Audemars Piguet x KAWS: Haute Horlogerie in a disruptive way

The Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon ‘COMPANION’, limited to 250 pieces only, fuses the most technical precision with contemporary art.

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Made entirely of titanium and measuring 43 mm in diameter, this exclusive timepiece challenges the limits of traditional design thanks to its disruptive approach: time takes a back seat to give centre stage to an iconic character, the COMPANION, which is reinterpreted at the heart of the dial. A bold peripheral hours and minutes display accompanies this miniature figure that seems to emerge from beneath the sapphire crystal.

From his beginnings in the 1990s as a graffiti artist in New York to hanging his works in the world’s leading museums and imbuing acclaimed brand designs with his iconic COMPANION, KAWS possesses one of the most prodigious minds on the contemporary art scene. Now, he is conquering haute horlogerie with Audemars Piguet and setting the rules for how art can transform seemingly immovable disciplines.

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Under a sapphire crystal, COMPANION seems to interact with the design of the watch: his hands and face touch the surface as if he is curiously observing its mechanical interior. In shades of light and dark grey and made entirely of titanium, the character retains KAWS’ most iconic elements: X-shaped eyes, skull head and stylised gloves. Details such as satin and sandblasted finishes add depth and texture, while its ‘chest’ reveals the tourbillon, a nod to the artist’s Dissected series.

The Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon ‘COMPANION’ is powered by the new hand-wound calibre 2979, which shifts the hours and minutes to a peripheral display, leaving the centre for the real star: the tourbillon. This high-precision complication defies gravity to ensure impeccable performance, while the technical design of its black-finished titanium bridges pays homage to KAWS’ quilted characters.

This collaboration reinforces Audemars Piguet’s commitment to connect fine watchmaking with contemporary art and pop culture. In doing so, KAWS joins a list of visionary artists with whom the Swiss house has worked to redefine what it means to wear a watch in the 21st century. With the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon ‘COMPANION’, it is not only a tribute to technical innovation, but also to the boundless imagination that constantly challenges the status quo.

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In addition to the miniature COMPANION at the heart of the limited edition Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon ‘COMPANION’, a large-scale inflatable COMPANION sculpture on the roof of AP’s headquarters at Route de France 16 in Le Brassus, as part of the artist’s KAWS:HOLIDAY series. To mark the occasion, they have also created an exhibition of three large-scale wooden COMPANION figures, kindly provided by Gallery Mourmans, at the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet. Both the KAWS:HOLIDAY installation and the MAAP exhibition will remain installed for a few weeks, until 20 December 2024.

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Available in an exclusive limited edition of 250 pieces, this masterpiece promises to be both a collector’s icon and a bold statement for those looking for more than just a watch: a symbol of creativity and vision.