Swatch x Audemars Piguet: Everything You Need to Know About the Royal Pop (and How to Wear It on Your Wrist)
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The most anticipated collaboration of 2026 is here. But between global hype, long queues, and a watch… without a strap, here's what you really need to know — and how to make the most of it.
The collaboration that set the watch world ablaze
On May 16, 2026, Swatch did it again. After the global success of the MoonSwatch with Omega, the Biennese manufacture partnered this time with Audemars Piguet — one of the most legendary houses in Swiss haute horlogerie — to launch the Royal Pop.
Long queues outside Swatch boutiques in Paris, London, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur. Thousands of people ready to wait hours, even days, to get their hands on one of the eight references in the collection. A global frenzy comparable to the one that accompanied the first MoonSwatch in 2022.
The result of this union between two Swiss icons? A collection of colorful bioceramic pocket watches, sold from £335, inspired directly by the Royal Oak — a timepiece that exceeds €35,000 in its original version.
What exactly is the Royal Pop?
A hybrid object designed to be worn anywhere
The Royal Pop is not a classic wristwatch. It's a modular pocket watch, available in two versions (Lépine and Savonnette), designed to be worn in multiple ways: around the neck with a lanyard, in a pocket, clipped to a bag, or displayed as a decorative object thanks to its removable stand.
But let's be honest: many buyers want it on their wrist. And that's where it gets interesting.
The Royal Oak's DNA codes, in an accessible version
From a design perspective, Swatch and AP didn't do things by halves:
- Octagonal bezel with its eight hexagonal screws, the unmistakable signature of the Royal Oak
- Petite Tapisserie dial, the legendary pattern invented by Gerald Genta in 1972
- Vertical satin finish on the bezel and caseback
- Two sapphire crystals (front and back)
- Super-LumiNova Grade A on hands and indices for optimal nighttime readability
Inside, Swatch's SISTEM51 caliber in a new hand-wound version, with 15 active patents, over 90 hours of power reserve, and an anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring. A genuine Swiss mechanical movement, 100% automated assembly — an industrial feat unique in the world.
Eight colorways, two styles
The collection presents the Royal Pop in eight models with evocative names — Huit Blanc, Ocho Negro, Green Eight, Lan Ba, Otg Roz… — in an unapologetic Pop Art spirit, colorful and bold.
The only problem: it comes without a strap
This is the great frustration of the watch enthusiast community. Under Swatch and Audemars Piguet's Instagram posts, thousands of similar comments appeared at launch:
"Make sure it can be converted into a wristwatch."
The Royal Pop is delivered with a lanyard — convenient for wearing as a pendant, less satisfying for those who want the experience of a true wristwatch.
A Norwegian watchmaker specializing in customization even published a tutorial video showing how to transform the Royal Pop into a wristwatch. Result: 3.1 million views and a topic that went viral within days.
The good news is that the solution exists.
Wearing the Royal Pop on your wrist: our compatible straps
At Straprwatch, we specialize in straps for major Swatch collaborations — and the Royal Pop is no exception.
We offer a selection of straps designed to fit the Royal Pop and transform it into a genuine wristwatch, worthy of its iconic design.
Why choose a Straprwatch strap?
Carefully studied compatibility. Our straps are specifically selected and tested for the Royal Pop, with no complex technical modifications required.
Materials worthy of the AP design. Quality leather, precision rubber, premium NATO — options that honor the Royal Oak's codes rather than betray them.
Total customization. Eight watch colorways, dozens of possible combinations. The Royal Pop invites personal expression — so does your strap choice.
The MoonSwatch experience as a benchmark. For years, we've been equipping MoonSwatch owners with straps that transform their watch into a showpiece. We know what we're doing.
The Royal Pop, an investment worth protecting
At £335, the Royal Pop remains accessible — but it's also a collector's piece already resold well above its launch price on the secondary market. Suffice it to say it deserves as much attention as any valuable watch.
A well-chosen strap is also a way to protect the original lanyard, extend the life of the worn watch, and adapt it to every context: casual on weekends, more elegant for evenings out.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Royal Pop really adapt to a strap? Yes. With the right adapter and the right strap, the transformation is clean and reversible. You get the original lanyard back whenever you want.
What types of straps are compatible? We offer options in leather, rubber, and NATO. Check our dedicated Royal Pop catalog to see compatible references.
Will it damage the watch? No. Our solutions are designed to be non-invasive and reversible.
The verdict
The Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop is far more than a marketing gimmick. It's a genuine Swiss mechanical watch, powered by an impressive caliber, dressed in the codes of one of the most coveted watches in the world — for a fraction of its price.
It just needs a strap worthy of its name. We've got you covered.
👉 See our compatible Royal Pop straps
Article written by the Straprwatch team — specialists in straps for Swatch collaborations since 2022.