Hongkongers brave four-day wait for Audemars Piguet x Swatch 'Royal pop'

Audemars Piguet (AP) and Swatch's latest Royal Pop collection has drawn buyers in Hong Kong to clock in four days early, with queues forming outside flagship stores ahead of the official release.

This comes as the two Swiss watchmaking icons have launched a collaboration consisting of eight pocket watches called the Royal Pop Collection, which combines AP's iconic Royal Oak with Swatch's POP watches from the 1980s.

Designed to rewrite the rules of watchmaking for creative styling, the collection launches this Saturday (16 May) at select Swatch stores worldwide. At its core is a new hand-wound version of Swatch's SISTEM51 movement, finished with a pop art touch. The watches come in two styles: Lépine and Savonnette. The collection is made of bioceramic material in various colours, comes without straps, and is priced between HK 2,940 and HK$3,150.

Audemars Piguet and Swatch's new "Royal Pop" collection has surprised the internet since its announcement. Before the official reveal, many speculated about what the watch would look like-until it turned out to feature a pocket watch-style dial. Despite the unexpected design, demand remains strong among those queuing up for a chance to buy.

After Swatch's blockbuster collaboration with Audemars Piguet (AP) was revealed online, lines have already formed outside Swatch stores across Hong Kong, including Mong Kok's Langham Place, Tsim Sha Tsui's Harbour City, K11 MUSEA, Mira Mall, Causeway Bay and Elements. Netizens reported on Threads that queues began snaking outside Swatch stores in Causeway Bay, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui as early as Tuesday, with both young adults and the elderly sitting on chairs, prepared for a long wait.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to AP and Swatch for more information. 

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In fact, Swatch has been collaborating with various watchware brand recent years that have drawn the enthusiasm. This follows the latest frenzy after Swatch’s collaboration with Omega and Blancpain. The Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Collection consists of five mechanical watches. They are an interpretation of Blancpain’s most iconic watch, the Fifty Fathoms and feature a fun take on the iconic dive watch. 

Back in 2022, Swatch and OMEGA announced the launch of the BIOCERAMIC MoonSwatch collection, which quickly sparked long queues worldwide. The 11-piece series pays tribute to the planets and was priced at an affordable US$258. Now, the new collaboration brings a youthful twist to OMEGA’s iconic Speedmaster Moonwatch, which typically sells for at least US$6,600.

Photo courtesy: Threads account @thomas.is.writing, @cocon_ut1088 

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