The name itself is a nod to a Swatch model released in 1986 that deconstructed the very purpose of the watch. It was a timepiece that could be worn on the wrist but also popped out of its frame and clipped onto clothes, where it could act more like a fashion accessory than a timekeeper. What horophiles are eagerly anticipating is Swatch’s bold approach to affordability and wearability combined with the legendary luxury of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak (the ‘Royal’ of Royal Pop) in one timepiece.

After days of the Swiss brands teasing the release of the project with short promotional clips on social media – resulting in watch lovers letting their imaginations run wild with illustrations and AI-generated images of what might be expected – the design and the technological specifications of the hotly-anticipated piece have finally been spilled.

Crafted from bioceramic, the new Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop comes in 8 vibrant colourways, and two different styles: a lidless pocket watch with its crown at the 12 o’clock position and only hour and minute indications, and a ‘savonette’ (or, ‘hunter’ style pocket watch) with its crown at 3 o’clock and a small second indicator at the 6 o’clock position.

As expected, the watch is a throwback to Swatch’s innovative ‘Pop’ and can be clipped into a handy pocket watch holder with a leather lanyard, so it can be worn in multiple ways.

All eight rainbow-hued models are 40mm (without their cases) and nod to the distinctive octagonal bezel with eight visible screws of the classic Royal Oak, and, fittingly, each is named in different languages after its colour combinations and the number eight: Huit Blanc (a white version with rainbow accents), Green Eight (green and light blue), Otto Rosso (rosy red and pink), Orenji Hachi (navy blue with orange), Blaue Acht (bright green and light blue), Ocho Negro (monochromatic black and white), Lan Ba (light and medium blue) and Otz Roz (a jazzy vibe with pink, yellow and turquoise). Present, too, is the signature Royal Oak Petite Tapisserie dial pattern, and both the hands and hour markers are coated with Super-LumiNova so they can be read in the dark.

The timepiece is powered by Swatch’s Sistem51 movement, which boasts a precision rating of -5 / +15 seconds per day and a power reserve of 90 hours. For the first time, it’s a hand-wound calibre. An exhibition caseback allows viewers to see all movements within the watch, and each is decorated with bright, pop-art inspired colour – a nice touch.