Collaborations in watchmaking represent carefully considered steps towards capturing luxury’s essence. Sometimes, however, an alliance defies expectations. In its unexpected partnership with American designer Matthew Williams, founder of luxury streetwear brand 1017 ALYX 9SM, Audemars Piguet redefines how we perceive time and fashion.
The genesis of this remarkable collaboration was far from a mere coincidence. In 2019, Williams, an ardent admirer of the iconic Royal Oak timepiece, entrusted his cherished watch to the skilled artisans at MAD Paris.
He tasked them with customising the watch’s exterior in a sleek black PVD finish, accentuated by his signature buckle. Little did he know that this bold endeavour would set off a chain of events that would profoundly impact the watch world. It wasn’t long before the bespoke creation caught the attention of Francois-Henry Bennahmias, the CEO of Audemars Piguet. The rest is history.
While Audemars Piguet has a storied history of notable collaborations, they have primarily manifested as singular limited-edition pieces. With Williams, the creative synergy has resulted in an extraordinary quintet of watches, including a one-of-a-kind Royal Oak that was auctioned off at the Tokyo launch.
The watches have been distilled to their essence to achieve pure, uncluttered elegance. The hour markers and chronograph counters have been judiciously omitted to accentuate the graceful, vertical satin finish on the gold dials. It is also the first time the same design has been developed simultaneously for both Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore collections.
Both Royal Oak watches are crafted entirely of yellow gold. The Royal Oak Selfwinding is a 37-mm time-only model and has a pared-down dial adorned with luminescent yellow gold hands with the branding of both brands. The Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph 41mm eschews even the chronograph counters, leaving only three hands to turn at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock respectively. It’s a first for the brand and follows the quiet luxury trend that has been all the rage. Each of these Royal Oak references is limited to 200 pieces.
The pair of Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 42-mm watches share a similar aesthetic ethos and retain only the essentials, such as the date aperture characteristic of the Royal Oak Offshore collection.
The chronograph counters at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock have also been removed, leaving only the hands. There is beauty in their simplicity, as the minimalism accentuates the angles and curves of the Royal Oak’s unmistakable silhouette.
Offered in white or yellow gold, they are equipped with Audemars Piguet’s interchangeable strap system and have an additional black rubber strap. Only 75 pieces of each variant are available to discerning collectors.
The cherry on top of the cake is the unique Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph 41mm featuring a two-tone case and bracelet crafted from yellow gold with stainless steel. This marriage of materials is contrasted with a black PVD-coated gold dial decorated with a vertical satin finish.
The watch was reportedly auctioned off for around US$1 million (S$1.36 million), with the proceeds being directed towards Kids in Motion and Right to Play, two non-profit organisations that support play-based learning initiatives for underprivileged children.
