Imagining a pocket watch usually immediately evokes images of vintage vests, elegant chains, and bulky gold pieces that seem to belong to a distant world. However, the history of Audemars Piguet invites us to discover a completely avant-garde facet of this classic accessory.

Long before the watchmaking world adopted the concept of disruptive design, this manufacture was already drawing the lines of the watch of tomorrow. During the fifties and sixties, Audemars Piguet took the pocket watch towards unexplored horizons, creating ultra-thin cases, challenging mechanisms, and fascinating silhouettes.

In the years following the Second World War, the entire society turned its gaze towards a new technological era. Amidst this transformation, the brand managed to reinvent a traditional object while preserving its essential magic. The result materialized in extraordinarily thin pieces with a bold aesthetic. A perfect example is the 5616 BC model created in 1962, a 43 mm watch whose shape resembles a flying saucer. Its silhouette perfectly captures the spirit of an era in which science fiction, automotive design, and the space race were shaping the vision of the future.

Its trajectory tells us of a profound exploration of portability, design, and the absolute freedom to decide how and where to wear time.

Today, reviewing the evolution of these watches is especially captivating. This innovative vision continues to beat in the present. In this year 2026, Audemars Piguet presented a vibrant collaboration with Swatch, reviving the concept through the Royal Pop model. This new piece is designed to be shown off with total versatility: kept in the pocket, hanging from the neck, or as a striking fashion accessory.

With each creation, Audemars Piguet shows us how great design ideas manage to remain forever contemporary.