Audemars Piguet is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of watchmaking, and the new 43 mm Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “COMPANION” ($22,000) is yet another testament to their innovative spirit. Designed in collaboration with the iconic New York-based artist KAWS, this limited edition timepiece merges the cutting-edge craftsmanship of Audemars Piguet with the artistic vision that has made KAWS a household name in the contemporary art world. Fully crafted in titanium, the watch is both an artistic statement and a technical marvel, featuring a miniature COMPANION figure at its heart and an avant-garde peripheral time display.
The collaboration with KAWS is a perfect match for Audemars Piguet, a brand that has long fostered a dialogue between watchmaking and the broader cultural world. KAWS’ early work—beginning with “ad interventions” and evolving into his iconic cast of characters—reflects a constant desire to push boundaries in terms of material, form, and context. This spirit is clearly mirrored in the groundbreaking Royal Oak Concept collection, making the collaboration a natural fit. The COMPANION figure, with its melancholic stance and instantly recognizable form, finds a new home in the world of haute horlogerie, embodying the unconventional and bold mindset that characterizes both artist and watchmaker.
The Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “COMPANION” incorporates KAWS’ aesthetic sensibility on both sides of the watch. In a nod to the artist’s “dissected” series, the chest of the miniature COMPANION reveals the watch’s beating heart: its tourbillon. This 3D titanium figure, mounted on the titanium dial plate, is meticulously crafted with a combination of satin-brushed and sandblasted finishes, adding texture and depth while highlighting its rounded silhouette. The use of titanium gives the figure an industrial, yet refined look that complements the watch’s contemporary design.
In a particularly creative twist, the time display has been literally pushed to the edge—both aesthetically and mechanically. The hour and minute hands rotate around the periphery of the movement and dial, enabled by two visible, superimposed gear wheels driven by pinions and guided by rollers. This innovative peripheral time display not only ensures an unobstructed view of the miniature COMPANION but also opens up new design possibilities for both movement and dial construction.
The watch is powered by the newly developed hand-wound Calibre 2979, which features a peripheral hour and minute movement. The tourbillon, proudly displayed at 6 o’clock, serves to reduce the effects of gravity on the watch’s accuracy—a testament to Audemars Piguet’s dedication to high-end watchmaking complications. With KAWS’ COMPANION at its core and a tourbillon enhancing its precision, this limited edition is a true synthesis of artistic imagination and technical prowess.
The Audemars Piguet x KAWS Companion Watch is a piece for collectors who appreciate the intersection of art and craftsmanship, those who see a watch not just as a tool to tell time but as an object with its own unique story to tell. Limited in production and rich in character, this watch is an audacious celebration of creativity, making it a must-have for anyone who wants a statement piece that truly stands out.
