Audemars Piguet x Swatch ‘Royal Pop’ unveiled: A pop art spin on the iconic Royal Oak

Launching on May 16 (Saturday) in the UAE and globally, the much-hyped collaboration between the Swiss luxury watchmaker and Swatch takes the iconic Royal Oak and gives it a colourful, fashion-forward makeover inspired by Pop Art. Think bold hues, playful styling and a design that feels more street-style accessory than traditional luxury timepiece. Available in eight vibrant colourways, the Royal Pop collection leans into Swatch’s signature Bioceramic aesthetic while keeping key Audemars Piguet design codes intact. The octagonal bezel, exposed screws and iconic “Petite Tapisserie” dial pattern all remain, giving the watch its unmistakable Royal Oak identity. The biggest twist? It’s not just designed for the wrist. The Royal Pop can also be worn around the neck, clipped onto a handbag, slipped into a pocket or displayed as a desk clock with its removable stand. It’s playful, unconventional and clearly aimed at a younger generation of collectors who want their watches to double as statement accessories. According to Forbes, the collection includes two movement layouts — one with a clean two-hand display and another featuring a small seconds subdial. Small details keep the collaboration interesting. On the white “HUIT BLANC” model, the eight bezel screws are all rendered in different colours, while satin-brushed finishes, Super-LumiNova-coated hands and anti-reflective sapphire crystal add touches of classic watchmaking polish. But beyond the bright colours and fashion-forward design, the Royal Pop has also sparked serious debate within the watch community. While some collectors see the collaboration as a clever way to introduce a younger audience to Audemars Piguet, others argue that partnerships like this risk diluting the exclusivity and prestige of the Royal Oak legacy. Still, controversy hasn’t slowed the hype. Ahead of the launch, eager fans were reportedly already camping outside Swatch stores in New York City, hoping to get their hands on one of the most talked-about watch drops of the year. Love it or hate it, the Royal Pop isn’t trying to be quiet. It’s colourful, collectible and made for a generation that treats watches as statement pieces as much as instruments of time. Manjusha Radhakrishnan has been slaying entertainment news and celebrity interviews in Dubai for 18 years—and she’s just getting started. As Entertainment Editor, she covers Bollywood movie reviews, Hollywood scoops, Pakistani dramas, and world cinema. Red carpets? She’s walked them all—Europe, North America, Macau—covering IIFA (Bollywood Oscars) and Zee Cine Awards like a pro. She’s been on CNN with Becky Anderson dropping Bollywood truth bombs like Salman Khan Black Buck hunting conviction and hosted panels with directors like Bollywood’s Kabir Khan and Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh. She has also covered film festivals around the globe. Oh, and did we mention she landed the cover of Xpedition Magazine as one of the UAE’s 50 most influential icons? She was also the resident Bollywood guru on Dubai TV’s Insider Arabia and Saudi TV, where she dishes out the latest scoop and celebrity news. Her interview roster reads like a dream guest list—Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan, Robbie Williams, Sean Penn, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Morgan Freeman. From breaking celeb news to making stars spill secrets, Manjusha doesn’t just cover entertainment—she owns it while looking like a star herself.