udemars Piguet and Swatch have confirmed a new collaboration called Royal Pop.
The design is expected to offer a colourful take on Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak.
The watch is set to launch on Saturday, 16 May 2026.
Audemars Piguet and Swatch have joined forces for Royal Pop, a colourful new watch collaboration launching on 16 May.
Swiss watchmaking is about to get a playful shake-up. Swatch and Audemars Piguet have joined forces for a new collaboration titled Royal Pop, bringing together one of the world’s most recognisable luxury watchmakers with one of the industry’s most accessible and colourful names.
The collaboration is set to launch on Saturday, 16 May 2026, and has already sparked major interest among collectors, design fans and watch enthusiasts. While full details have yet to be revealed, the name Royal Pop points towards a bold reinterpretation of Audemars Piguet’s iconic Royal Oak, one of the most celebrated luxury sports watches in modern horology.
The project appears to combine Audemars Piguet’s watchmaking heritage with Swatch’s playful approach to design. Early teasers suggest a colourful direction, with references to pop art, the Pop Swatch line and the Royal Oak’s distinctive identity. The result could be one of the most talked-about watch launches of the year.
The design is believed to draw inspiration from the Royal Oak’s instantly recognisable silhouette, while Swatch’s use of BioCeramic materials and Sistem51 mechanical movement technology have been widely discussed by industry observers. However, official specifications, pricing and availability have not yet been confirmed.
The teaser campaign has been building for several weeks through cryptic advertisements and social media posts. The use of the phrase Royal Pop has prompted plenty of speculation, with some interpreting it as a nod to the Royal Oak, while others see it as a reference to Swatch’s colourful Pop Swatch heritage.
The collaboration follows the success of Swatch’s high-profile partnerships with Omega and Blancpain. The Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch, launched in 2022, became a global phenomenon, drawing queues outside stores and introducing a new generation to Swiss watch culture.
In an official teaser, the brands said: “Introducing Audemars Piguet x Swatch, a disruptive collaboration that fuses joyful boldness and positive provocation with the art of haute horlogerie. Two Swiss icons come together to reimagine a completely new way to wear time and bring future generations to the world of mechanical watches. Stay tuned!”
Audemars Piguet has also been leaning further into pop culture in recent years, with collaborations involving Travis Scott and Marvel. Now, Royal Pop could bring that cultural crossover to a wider audience.
Further details are due to be announced soon.
Contact: www.swatch.com