in high-end watches, and boasting a 90-hour power reserve, its performance is impressive.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s also interesting to note that the Nivachron hairspring itself was developed in collaboration with Audemars Piguet and is used in some of the brand\u2019s models.<\/p>\n

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Kenichiro Higa (Kenichiro Higa)<\/p>\n

The design allows you to see the mainspring through the holes in the barrel, which also serves as a power-reserve indicator. You can admire the new hand-wound Sistem51 movement through the pad-printed logo in a font reminiscent of the Royal Oak on the sapphire-crystal case back.<\/p>\n

The marketing strategy of gradually releasing information since the beginning of April, allowing fans to speculate about various possibilities, was an ingenious one. On social media, fans shared their predictions, followed leaks, created speculative images, and lined up on the release day. It was always going to split opinion\u2014but its impact can\u2019t be denied.<\/p>\n

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Kenichiro Higa (Kenichiro Higa)<\/p>\n

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Kenichiro Higa (Kenichiro Higa)<\/p>\n

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