Audemars Piguet brings the Pop Art of Kaws' Companions to haute horlogerie with a subversive limited series of the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon.
For some time now, with the Royal Oak Concept Audemars Piguet developed collaborative models that explore new creative territories for high-end watchmaking. As with the editions dedicated to Marvel's comic book characters, Black Panther and Spider-Man. Even more surprising now is thehe new collaboration with Kawswhich is part of the art world, to which the House is united by a deep and wide-ranging bond.
Kaws, born Brian Donnelly, is the artist who with his Companions, the iconic resin figurines inspired by cartoon-style characters or the skull, has managed to mix art, street culture and design in a unique way. The result is a limited edition of 250 pieces reinterpreting the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon in a futuristic and highly daring key.
"Placing a miniature Companion at the centre of the Royal Oak Concept not only pushed us to push our limits, but also encouraged us to look at our art from a more humanistic perspective and reflect on the power of imagination and Haute Horlogerie to inspire curiosity and have a profound emotional impact, said Ilaria Resta, Chief Executive Officer.
Kaws aesthetics for a special edition of the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon
A three-dimensional miniature Companion.
The Companion, recognisable by its skull-shaped head, X-shaped eyes and crossed bones, emerges beneath the sapphire crystal, on which it rests its gloved hands: a three-dimensional miniature made of titanium and mounted on the plate. Under the head rotates the tourbillon at one minute.
To leave the view of the Companion miniature unobstructed, the hour and minute display is relegated to the periphery of the dial by two movable triangular hands driven by two visible superimposed gears. What differentiates them is the skeletonisation of the minutes.
The dominant colour code is grey, also underlined by the titanium of the 43 mm case. The Companion theme also continues on the characteristic bezel screws of Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak made in the shape of an X, the symbol of Kaws.
The unprecedented Audemars Piguet calibre
A tourbillon with a Companion-style peripheral hour and minute readout.
To realise the unprecedented peripheral reading of the indications, Audemars Piguet developed the new manual calibre 2979 for the Royal Oak Concept Companion. It is visible through the sapphire back with its original rounded bridge aesthetics, inspired by the Kaws universe.
This new calibre is treated with black PVD, and has a ratchet wheel with four spokes that drives the barrel when the watch is wound, bearing the X mark. The interchangeability system integrated in the case allows the slate-coloured calfskin strap to be replaced by an additional one, also in leather but with fabric effect.
Priceon request.
