You don’t have to be a watch person to care about the Swatch x Audemars Piguet collaboration that just dropped! Here’s what you need to know.
The Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop collaboration has got New Yorkers camping outside stores for five days! In this culturally groundbreaking watch collaboration of the season, the collection draws inspiration from Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak design with Swatch’s eye-catching Pop concept from the 80s. It’s the most highly anticipated release right now. But what’s so special about it? We’ve distilled all the info, including where you can buy it in Singapore. Psst: if you’re looking for more accessories, check out our list of jewellery shops in Singapore.
Swatch x Audemars Piguet: Details at a glance
Best for: Budding timepiece collectors; anyone who has AP as their grail watch; fashionistas looking for their next statement piece
When: Releases 16 May 2026
Price: Starts from $535; limited to one watch per person, per store and day
Where to buy: Swatch x Audemars Piguet: Royal Pop, available at the Ion Orchard, Marina Bay Sands, and VivoCity Swatch stores
What is the Royal Pop collection?
When it comes to the world of watches, everyone’s familiar with Swatch – it’s that fun and affordable Swiss brand we’ve all grown up with. It introduced the Pop Swatch in 1986, revolutionising watches into colourful and modular lifestyle accessories. The signature feature? “Popping” the dial out of its frame. This transforms your wristwatch into a fun accessory to be worn on clothes or bags.
Meanwhile, Audemars Piguet is considered one of the most revered watch brands in the world. Most of its timepieces sell for tens of thousands of dollars! It’s most popular for its Royal Oak collection, considered to be one of the world’s first luxury sports watches. It features a fully stainless steel watch with an octagon-shaped bezel and eight exposed screws. The diving helmet-inspired shape is a signature feature.
The new Royal Oak collection takes these key aspects and blends them into a whole new collection. The Royal Oak silhouette is given additional flair with Swatch’s series of colours, and the modularity of turning it into a pocket watch or bag accessory.
Why is this a big deal, even if you’re not a watch person?
Swatch is known for its collaborations with watch behemoths like Blancpain and Omega, and even cultural icons like Keith Haring and New York’s Museum of Modern Art. The brand has constantly used it as a blank canvas to explore the sky-high limits of what a watch can be.
But what makes this collaboration different is the face on the other side of the table. Ever since the unveiling of the Royal Oak design in 1972, Audemars Piguet (AP) has never licensed the design’s silhouette to anyone. The use of the Royal Oak shape stayed hidden away in AP factories – sold, marketed, and priced on AP’s terms. However, this new collaboration has disrupted that system entirely.
As one of the oldest watchmaking brands rooted in traditionalist methods, AP has taken an unexpected leap forward. For a brand that has built its identity on craftsmanship that cannot be rushed or mass-produced, sharing its crown jewel is a pivotal turning point. AP has opened its proverbial vault, not because it had to, but because it wanted to. It’s an invitation to a broader audience to have a seat at its coveted table – because everyone deserves to experience the wonders of mechanical watchmaking, no matter the price.
What does it look like?
The Royal Pop collection features eight timepieces. Not as wristwatches, but as modular pocket watches. The shapes are instantly recognisable, thanks to the Royal Oak’s octagonal silhouette. The watches come in two different designs – a Lepine-style where the crown sits at the top of the watch at 12pm, and a Savonette-style where the crown sits on the side at 3pm (where you’d typically find it on wristwatches).
It’s available in eight different colours, which all “pop” in their own unique way. Made from bioceramic, it’s durable with a smooth matte finish. The calfskin lanyards are also available in three lengths, offering you several options on how to wear them. I’ll personally be hanging it off my bag, so I’ll have the most unique bag charm in Singapore.
Why the Royal Pop is a win in our books
Owning watches has always been perceived as a status symbol. But when you’re talking about brands like Audemars Piguet, that status symbol is nearly unattainable. For the vast majority of us, owning a Royal Oak is more of an impossible dream than a reality. But that’s where the Royal Pop collection shakes things up.
Online critics have been loud about this release. A handful of people insist the collection is “ugly” or done in poor taste, with many collectors wondering how far it will dilute the Audemars Piguet prestige. But I, ever the contrarian, think otherwise.
In a world where watchmakers and collectors are so dedicated to tradition, I find this collaboration to be a step in the right direction. To me, the Royal Pop will never take away the prestige of owning a $60,000 watch. Instead, it extends an olive branch to budding enthusiasts, inviting them to the wonderful (and often intimidating) world of horology.
To me, a brand willing to go out of its way to share its historic philosophy beyond its high-paying customer base deserves a place on my wishlist. AP didn’t have to do this. But it did, and it’s even donating all its profits to the preservation of watchmaking, which is a testament to the brand’s dedication to its craft and the desire to share it with the world.
And if playfully colourful pocket watches are enough to send watch purists into a spiral? Maybe the real problem was never the watch to begin with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Royal Pop available in Singapore?
Yes, the Royal Pop will be available in Singapore at 3 Swatch stores - Ion Orchard, Marina Bay Sands, and VivoCity.
How much is it?
The Lepine-style watches go for $535, while the Savonette-style watches go for $570.
Does it come with the lanyard?
No. Lanyards are sold separately and cost $61.
Should I buy it?
To us, we think it's a great piece to have as a collector's item. It's rare for an AP watch to be offered at such an affordable price point, and marks a historic move on the brand's end as they allow Swatch to use the Royal Oak's likeness in a new format.
How big are the watches?
The dials themselves are 40mm in diameter and 8.4mm in thickness.
