Swatch Unveils Their Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Collab

On May 6, 2026, Swatch’s Instagram account teased a release of an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collab going on sale May 16, and pictures of the actual watches have now been released. Here’s what we know about the most hyped lanyard-watch of all time, the Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop.

Where to Buy the Royal Pop?

In the US, Swatch boutiques in 20 cities will sell the Royal Pop beginning on May 16: Honolulu, Aventura, Denver, Austin, Las Vegas, Nashville, Tampa, Atlanta, Miami Beach, Orlando, Dallas, Oak Brook, Garden City, New York, Troy, Charlotte, Houston, King of Prussia, Canoga Park, and Santa Clara.

How Many Colors?

There are 8 colorways of the Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop announced so far:

The two models with small seconds hands have 3 o’clock crown configurations while the rest (which are only two-hand models) have 12 o’clock crowns. All of them are manual-wind and we expect a price around $450.

Swatch Collabs in Context

Swatch’s Omega Speedmaster-like Moonswatch–their first collaboration with an upscale watchmaker–was a smash hit when it debuted in 2022, and it has remained popular. As a chronically underrated luxury watch brand, we thought Blancpain’s following collab with Swatch in 2023 could help save them, and I would call it a success–although not as big of a sensation as the Moonswatch.

Naturally, some question if collabs like this “devalue” the image of the luxury brand involved, but I think the market has been able to differentiate the Swatch products from the “real deal” while appreciating both.

Will the Swatch x AP Royal Oak Collab Help AP?

Well, it’s worth noting that since the Moonswatch launch, Omega has continued to slide from its #2 spot in the list of top luxury watch brands down to #5, so the Moonswatch hasn’t exactly turned things around for Omega. But it’s definitely a sales leader for Swatch.

Some watch geeks are already jokingly calling the upcoming Swatch Royal Oak the “Royal Broke,” but I doubt that will stop many people from buying one.

Is the Swatch x AP Royal Oak a Wristwatch?

The Swatch x AP Royal Pop is not a wristwatch; it’s officially called a “pocket watch” though apparently it’s designed to be worn as a necklace (on a lanyard that it pops into).

With Hublot’s recent Daniel Arsham pendant, a Nautilus pocket watch among the 2026 Patek Philippe releases, and Irina Shayk basically wearing a Cartier Santos as a bra (among other watches at the 2026 Met Gala), it seems there’s a bit of a trend towards non-wrist watches.

I don’t doubt that this Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collab will create long lines at Swatch boutiques (some are already forming, I’m told) though obviously a wristwatch would’ve been a bigger deal. But it’s the first time Swatch has collaborated with a luxury brand they didn’t own, so it’s still a significant release. And I’m sure there will be aftermarket bracelets for the Royal Pop heads in no time.