The ALYX Audemars Piguet Collection Represents Haute Horlogerie's Tribute to Street Culture

The partnership between the Swiss horologists and ALYX’s Matthew M Williams results in a five-piece collection that is both sophisticated and informal.

Audemars Piguet has consistently maintained its status as a symbol of cool throughout urban culture. In hip-hop, the House has been referenced as a prestigious symbol by industry luminaries such as Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, and numerous others, while the Swiss manufacturers have capitalized on the fame of its devoted A-list patrons—Jay-Z is among a select group of collaborators, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and LeBron James, who have launched exclusive co-designed collections with AP. This time, the watchmakers have adopted an alternative strategy towards street culture, with Matthew M Williams of 1017 ALYX 9SM (and Givenchy!) contributing his vision to three legendary models.

Throughout its 148-year history as watchmakers, the House has never ceded this level of creative control. Historically, dedicated fans are aware of ALYX's previous, unofficial endeavor to reinterpret a classic from the brand. In 2021, the designer collaborated with MAD Paris, renowned reengineers of highly sought-after, unique timepieces in the horology sector. Although Williams' earlier conception of the Royal Oak included a comparable monochromatic, brushed metal exterior to his current capsule, the official AP X ALYX collaboration adopts a more subdued approach, omitting the ALYX hallmark Cobra clasp fastening.

This exemplifies Matthew's minimalist style in his inaugural collaboration with the horologists. Rendered entirely in yellow gold or white gold, his interpretation of the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore models (available in two sizes, 37mm and 41mm) challenges conventional norms by emphasizing minimalism and understated elegance. Both iterations exhibit a sense of utilitarian refinement, characterized by a sleek, high-gloss finish achieved through the removal of the date aperture and hour markers. The latter iteration further enhances this aesthetic by retaining only the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock indicators on the dial, pursuing "timelessness" through the elimination of its signature chronograph counters. The partnership is indicated by a stamped ALYX emblem, fully spelled out with all numerical components, yet maintained in a minimalist style, subtly engraved at the bottom of the dial.

In sustaining the contemporary attitude that preserves the historic allure of AP's appeal, William's iteration