Many have claimed that this is the age of collaboration. When two ideas, brands, or personalities come together to create a suitable product or service, we witness the birth of magic. This age of collaborations has long been the starting point of endless inspiration and fascinating possibilities, which has now trickled down to the world of watches. Here are a few exciting and interesting watch collaborations you need to know about:
OMEGA X SWATCH
One of the biggest and craziest collaborations in recent times is undoubtedly the unveiling of the Bioceramic MoonSwatch Speedmaster. For this timepiece, OMEGA and Swatch came together to bring us a playful take on the iconic Speedmaster Chronograph timepiece — lovingly called the Moonwatch. Made from Swatch’s patented Bioceramic material, the MoonSwatch range is available in a range of colourful versions that embody celestial bodies like the moon, sun, and planets. Each colourful piece from the Bioceramic MoonSwatch Speedmaster collection is equipped with key Moonwatch designs, including an asymmetrical case, the famous tachymeter scale with a dot over ninety, and the distinctive Speedmaster subdials. Each MoonSwatch also houses its mission statement, an inspiration engraving, and the joint OMEGA and Swatch logos on the dial and crown. On the caseback, the battery cover depicts the celestial being the watch represents. Sustainable, celestial, and highly affordable, the Bioceramic MoonSwatch Speedmaster deserves a place in your watch collection.
PATEK PHILIPPE X TIFFANY & CO.
With only 170 pieces available and as the final edition of the Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. Nautilus 5711, this watch is an automatic addition to any hardcore watch collector’s list. It is available in an unconventional vibrant Tiffany blue dial, with contrasting hands and indices in black. While the watch retains its Nautilus aesthetic, the dial houses the metallic framed date window and the retailer’s signature at 6 o’clock. Once the watch is turned, it reveals a sapphire crystal case, showcasing the automatic Caliber 26-330 S C beating within and an inscription that says “170th Anniversary 1851-2021 Tiffany & Co. – Patek Philippe”. The timepiece commemorates the final collaboration between the two legendary brands, and honours the 170-year-long partnership between Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. The watch arrives in a 40mm stainless steel Nautilus case structure attached to a stainless-steel bracelet.
AUDEMARS PIGUET X MARVEL
Made to celebrate the long-term collaboration with Marvel Entertainment, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon pays tribute to a new generation of Marvel heroes. Featuring the complete figurine of the superhero on the centre of the dial, this timepiece is dedicated to the universe of the Black Panther. The 42mm timepiece is available in a futuristic titanium round case inspired by the cutting-edge suit of Marvel’s Black Panther. The dial houses the pulsating flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock, and a hand-painted detailed rendition of Marvel’s Black Panther. Each figurine detail has been meticulously sculpted and painted by hand by a single engraver and painter. The watch is powered by a generation of hand-wound movement, released by Audemars Piguet in 2018.
HUBLOT X TAKASHI MURAKAMI
If we are talking about collaborations, then the list will never be complete without mentioning the king of collaborations: Hublot. We have taken the second timepiece of the partnership between Hublot and Japanese artist Takashi Murakami for this list. Called the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Sapphire Rainbow, the watch takes Murakami’s signature smiling flower, and transforms it into a whirlwind of transparency and colour. With this timepiece, Hublot and Takashi Murakami continue to transpose the Japanese artist’s Kawaii world into the universe of horology. Here, the smiling flower is decorated with 12 colourful petals, set with 487 stones representing the colours of the rainbow, which rotates around the face creating a polychromatic effect. The three-dimensional smiling flower is placed on the front of the watch. Literally, it looks like it is emerging beyond the sapphire crystal. But what makes this watch stand out is the unique ball-bearing system that allows the petal to start turning, bringing the smiling flower to life. Limited to just 100 pieces worldwide, this special Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Sapphire Rainbow watch will sit high on every watch collector’s list.
PANERAI X BRABUS
With a shared passion for high marine performance, Panerai and world-renowned luxury mobility brand, BRABUS come together for the second time to bring us the Panerai Submersible S BRABUS Blue Shadow Edition. This limited edition timepiece combines the best of both brands, from its design to its functionality. Bold with confident dependability, the watch is dedicated to adventure seekers, and is designed to be worn out in the sea. It is deeply inspired by the BRABUS Shadow 900 Deep Blue Luxury Day-Boat, while boasting the best that the world of horology offers. Crafted in an array of blue and grey tones, the 47mm watch case is from titanium, and shaped using the process of Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS). It houses the signature Panerai cushion case in matte finish with a unidirectional rotating bezel made from Carbotech. The skeletonised dial is home to blue Super-LumiNovaTM indices and hands showcasing the P.4001/S caliber working within. Limited to just 200 pieces worldwide, the Panerai Submersible S BRABUS Blue Shadow Edition is available in two strap options: a bi-material combining black rubber and leather, and an additional strap in deep blue rubber.
BVLGARI X TADAO ANDO
For this 160-piece limited edition Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando timepiece, Bulgari partners with Japanese architect Tadao Ando to construct and interpret time in the most refined way possible. Embodying a resolutely Japanese spirit, the timepiece represents the artist’s signature three elements; the use of cement and glass, combined with the creative use of light. For the Octo Finissimo, Ando expresses time through a spiral engraving on the dial, symbolising a black hole from where time is born. The deep blue lacquered dial houses a time spiral that uncoils from the base of the second hand, and a gold crescent moon at 5 o’clock. Additionally, the timepiece also represents the Mikazuki concept, which denotes the crescent moon and its different stages. Crafted in a 40mm black ceramic case, bezel, and bracelet, the overall design of the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando remains true to the Octo Finissimo collection. It is powered by Bulgari’s in-house ultra-thin Calibre BVL 138 automatic movement.
BREITLING X TRIUMPH
Designed for young and adventurous professionals and inspired by the 1960s café-racer culture, Breitling Top Time joins hands with British motorcycle brand Triumph to give us the ultimate cool watch: the Top Time Triumph. The watch is available in a distinctive ice blue dial that draws inspiration from the blue Triumph Thunderbird 6T from 1951 and a rare, blue-dialled Breitling Top Time Ref. 815 from the 1970s. The caseback is etched with a detailed sketch of Triumph’s parallel twin engine. This nifty addition will be treasured by any collector. The watch is powered by the Breitling Caliber 23, a COSC-certified movement with a power reserve of 48 hours. Following a two-way street with this collaboration, Triumph, on the other hand, is launching 270 co-branded motorcycles called the Speed Twin Breitling Limited Edition. The buyers of this particular motorcycle will have the privilege of purchasing a special owner’s version of the Top Time Triumph timepiece with an engraved caseback featuring the individual number of the bike.
ZENITH X LUPIN THE THIRD
When a Swiss watch manufacturer and a Japanese manga and anime series come together, be assured to witness some unique timepieces that are born from such partnerships. The final edition of the Zenith X Lupin the Third series is just that: a homage to the two editions that came before it. In 2019, Zenith became the first watch manufacturer to produce a watch inspired by a Japanese manga and anime series. This black and grey watch was based on the chronograph watch worn by Daisuke Jigen, Lupin’s sidekick and expert marksman, modelled after the El Primero chronograph and produced in 1969. The second edition also saw a chronograph watch in a black and white colour combination. Limited to 250 pieces, the latest Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third-Final Edition houses two dials featuring two distinct asymmetrical halves. One side of the dial is dedicated to the semi-glossy black dial with deep grey counters and golden applied markers and hands. The other side houses a creamy-white dial with contrasting black “panda” counters. The watch is available in a universal 37mm barrel-shaped titanium case paired with a titanium ladder bracelet, originally designed by the famed Gay Frères company, with a distinctly retro touch.
TISSOT X CYCLING GRAND TOURS
Tissot’s association with cycling Grand Tours makes a lasting impression on all the cyclists globally. Available in three special editions dedicated to the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana, the trio of watches is deeply inspired by the sport, and offers the feel and spirit of the legendary races. From its pushers reflecting the brake levers and hands representing spokes to the crown and caseback reminiscent of the cassette, each of the three pieces feature the respective race logos on the casebacks and colours of each racing event — namely yellow for Tour de France, pink for Giro, red for La Vuelta. Powered by a quartz movement, each timepiece comes in a 45mm carbon case structure featuring an asphalt dial with a tachymeter scale and a second hand in the shape of a bike.
TAG HEUER X PORSCHE
Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer and German sports car manufacturer Porsche announced their new authentic alliance in 2021. The two brands share a common DNA in motorsports and racing, making this collaboration one of the foremost examples of brand integration. To commemorate this long-term partnership between the two iconic brands, TAG Heuer announced the Carrera Porsche Chronograph watch launch. The watch is an exquisite example of coordination, cooperation, and collaboration, based on the classic Carrera Sport Chronograph watch. Porsche’s engraved inscription on the bezel, the dial’s asphalt effect and Porsche colours of red, black, and grey. The transparent crystal caseback showcases an oscillating mass that has been redesigned as a tribute to Porsche’s celebrated steering wheel.
CASIO G SHOCK X RUBIK’ CUBE®
Making a case for unique collaborations is Casio’s recent tie-up with Rubik’s Cube® — the famous puzzle toy invented by Ernő Rubik in 1974. Featuring the latest carbon-core technology, the timepiece pays tribute to the popular retro look with its unique octagonal bezel that frames a colourful dial showcasing an analogue- digital display. Like the puzzle itself, which is recognised for its unique combination of colours and shapes, the limited-edition collaborative timepiece GAE-2100RC-1A also features an interchangeable bezel and tool that allows the watch to get a facelift with every turn. Apart from its striking aesthetics, the watch also features a battery life of three years, water resistance of 200 meters, an alarm function, an auto calendar, dual and world time, a countdown timer, a stopwatch function, and many more.
POLICE X THE BATMAN
Fashion powerhouse Police and DC’s Batman come together to bring us a highly anticipated range of limited-edition watches: The BATMAN collection. Embodying the true spirit of Gotham city’s vigilante, the Police x THE BATMAN timepiece collection offers four unique watches with only 10,000 pieces produced globally. Each of the timepieces is inspired by the elements of the recently released The Batman movie. Each piece artfully represents the different characters in the film, like Bruce Wayne’s alter ego: the masked vigilante known as THE BATMAN, the enigmatic new rising persona-Vengeance, the crime-ridden Gotham City, and Batman’s mysterious new acquaintance, Catwoman. THE BATMAN watch comes in a unique two-part case construction that signifies the duality of the main character, while the Vengeance edition comes with three dials for three different time zones. The Gotham City edition is an ode to the famous city that comes alive with a radiant backlight feature inside the black plated stainless-steel case. Finally, the Catwoman edition pays tribute to the swift and agile persona of the feline superhero with a sleek multi-dial timepiece.
SWATCH X PEANUT
When it comes to the art of collaborations, Swatch has been at the forefront of this trend that has been picking up in recent years. From its early association with Kiki Picasso and Keith Haring to its most recent collaboration with Damien Hirst, Swatch has embraced many partnerships that have created unique timepieces. In 2022, Swatch is being taken over by Charles M. Schulz, the American cartoonist and creator of the Peanuts comic strips. From iconic characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown to Woodstock, the entire Peanuts gang will be a part of the new SwatchXPeanuts collection. Fun, colourful, and offering good vibes only, the collection bursts with imagination and extraordinary moments from the Peanuts comic strip. Available in six designs that celebrate the loveable quirks and personalities of the gang, the watches arrive in bio-sourced materials attached to silicone bracelets on a loop.
