Swatch and Audemars Piguet (AP) unveiled the Royal Pop collection on May 16, 2026, at selected boutiques in Singapore and Malaysia, featuring eight modular pocket watch models inspired by AP's Royal Oak and Swatch's 1980s POP concept [1, 2, 3].
The collection offers two case styles: Lepine with the crown at 12 o’clock, and Savonnette with the crown at 3 o’clock and a small seconds subdial. The eight colorways carry evocative names such as OTTO ROSSO, HUIT BLANC, and GREEN EIGHT [1, 2, 3].
Each watch features an octagonal bioceramic case measuring 40mm in diameter, clipped into an outer holder sized 44.2 by 53.2mm with a thickness of 8.4mm [1, 2, 4]. The timepieces use a newly reworked manual-wind version of Swatch’s SISTEM51 mechanical calibre with a 90-hour power reserve and an anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring [1, 2, 3, 4].
The watches emphasize modularity and versatility. They can be worn around the neck, clipped to bags, carried in pockets, or converted into desktop clocks via a detachable mini stand. The Royal Pop lineup features 15 active patents, including a unique barrel construction. A power reserve indicator changes color from grey to gold when fully wound [1, 2, 3, 4].
The collection launched simultaneously in Singapore at Swatch boutiques in Ion Orchard, Marina Bay Sands, and VivoCity, and in Malaysia across five malls including Pavilion KL and Mid Valley [1, 2, 5, 6, 7]. Prices range from about SGD 535 to 570 in Singapore and RM 1,720 to RM 1,840 in Malaysia, depending on the model [5, 6, 8].
Demand was strong with large crowds and long queues. Fans camped overnight starting May 15 evening, some bringing supplies for the wait. An anonymous queue participant at Ion Orchard said, "My survival strategy was ‘100PLUS till the morning’, alongside ‘blood, sweat and tears’" [6]. Collector Lang Jiawei said, "Audemars Piguet is a big brand and a collaboration with Swatch is incredible and new; that's why I wanted to queue" [7].
The overwhelming turnout led to safety concerns. The VivoCity Swatch store canceled sales and closed early on launch day, with sources attributing the closure either to a joint decision with authorities or an internal staff and mall management decision after crowd buildup [9, 10]. At Ion Orchard and Marina Bay Sands, stock sold out within about two hours, while unofficial numbered queues and some scuffles prompted police presence [6, 7, 9, 11].
Many buyers were enthusiasts or collectors viewing the watches as collectible niche luxury items. Resellers were also active, with some joining personal networks for pre-orders or resale [5, 6, 7, 8]. A buyer named Shalin said, "It was very tiring overnight, but getting the watch finally made me very excited because I finally got the watch I liked" [12]. Another buyer’s friend, Ali, added, "Happy and tired but really satisfied to get the Royal Pop watch here in Malaysia" [12].
The Royal Pop collection is not a limited edition but is sold in a limited time window with a one watch per customer per day purchase limit [7, 10].
