Audemars Piguet: Royal Oak Concept “COMPANION”

Audemars Piguet continues to explore new creative territories, drawing inspiration from and engaging with the wider cultural world. Its latest 43 mm limited edition Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon, designed in collaboration with KAWS, brings the subversive nature of the collection to the fore. The futuristic design of this limited edition of 250 pieces, fully crafted in titanium, is imbued with the aesthetic DNA of one of the most popular artists working today, who has placed a miniature COMPANION at the very heart of the watch. To give pride of place to this cartoon-like character, the Manufacture has literally put time to the side thanks to the use of an innovative peripheral time display.

“It has been an incredible experience working with Audemars Piguet over the past two years to bring this project to fruition. I find the world of watchmaking fascinating, and the artisans at Audemars Piguet are truly exceptional in their craft. I am honoured to have my watch included in the company’s catalogue, which spans over a hundred years of watchmaking excellence.” KAWS

The 43 mm Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “COMPANION” incorporates KAWS’ aesthetic on both sides of the watch. In a tribute to the artist’s early “ad intervention” work, KAWS’ COMPANION appears beneath the watch’s sapphire crystal, its face and hands seemingly touching the inner surface of the glass, curiously peering out to see what lies beyond.

This miniature 3D character in contrasting shades of light and dark grey is entirely made of titanium and is mounted on the titanium dial plate decorated with a sunburst motif. Its alternating satin-brushed and sandblasted finishes add texture and depth, while accentuating its rounded silhouette. Its skull-shaped head, X-shaped eyes, gloves and crossbones make it instantly recognisable. The X eyes have been cut into the titanium component and filled with a thin layer of grey lacquer. Lastly, in a nod to KAWS’ dissected series, the chest of the COMPANION reveals its beating heart, the watch’s tourbillon, blurring the line between the character and the movement. 

PERIPHERAL HOURS AND MINUTES

To ensure an unobstructed view of the miniature COMPANION on the dial side, Audemars Piguet has literally pushed time to the side by using a peripheral time display that offers new aesthetic possibilities for both movement and dial designs. The hour and minute hands rotate around the periphery of the movement and dial, thanks to two visible, superimposed gear wheels driven by pinions and guided by rollers. The titanium hour and minute hands, both filled with luminescent material that turns blue in the dark, are fixed to their respective peripheral wheel. In addition, the minute hand is openworked to distinguish it from the hour hand and facilitate the reading of time. The five-minute graduations, carved into the titanium inner bezel, also glow blue in dim light. 

THE KAWS TOUCH

The multifaceted titanium case, finished with an alternation of sandblasting, satin-brushing and polishing, echoes the miniature COMPANION’s contrasting textures and grey shades, while the case’s titanium inserts augment the Royal Oak Concept’s futuristic architecture. Both the bezel and the caseback have been secured to the case middle with eight hexagonal screws subtly marked with KAWS’ trademark X. This motif is also engraved on the satin- brushed frame of the sapphire caseback, alongside KAWS’ signature and the words “Limited Edition of 250 pieces.” The black ceramic crown, topped with a titanium chip, adds the final touch. The play of textures and light continues on the dark grey calfskin leather strap. The interchangeable system integrated directly into the case and the triple-blade folding clasp allows the wearer to change styles with a quick click and release. The watch comes with a second strap in slate grey calfskin leather, also decorated with a textile pattern, to enhance its contrasting grey tones. 

THE NEW MOVEMENT CAL.2979

This limited edition is powered by the new hand-wound peripheral hour and minute movement, Calibre 2979, which gives pride of place to the tourbillon on the dial side at 6 o’clock. This delicate, high-end complication reduces the effects of gravity on the watch’s accuracy. The balance wheel and escapement are housed in a tiny rotating cage that completes a revolution every minute to prevent their centre of gravity from staying in the same orientation. The sapphire caseback showcases the movement’s black-PVD titanium bridges, whose padded aesthetic is inspired by KAWS’ cast of characters. The gear train bridge opens onto the ratchet wheel, which arms the barrel-arbour when the watch is wound, and which has been crossed out to reproduce KAWS’ emblematic X. The click that prevents it from turning in the unwinding direction is also visible at 12 o’clock. The bridges’ blackened aesthetic is contrasted by the mention of “Swiss,” “39 jewels” and the “Audemars Piguet” signature, all engraved by laser and filled with white lacquer.