Last month, Brian Donnelly — aka KAWS — was spotted sporting an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak featuring his signature ‘XX’ on an artsy dial, and it got everyone talking. Known for flipping pop culture on its head, KAWS has made a name turning everything from toys to high fashion into collectible gold. Now, the American artist and designer is stepping into the world of luxury watches, teaming up with Audemars Piguet to drop something seriously special. Limited to 250 pieces — starring his iconic COMPANION and a unique peripheral time display — the new Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon KAWS Edition is pure fire.

The 3D COMPANION figure in contrasting shades of light and dark gray is crafted entirely from titanium, giving it a sleek yet edgy vibe. Mounted on the titanium dial plate with a sunburst pattern, the figure stands out thanks to its alternating satin-brushed and sandblasted finishes that add texture and depth to its rounded shape. With its signature skull-shaped head, X-shaped eyes, gloves, and crossbone ears, it’s impossible to miss. The X eyes are cut into the titanium and filled with a thin layer of grey lacquer, adding a subtle but striking touch. And in true KAWS fashion, the COMPANION’s chest pulls back to reveal its beating heart — the tourbillon — perfectly blurring the line between art and the intricate mechanics of time.

“It was uncharted territory for us,” said Lucas Raggi, Audemars Piguet’s R&D Director. “From the get-go, the challenge was clear — creating space for that external hour and minute display while allowing the COMPANION to truly shine. We had a blank canvas in the middle, and that’s where our creativity came alive. I still remember the brainstorming sessions where we discussed how to convey that feeling — like the character is trapped in the watch, yearning to break free. The peripheral time display was a first for us, an entirely new concept. We’d been experimenting with this kind of system for a while in R&D, but this was the moment we brought it to life on a watch.”

Audemars Piguet has quite literally shifted time to the edge with a groundbreaking peripheral display, putting the COMPANION character front and center. The hour and minute hands elegantly orbit the periphery, powered by two visible, superimposed gear wheels that hover above the dial. Crafted from titanium, the hands glow a vivid blue in the dark, with the openworked minute hand ensuring easy readability. Even the five-minute markers, etched into the titanium inner bezel, light up in low light, adding a futuristic flair to this remarkable timepiece.

The watch is powered by the new hand-wound Calibre 2979, featuring a peripheral hour and minute movement that places the tourbillon in the center at 6 o’clock. The balance wheel and escapement sit in a tiny rotating cage, completing a full revolution every minute. Flip over the watch, and you’ll spot black-PVD titanium bridges through the sapphire caseback, with design nods to KAWS’ signature characters. The gear train bridge connects to the ratchet wheel that winds the barrel-arbor, with KAWS’ iconic X etched on it. It comes with an interchangeable light gray calfskin strap with a textured finish, a titanium triple-blade AP folding clasp, and a second slate gray calfskin strap for a fresh swap.

Tech Specs: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “COMPANION” 

Movement: Manual-winding Calibre 2979; 72-hour power reserve
Functions: Peripheral hours and minutes; 60-second tourbillon
Case: 43mm × 17.4mm; sandblasted titanium case; water-resistant up to 100m
Dial: Sunburst titanium dial plate with miniature titanium COMPANION
Strap: Interchangeable light gray calfskin strap with textile effect; second interchangeable slate gray calfskin leather strap
Availability: Limited to 250 pieces