Audemars Piguet has a history of unconventional collaborations with musicians, fashion brands, and pop culture figures. For their new collaboration, the maison has chosen YOON and VERBAL, two Tokyo-based artists who traverse diverse cultural landscapes. Their overflowing creativity elevates the "Royal Oak Concept" to a new level of appeal.
The black aventurine dial and the red anodized tourbillon carriage make a striking statement. The titanium bezel and case feature a combination of sandblasted, satin, and polished finishes, highlighting the collection's distinctive modern design. Manual winding (Cal. 2982). 18 jewels. 21,600 vibrations/hour. Power reserve of approximately 72 hours. Titanium and ceramic case (38.5mm diameter, 11.4mm thickness). 2 ATM water resistance. Limited edition of 150 pieces worldwide. Price upon inquiry.
Photographs by Eiichi Okuyama
Yuzo Takeishi: Editing and writing
Edited & Text by Yuzo Takeishi
[Article published in the July 2026 issue of Kronos Japan]
Unveiling a new realm of creativity through collaboration
While utilizing manufacturing techniques passed down for over 150 years to create watches with high aesthetic appeal, Audemars Piguet has also actively collaborated with diverse cultures.
The first of these was the "Royal Oak Offshore End of Days," released in 1999. This model, created jointly by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, known for his love of watches, and Audemars Piguet, became an instant sensation after being featured in the film of the same name in which Schwarzenegger starred.
Building on this success, Audemars Piguet has consistently released collaborative models. After gaining attention with a collaboration with hip-hop musician Jay-Z in 2005, the brand accelerated its ties with music culture, while also collaborating with NBA player (currently with the Los Angeles Lakers) LeBron James. In recent years, it has not only generated buzz by building cross-genre partnerships with Marvel (familiar from comics and movies), Matthew Williams' 1017 ALYX 9SM, and artist KAWS, but has also showcased Audemars Piguet's outstanding watchmaking expertise.
What these partners have in common is a strong connection to contemporary culture. Audemars Piguet has gained support from younger generations by associating itself with cutting-edge culture. This approach continues to this day, and in 26 years, another surprising collaboration has been realized: the collaboration between YOON and VERBAL.
YOON is an American fashion designer. She launched her jewelry brand AMBUSH in 08, and her signature piece "POW!" gained support from celebrities including Kanye West, bringing her into the fashion industry's spotlight. In 18, she was appointed jewelry designer for Dior Homme.
VERBAL, on the other hand, is a musician widely known both domestically and internationally as a member of m-flo and TERIYAKI BOYZ. He has also been involved in numerous works and projects as a DJ, music producer, and cultural entrepreneur.
Ambush was co-founded by YOON and VERBAL. Initially launched as a jewelry brand, Ambush later shifted to a fashion brand. Since then, it has collaborated with companies such as Nike and Uniqlo, gaining global recognition.
As with previous collaborations, Audemars Piguet focused on YOON and VERBAL's approach of pursuing the essence of things without being swayed by trends and continuously challenging existing frameworks. Recognizing that this approach deeply resonates with the Maison's watchmaking philosophy, they were confident that a unique chemistry would emerge through collaboration, and thus proceeded with the creation of a new timepiece.
The base model chosen was the "Royal Oak Concept." This collection has been used numerous times as the canvas for collaborative pieces, serving as a "platform for experimentation and innovation." For VERBAL, the original Royal Oak Concept, released in 2002, is a particularly meaningful timepiece in his collection, and he considers it "a precious watch that embodies the 'decisive moment' that I have pursued as a collector."
This is how the "Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon" was born. Created based on a shared vision of "purpose, not excess" and "essence, not noise," this timepiece features a 38.5mm unisex case, a black aventurine openwork dial, and a flying tourbillon with an anodized red upper carriage, resulting in a design that combines serenity and avant-garde spirit. The dial creation is also truly unique, with mirror-polished silver-gray bevels around the intricately lined openings, and a three-dimensional structure that allows a glimpse of part of the movement through the openings. This cutting-edge design work is in perfect harmony with the architectural form characteristic of the Royal Oak Concept.
The watch is powered by the Caliber 2982, a hand-wound flying tourbillon movement specially developed for this timepiece. This movement is an evolution of the Caliber 2964 previously used in the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon, retaining its deep structure while eliminating unnecessary elements to create a design that aligns with the concept of this timepiece, which pursues the "essence" of time. On the other hand, the movement is also hand-finished with delicate techniques such as micro-blasting, satin, and polishing, allowing you to enjoy the Audemars Piguet-esque creativity, which is another highlight of this timepiece.
A close examination of the details reveals that it is Audemars Piguet's craftsmanship that makes such innovative and flawless designs possible. Audemars Piguet has consistently challenged the limits of expression through collaborations with other fields, particularly in the realm of complication watches. This challenge will undoubtedly continue, astonishing enthusiasts in the future.
