In late 2024, Audemars Piguet unveiled a 43 mm Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon designed with KAWS—fully in titanium and dominated by a miniature 3D COMPANION pressing its palms to the sapphire crystal. A new peripheral time display pushes the hands to the edge so the artwork stays front and center—more wearable sculpture than traditional dial.

The Watch (2024)
The COMPANION is brushed/sandblasted titanium mounted on a titanium dial plate; the tourbillon is revealed through the figure’s chest. The hand-wound calibre 2979 drives the ring-style hour/minute display around the perimeter, keeping the crystal clear of hands. Reference 26656TI.GG.D019VE.01. (1, 2)

Limited Edition & Engineering
Limited to 250 pieces, with caseback engraving confirming the run, the watch also swaps the usual bezel screws for hex fasteners marked with KAWS “X” motifs. Retail at launch was 200,000 CHF. (2)

Exhibition & Rollout
Timed with the Art Week/Art Basel Miami window, AP amplified the drop with an 11-meter KAWS:HOLIDAY COMPANION installed atop its Le Brassus HQ—a headline gesture that underscored the art-meets-horology story. The installation ran through December 20, 2024. (4, 5)

On-Wrist & Cultural Impact
The watch quickly crossed from collector forums to mainstream culture; Lionel Messi was spotted wearing the “COMPANION” Tourbillon in spring 2025, cementing the collab’s pop-cultural reach beyond pure watch circles. (3)

Wooden COMPANION Release (2024)
Titled TIME TOGETHER (2024), the accompanying wooden sculpture is an 18-inch walnut COMPANION in the same seated rooftop pose as the 11-meter KAWS:HOLIDAY figure installed on Audemars Piguet’s Le Brassus headquarters. Produced in an edition of 100 and released alongside the watch to select clients, it serves as a collectible echo of the public installation. (1, 4)

Why It Matters
This collaboration shows how KAWS’s character-driven practice translates to micro-scale mechanics without losing narrative power—AP literally re-architected a movement to keep the artwork unobstructed. It’s a tidy proof that contemporary art and haute horlogerie can co-author an object with equal parts emotion and engineering.