The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Companion” (ref. 26656TI.GG.D019VE.01) merges technical audacity with contemporary art in a limited edition of just 250 pieces. Created in collaboration with American artist KAWS, the watch prominently features his iconic Companion character in sculptural form, pressed against the inside of the sapphire crystal – a playful yet deliberate gesture that disrupts the traditional hierarchies of time display and aesthetic priority.

Crafted in 43mm of sandblasted titanium with a green ceramic bezel, the case houses an openworked dial with peripheral hour and minute rings, allowing unobstructed focus on the central Companion figure. Below, the manual-wound calibre 2949 delivers an approximate 72-hour power reserve and features a hand-finished tourbillon at 6 o’clock. Water-resistant to 30m, the piece exudes both robustness and sharp artistic tension.

This edition marks Audemars Piguet’s most conceptual dive into contemporary visual culture to date. The fusion of avant-garde design with a deeply technical, limited-production calibre positions the ref. 26656TI.GG.D019VE.01 as a collector’s artefact at the intersection of independent art and haute watchmaking.