Swatch and Audemars Piguet Launch Bioceramic Royal Pop Pocket Watches
Instagram users circulated AI images of colorful plastic Royal Oak wristwatches for a week before the official Royal Pop collection of eight bioceramic pocket watches launched on Tuesday. The collaboration references the 1979 Royal Oak Pocket Watch and uses a new Sistem51 movement with a 90-hour power reserve.
professionalwatches.comSwatch and Audemars Piguet confirmed their Royal Pop collaboration on May 8, 2026. Instagram watch fans had already spent the previous week sharing AI-generated images of colorful plastic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak wristwatches in navy, orange, pink, yellow, and green. The real Royal Pop collection launched on Tuesday ahead of schedule.
The Royal Pop Collection consists of eight pocket watches made from Swatch's bioceramic composite. The Royal Pop Lépine style has the crown at 12 and is priced at $400.
The Royal Pop design references the 1979 Royal Oak Pocket Watch reference 5691. It uses an entirely new hand-wound version of Swatch's Sistem51 caliber that is completely machine assembled. Swatch has 15 active patents on the new Sistem51 iteration used in the Royal Pop.
The Royal Pop movement has a 90-hour power reserve. It includes an antimagnetic Nivachron balance spring codeveloped with Audemars Piguet. The Royal Pop design allows the watches to ping out of their bioceramic holder clips, referencing Swatch's 1986 POP line.
75 percent drop in sales in 2025. 6 percent decline in operating profit in 2025. The 2025 Swatch Group sales drop was primarily attributed to a sharp drop in demand for its watches in China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Omega enjoyed a 50 percent bump in sales following the release of the MoonSwatch. Chris Hall, founder of The Fourth Wheel Substack, stated: “The prelaunch hype has become a key part of it all, an enormously valuable part. Today's audience is even more clued-in than it was four years ago.
Kenneth Kuan is the founder and CEO of Delugs. Delugs posted its concept design for Project WristPop on Instagram and put up a wait list on its site.
Kenneth Kuan stated: “We're targeting a release before the end of 2026. The ambition is to be first to market with something credible and properly made. ” Delugs was first to market with rubber straps for the Tissot PRX when it launched.
Paul Midler, author of Poorly Made in China: An Insider's Account of the Tactics Behind China's Production Game, stated that Chinese manufacturers might have working prototypes available within a couple of weeks after obtaining specifications and online listings in under a month. Aaron Alpeter is the founder and CEO of supply chain specialist Izba Group.
Wired reported that within hours of the Royal Pop announcement, third-party strap brands recognized the watches could clip into custom bracelets, creating a path to the wristwatch version fans had imagined in AI images. Delugs confirmed it had asked its production team to give Project WristPop top priority.
Distributors have already inquired about carrying the straps while the product remains a concept.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
5 events- 2026-05-08
Swatch and Audemars Piguet confirm Royal Pop collaboration
1 sourceWired - 2026-05-13
Real Royal Pop collection launches on Tuesday ahead of schedule
1 sourceWired - 2026-05-14
Delugs posts Project WristPop concept on Instagram and opens wait list
1 sourceWired - 2025
Swatch Group reports 6.75 percent sales drop and 55.6 percent operating profit decline
1 sourceWired - 2022
Omega MoonSwatch release leads to 50 percent sales increase
1 sourceWired
Potential Impact
- 01
Third-party accessory makers likely accelerate production of wrist adapters for Royal Pop cases
- 02
Audemars Piguet maintains separation from low-price wristwatch version to protect high-end customer base
- 03
Chinese manufacturers could list compatible straps and adapters online within a month of launch
- 04
Potential uplift in Swatch Group visibility and sales from collaboration hype despite 2025 declines
Transparency Panel
Related Stories
investors.comTesla Cuts Model Y Starting Price in India by 12 Percent
Tesla introduced a new Premium rear-wheel-drive Model Y in India and removed the Long Range rear-wheel-drive version. The change lowers the entry price by about 12 percent from the original 2025 launch price.
SemaforAnthropic Raises $65 Billion at $965 Billion Valuation
Anthropic completed a $65 billion funding round at a $965 billion valuation. The round follows earlier growth that exceeded internal forecasts and a separate agreement to lease computing capacity.
thesouthafrican.comSouth African Researchers Develop Quantum and AI Tools for Cybersecurity
Scientists and startup companies in South Africa are applying quantum communication and AI-powered tools to address rising global cyber threats. The work focuses on strengthening data protection methods.