The latest Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet is made for all the Marvel fans out there. The royal-looking watch was first revealed in March and kickstarted the Swiss luxury brand’s partnership with Marvel. As the first in a series of branded AP x Marvel watches, the Black Panther Royal Oak watch is released in limited 250 pieces and retails for about $162,000.
LOOK: Meet the AP Royal Oak Concept ‘Black Panther’ Flying Tourbillon
Straight from the Vibranium mines of Wakanda, Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak Concept Black Panther Flying Tourbillon. The black and purple design features a 42mm sandblasted titanium case with sapphire crystal and caseback, complete with a black ceramic bezel and crown. Its purple accents pay homage to the color of the Vibranium—a fictional purple metal appearing in the lore known for its abilities to absorb, store, and release large amounts of kinetic energy. However, the highlight of the design is arguably the hand-painted, white-gold, 3D sculpture of the Wakanda superhero above the flying tourbillon.
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The reference is complete with white-gold hour-markers with black PVD coating, purple inner bezel, and luminous white-gold Royal Oak hands. It’s presented in a purple rubber strap with titanium AP folding clasp and is also packaged with an additional black rubber strap. Beating inside is the hand-wound manufacture Calibre 2965 with 72 hours of power reserve.
The AP Black Panther looks more elaborate than it had to be to pass as a tribute to the Marvel film. But, in a true Audemar Piguet style, the brand went ahead to create a timepiece that is so eye-catching, you don’t have to be a fan to appreciate the craftsmanship and level of expertise it represents.
AP Sells ‘Black Panther’ White Gold Version For $5.2 Million
Fans had their first look at the watch in April during a star-studded event in LA, which also featured an auction of a one-off white gold Black Panther version. It was sold for a whopping $5.2 million—proceeds that went to charitable organizations supporting underprivileged youth. It took about 30 hours to complete, which included hand-engraving and hand-painting to bring the character to life.
The Audemars Piguet watch may not be a collectible toy. But, it certainly is something to behold, particularly when you know that it’s from one of the world’s most successful watchmakers today. While its initial release happened earlier this year, it continues to make rounds on the Internet, adorning the wrists of some of today’s most recognized figures including Canadian singer, The Weeknd, and NBA player, LeBron James.
Good news for Marvel fans, though. The AP Black Panther is only the first in an ongoing partnership between the Swiss manufacturer and the media franchise.
Avengers Assemble: Audemars Piguet Partners with Marvel
The partnership between Audemars Piguet and Marvel was actually decades in the making. In a virtual presentation, chief executive François-Henry Bennahmias said he already had the tie-up with Marvel and its band of superheroes in mind some 15 years ago.
However, it only started to materialize in 2017 when American actor Don Cheadle, best known for playing War Machine in the MCU franchise, helped Bennahmias set up a meeting with Marvel executives.
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With the release of the Black Panther watch, we don’t know just yet what would be next from the collaboration. AP has remained tightlipped about the details of the collection, but one thing’s for sure: fans are eager to see how Audemars Piguet will give life to Marvel superheroes like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and The Hulk. If anything, the brand’s partnership with Marvel is the latest example of how AP has often looked beyond traditions for inspiration and in the realms of pop culture and entertainment.
An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Just for You
If you’re looking for a watch with an illustrious history and experience that spans over 140 years, Audemars Piguet is no doubt an exquisite choice. Each AP watch is made and given unquestionable craftsmanship, which is a result of years of research and development.
It offers a variety of watches that match every style and preference. But, probably the most interesting of it all is its Royal Oak—the very first luxury watch made of stainless steel. It fascinated the watch industry with its release in the early 1970s and fast forward to the present, it continues to offer a wide range of powerful tools with a sleek dial and wide indexes and is equipped with a minimum of 70 hours of power reserve.
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With the release of the AP Royal Oak Concept Black Panther, you have another watch that is worth considering adding to your list of must-haves. It does away with the traditional, monochromatic colorways but it looks elegant and fashionable just the same.
What do you think of the Marvel-inspired AP Royal Oak watch? Let us know by leaving a comment.
