Beyond the buzz, with the perspective befitting the oldest Swiss watchmaking journal — celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026 — the Journal Suisse d’Horlogerie JSH reminds us that the bold Audemars Piguet had already dared to release a pop version of its Royal Oak as early as 1979…
Joël A. Grandjean, JSH Magazine & Swiss-Watch-Passport.ch’s editor in chief
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A historical gem has just surfaced. It comes from the Curator of the Musée Atelier au Brassus, Dave Grandjean. At a time when this institution is receiving the complete set of “RoyalPop” models — yet another good reason to visit this landmark of Swiss watchmaking history — he has brought out from a vault or reserve the very first historical version of this phenomenon.
The rediscovered model bears an incredibly faithful resemblance to the current “AP x Swatch” version in bioceramic, equipped with a movement specifically developed for the occasion — a manual-winding derivative of the famous Sistem51 calibre. It is whispered that collectors, the keenest-nosed among them, are already on the hunt for these originals, of which little is known regarding how many were produced at the time of their release.
As Philippe Perret du Cray, aka PPDC, wrote in the JSH post that set the internet ablaze on social media on the afternoon of 22 May 2026: “this nod to history takes nothing away from the work of the product teams at both houses… It puts into perspective the creativity, boldness and forward-thinking vision of some of our finest Swiss watchmaking brands and the richness of our heritage.“
PPDC goes on to encourage enthusiasts, curious visitors and passionate fans alike to visit more often the collections of priceless treasures on the history of watchmaking held in Swiss watch museums. In this case, the one at Le Brassus, on the very site where the great Maison had its beginnings, and in Biel/Bienne, the Swatch museum — “a little less technical but very fun” — which traces the incredible saga of the brand.
As Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794) would have said: “Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed!”
