The year 2023 can be described as the "Year of Collaborations" in the watch industry, filled with diverse partnerships involving brands of different levels within the same group, as well as collaborations with major names, independent watchmakers, and cross-industry collaborations. In September of this year, AUDEMARS PIGUET collaborated with fashion designer Matthew Williams' personal brand, 1017 ALYX 9SM, marking a cross-industry collaboration. In less than three months, AP announced another cross-industry collaboration, this time with American rapper Travis Scott's personal brand, resulting in the release of the Royal Oak Hollow Perpetual Calendar "Cactus Jack" limited edition watch.
The most notable aspect of this collaboration is the use of brown ceramic for the watch case, a first for AP and humorously referred to as "The chocolate AP," a name inspired by Travis Scott describing AP watches as "chocolate" in his latest album. The entire "Cactus Jack" limited edition watch case and bracelet clasp are made of brown ceramic, representing a novel design for AP. To achieve the unique chocolate hue, AP applied a combination of high-polish and matte finishing to all components, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship.
In addition to the eye-catching brown ceramic, the dial details are also intriguing. At the 6 o'clock position, the moon phase display simplifies the traditional moon pattern into Travis Scott's signature "Ghost Face Moon," which emits blue luminescence in the dark. The sub-dials at 9, 12, and 3 o'clock respectively display the day, month, and date, utilizing a new font that reflects Travis Scott's handwriting style, making for a truly distinctive design.
On the back of the watch, there are engravings of the AP logo, "Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar," "Limited Edition of 200 Pieces," and the phrase "Utopia is a state of mind," paying homage to Travis Scott's latest album "Utopia." The central part of the movement is engraved with the Cactus Jack logo, serving as a commemoration of this cross-industry collaboration. The watch comes with a new brown denim and calfskin leather strap, complemented by a rose gold folding clasp engraved with the AP logo and Travis Scott's signature.
In terms of functionality, the "Cactus Jack" limited edition is equipped with the 5135 automatic winding movement, capable of automatically calculating the days of each month and accounting for leap years, with a power reserve of up to 40 hours, requiring no manual adjustment until the year 2100.
This collaboration highlights AP's attention to street culture, continuing the brand's successful partnerships with notable figures such as Jay-Z (2005) and LeBron James (2013). Travis Scott, a globally renowned American rapper and representative of fashion trends, once again affirms AP's leading position in the fashion industry, injecting new youthful vitality into the brand.
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