The Audemars Piguet x Kaws Royal Oak Principle Tourbillon ‘Friend’ is a collaboration between the Swiss deluxe watch manufacturer and contemporary artist Kaws, presenting a character-driven layout to the Royal Oak Principle system.
This 43 mm titanium watch showcases Kaws’ legendary “Buddy” figure with its well-known skull-shaped head, X-shaped eyes, and handwear covers apparently pressing against the sapphire crystal. The number is elaborately crafted from cleaned and sandblasted titanium, matching the gray lacquer details and the open tourbillon cage noticeable with the dial.
Audemars Piguet’s cutting-edge outer time display screen replaces traditional hands, with lumed titanium pens established on equipment wheels along the inner bezel. This layout is powered by the hand-wound Quality 2979 activity, featuring a 60 -second tourbillon, 72 -hour power reserve, and black PVD-coated bridges. Kaws’ imaginative influence includes the motion, where the cog wheel integrates the artist’s signature X concept.
The watch’s titanium instance, slightly larger than previous Wonder collaborations, procedures 43 mm in diameter and 17 4 mm in thickness, with contrasting combed and polished coatings. A black ceramic crown and hexagonal screws with Kaws’ X detail finish the angular aesthetic. It is waterproof to 100 meters and features 2 calfskin natural leather straps, both embossed with a textile pattern.
Minimal to 250 pieces , the Royal Oak Principle Tourbillon ‘Companion’ retails for 200, 000 CHF ( ~$ 225, 560 52 and is available specifically with Audemars Piguet boutiques. The partnership reflects a seamless integration of Kaws’ pop-art perceptiveness and AP’s cutting-edge watchmaking, using collectors a wearable extension of Kaws’ creative world.
This launch also hints at future character-centric layouts utilizing the new peripheral display, marking a noteworthy advancement in AP’s method to premium creative watches.
Filed in Find out more regarding Design, Deluxe and Titanium.