Audemars Piguet’s latest Royal Oak Concept was designed in collaboration with American artist Brian Donnelly, aka KAWS. The limited edition Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon COMPANION places KAWS’ most recognizable cartoon-like character at the center of the dial. Donnelly started out as a graffiti artist in New York City in the 1990s, making a name for himself by ‘subvertising’ phone booth and bus shelter advertisements. His early ‘ad intervention’ work paved the way for his current cast of characters, including COMPANION, created in 1999.
Fully crafted in titanium, the 43-mm case contains a miniature COMPANION mounted on the titanium dial plate. The 3D titanium figurine’s face and hands seem to be pressed-up against the sapphire crystal. In a nod to KAWS’ dissected series, the chest of the figurine frames the watch’s tourbillon. To ensure an unobstructed view of the dial, AP literally pushed time to the side by using a peripheral time display. The titanium hour and minute hands rotate around the periphery of the movement and dial, thanks to two superimposed gear wheels driven by pinions and guided by rollers. Filled with luminescent material that turns blue in the dark, the hands are fixed to their respective peripheral wheel. The minute hand is openworked to distinguish it from the hour hand. The five-minute graduations, carved into the titanium inner bezel, also glow blue in low light. Both the bezel and the caseback are secured to the case with eight screws subtly marked with KAWS’ trademark X. This motif is also engraved on the 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. This limited edition is powered by the new hand-wound peripheral hour and minute movement, Calibre 2979, which showcases the tourbillon on the dial side at 6 o’clock.
Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon COMPANION – audemarspiguet.com
