Comments:
Swatch x Audemars Piguet is real
I thought this was just some internet nonesense. Really strange collaboration. Really strange.
What are your thoughts on this, AP-enthusiasts?
What are your thoughts on this, AP-enthusiasts?
It is great
Good news, it will bring a whole new wave of people into the watch world, and all marketing is good. And it would be pretty ridiculous if someone who owns a genuine AP Royal Oak felt threatened by this, how insecure would you have to be?
Great move by Swatch. Terrible move for AP. I would hope Patek or VC never sink to this level.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a Nautilus, Overseas or Type XX in a swatchified version!
The plastic version just serves to anchor the watches in the general public’s mind. Did Blancpain‘s or Omega’s brand equity suffer? Personally, I think in both cases it actually increased due to higher notoriety of the brands.
Waiting for the steel cases and bracelets that can be bought on Ali Express to convert the Moonswatch to a steel watch.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the same thing for this AP x Swatch. I am not a collector of AP (prefer Patek and Vacheron) but would buy this swatchified version of the Royal Oak and then turn around and convert it to a steel version once the kits on Ali Express come out.
When I saw
how fantastic the Audemars Piguet booth at Watches and Wonders was, how incredibly friendly the staff were, how helpful, and how completely unarrogant they were, it became clear to me: they must be having sales problems. 😎
[Please type something here]
Omega X Swatch made me stop buying omega's.
It definitelly ruined the fun for me with regards to Omega.
AP x Swatch made me put the RO on the side and chances are super high it wont come to the wrist again and even be sold at one point. This how much i hate this collab..
Cheers.
This message has been edited by India Whiskey Charlie on 2026-05-09 12:46:56
It definitelly ruined the fun for me with regards to Omega.
AP x Swatch made me put the RO on the side and chances are super high it wont come to the wrist again and even be sold at one point. This how much i hate this collab..
Cheers.
[Please type something here]
For someone who has been on this forum for such a long time and contributed so many posts, I honestly find your reaction quite strange. I hope we can discuss this normally without it turning into some childish argument, because I genuinely do not understand where you are coming from.
Your Omegas did not suddenly become less interesting or less special just because Swatch released a plastic version that is obviously nowhere near the real thing. So if someone owns a Royal Oak, I would hope they bought it for what the watch actually represents. The finishing, the movement, the craftsmanship, the quality, the history behind it. A €250 Swatch will never offer the same experience or level of watchmaking, so I really do not see why anyone would feel threatened by it.
And honestly, if this kind of thing bothers you that much, why even wear expensive watches at all? Every famous watch model out there already has endless fake copies that try to imitate the original as closely as possible. Personally, I would find that far more annoying than a fun plastic watch that takes some inspiration from the design while remaining completely different from the real AP. Nobody is realistically going to confuse a Swatch with a Royal Oak.
If anything, a watch like this could introduce younger people to watches and spark a real interest in horology. Some teenager buying a Swatch today could very well become the kind of person who dreams of owning a real Royal Oak later in life. And if even a small percentage of those people eventually become AP customers, then this is probably a very positive thing for the brand in the long run.
Now, I can understand why certain snobs who own an AP would dislike this. Those are probably the people who bought the watch mainly to impress their equally superficial friends and brag about how expensive or difficult to get it is. But I always thought people on this forum were a bit more passionate and genuine than that. I would hope most people here buy watches because they truly appreciate them, not because they want to use them as status symbols.
This message has been edited by India Whiskey Charlie on 2026-05-09 12:48:40
Your Omegas did not suddenly become less interesting or less special just because Swatch released a plastic version that is obviously nowhere near the real thing. So if someone owns a Royal Oak, I would hope they bought it for what the watch actually represents. The finishing, the movement, the craftsmanship, the quality, the history behind it. A €250 Swatch will never offer the same experience or level of watchmaking, so I really do not see why anyone would feel threatened by it.
And honestly, if this kind of thing bothers you that much, why even wear expensive watches at all? Every famous watch model out there already has endless fake copies that try to imitate the original as closely as possible. Personally, I would find that far more annoying than a fun plastic watch that takes some inspiration from the design while remaining completely different from the real AP. Nobody is realistically going to confuse a Swatch with a Royal Oak.
If anything, a watch like this could introduce younger people to watches and spark a real interest in horology. Some teenager buying a Swatch today could very well become the kind of person who dreams of owning a real Royal Oak later in life. And if even a small percentage of those people eventually become AP customers, then this is probably a very positive thing for the brand in the long run.
Now, I can understand why certain snobs who own an AP would dislike this. Those are probably the people who bought the watch mainly to impress their equally superficial friends and brag about how expensive or difficult to get it is. But I always thought people on this forum were a bit more passionate and genuine than that. I would hope most people here buy watches because they truly appreciate them, not because they want to use them as status symbols.
We're Lucky to Have Both of You, Variety is the Fun and Spice of Life Gentlemen, Wish You Both a Fantastic Weekend 😊❤️👍
These movements can’t even be serviced. They’re disposable watches.
It would be different if the Swatch tributes were powered by a conventional movement that could be seen as cannibalizing the market for a real AP.
Super clones that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing have been on the market for years and you probably still wore your APs, but now that clearly cheap, bright versions of them are on the market that is a bridge too far?
Are you concerned about brand awareness? Yet more people aware of the expensive piece of metal on your wrist? If that’s the case then AP is the wrong brand to try to be discreet with since they have been all about expanding their fanbase for decades.
Super clones that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing have been on the market for years and you probably still wore your APs, but now that clearly cheap, bright versions of them are on the market that is a bridge too far?
Are you concerned about brand awareness? Yet more people aware of the expensive piece of metal on your wrist? If that’s the case then AP is the wrong brand to try to be discreet with since they have been all about expanding their fanbase for decades.
This seams really strange to me!
It is obvious, the real thing cannot be compared in any way to this fun piece! Quite the opposite, the real thing becomes even more attractive!
AP will force you to buy a Code 11 in Order to get allocated the royal pop.
Nothing new under the sun😉. If it’s true that AP sales are hurting they perpetuated that problem themselves so I don’t feel bad for them one bit. I hope it’s true their arrogance knows know bounds.
I am now actually in the camp of those who genuinely prefer the Code over the Royal Oak!
imagine… mistakenly getting mugged for wearing a swatch!
Perhaps, it’s time to wear the real APs because nobody would care to rob anymore.
I simply do not care about AP. In most of their watches, Vacheron and Patek have better finishing.
The Royal Oak never appealed to me while I have bought both a Nautilus and an Overseas. I actually started viewing the Code more kindly than I view the RO.
That being said, I personally would buy an AP x Swatch Royal Oak but only if it is not a pocket or pendant watch and comes in decent colours.
It’s basically the same as for the Omega x Swatch. I simply do not care about Omega or the Speedmaster but I did buy two Swatch Speedmasters to test drive the design. Same for AP x Swatch now.
why is no one talking about Swatch
in this collab? they made good quality, fun, and colorful watches. certainly a break from the usual, sometimes dour, old school of watch making.
What's wrong with two watch makers deciding to have a little fun and spice things up a bit? chill 😎
What's wrong with two watch makers deciding to have a little fun and spice things up a bit? chill 😎
I'd like to propose an analogy: Julia Child.
Julia Child took "fancy French cooking" and made it accessible to everyone by demystifying it, showing how with a bit of effort everybody could eat well and enjoy better food.
Swatch, with Sistem51, has brought the idea of a 90 hour power reserve automatic watch with a lower number of parts, produced inexpensively, to the common person. In essence, they've finished what Hamilton (I think, correct me if I'm misstating history) started with the standardization of watch making back in the day. In other words, bringing a "bit better" horology to the masses.
Now, with the collaborations with Blancpain and Audemars Piguet (Omega is Quartz) they are showing that just maybe the "average Joe" can have a bit of flair and a taste of design as well. I remember watching one of the final episodes of Anthony Bourdain where he and Eric Ripert were interviewing some of the Young Turk chefs in Paris and a major theme was the democratization of fine eating. Over and over the young chefs questions why fine eating should be reserved for the wealthy when with the simple removal of the fancy service, everyone could enjoy the cuisine.
I'd propose a basic thesis that we are seeing something similar here. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe it's all purely a money play. But maybe, just maybe, we're seeing a small sharing of good taste and quality to the masses. I don't necessarily believe it cheapens the real thing. You can like Opera AND Rock.
Then again, the lead singer of Iron Maiden has a PhD.
Swatch, with Sistem51, has brought the idea of a 90 hour power reserve automatic watch with a lower number of parts, produced inexpensively, to the common person. In essence, they've finished what Hamilton (I think, correct me if I'm misstating history) started with the standardization of watch making back in the day. In other words, bringing a "bit better" horology to the masses.
Now, with the collaborations with Blancpain and Audemars Piguet (Omega is Quartz) they are showing that just maybe the "average Joe" can have a bit of flair and a taste of design as well. I remember watching one of the final episodes of Anthony Bourdain where he and Eric Ripert were interviewing some of the Young Turk chefs in Paris and a major theme was the democratization of fine eating. Over and over the young chefs questions why fine eating should be reserved for the wealthy when with the simple removal of the fancy service, everyone could enjoy the cuisine.
I'd propose a basic thesis that we are seeing something similar here. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe it's all purely a money play. But maybe, just maybe, we're seeing a small sharing of good taste and quality to the masses. I don't necessarily believe it cheapens the real thing. You can like Opera AND Rock.
Then again, the lead singer of Iron Maiden has a PhD.