The Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop is built from Bioceramic — one of the most durable watch case materials available at any price point. But durable does not mean indestructible. Here is everything you need to know to keep your Royal Pop in perfect condition for years to come.
Is the Royal Pop Scratch Resistant?
The Royal Pop's Bioceramic case is highly scratch resistant. The ceramic content in the Bioceramic compound gives it a hardness that conventional plastic cannot match. Everyday scratches from keys, bags, and surfaces that would mark a standard plastic watch case leave the Royal Pop's Bioceramic case largely unaffected. The colour in the Bioceramic is compounded directly into the resin during manufacturing — it goes all the way through the material. A scratch that penetrates the surface will reveal the same colour underneath rather than a different colour or bare material. For practical purposes, the Royal Pop's case is one of the most scratch-resistant surfaces you can put on your wrist at this price point.
Can the Royal Pop Get Wet?
Yes. The Royal Pop is water resistant to 20 metres. This is sufficient for everyday exposure to rain, handwashing, and splashing. It is not suitable for swimming, snorkelling, or water sports. Do not submerge the Royal Pop in water for extended periods and do not expose it to high-pressure water such as showers or jets. After any exposure to water, wipe the case dry with a soft cloth before storing or wearing.
How to Clean the Royal Pop
Clean the Royal Pop's Bioceramic case with a soft, damp cloth. For more thorough cleaning, use a small amount of mild soap on a soft cloth and wipe the case gently. Rinse with a damp cloth and dry immediately. Do not use abrasive cleaners, solvents, or cleaning products that contain alcohol — these can damage the Bioceramic surface or the calfskin lanyard. The sapphire crystal on the front and back of the watch can be wiped clean with a dry microfibre cloth.
How to Clean the Calfskin Lanyard
The Royal Pop ships with a colour-matched calfskin lanyard. Leather requires more careful maintenance than Bioceramic. Keep the lanyard away from water as much as possible — extended water exposure will damage the leather and cause it to dry out and crack. Clean the lanyard with a dry cloth and apply a small amount of leather conditioner occasionally to keep it supple. Store the lanyard away from direct sunlight when not in use — UV exposure causes leather to fade and dry out over time.
How to Store the Royal Pop
Store the Royal Pop in a clean, dry environment away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. The Bioceramic case is not affected by temperature variations within normal living conditions, but extended exposure to temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius — such as leaving the watch in a hot car — should be avoided. The Sistem51 movement is a mechanical movement and will stop if left unwound for extended periods. If you are storing the Royal Pop for more than three days, wind it fully before storage to maintain the lubricants in the movement at their optimal distribution.
How to Wind the Royal Pop
The Royal Pop uses the first hand-wound version of the Sistem51 movement. It must be wound manually by rotating the crown. On the six Lépine references, the crown is at 12 o'clock. On the two Savonnette references, the crown is at 3 o'clock. To wind the watch, push the crown fully in and rotate it clockwise. The 90-hour power reserve means you do not need to wind the Royal Pop every day — a full wind will carry the watch for three and three quarter days before it needs winding again. Wind the watch fully rather than partially for best results — partial winding over time can lead to uneven distribution of the mainspring tension.
How to Set the Time on the Royal Pop
To set the time on the Royal Pop, pull the crown out to the first position and rotate it to move the hands to the correct time. Push the crown back in when the time is set. On the Lépine references, the crown is at 12 o'clock. On the Savonnette references, the crown is at 3 o'clock. The Royal Pop does not have a date function — there is no date to set on any of the eight references.
Can You Service the Royal Pop?
The Sistem51 movement is not designed for traditional watchmaking servicing. The movement plates and bridges are ultrasonically welded together — there are no screws in the movement and traditional disassembly is not possible. Swatch's position is that the movement is replaced rather than serviced at the end of its service life. For a watch that retails at $400, this is the most economically practical approach. The movement is designed to run reliably for many years before replacement becomes necessary.
How to Protect the Royal Pop Sapphire Crystal
The sapphire crystal on the front and back of the Royal Pop is the hardest crystal material used in watchmaking. It will not scratch under normal conditions. However, sapphire can chip or crack if struck sharply against a hard surface — particularly at the edges where the crystal meets the case. Avoid knocking the Royal Pop against hard surfaces and be particularly careful with the exhibition caseback, which is more exposed than the front crystal.
How to Use the Pop Mechanism
The Royal Pop case head is modular — it pops in and out of its lanyard clip using a proprietary mechanical lock. To release the case, press the pop mechanism on the lanyard clip. The case head will release cleanly. To reattach, align the case head with the clip and press firmly until you hear and feel the mechanism click into place. Do not force the mechanism — if it does not click into place easily, realign and try again. Our precision-fit wrist strap uses the same pop mechanism — the case head pops into and out of our strap adapter using exactly the same process as the original lanyard clip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Royal Pop scratch resistant? Yes. The Bioceramic case is highly scratch resistant due to its ceramic content. Everyday scratches that would mark a conventional plastic case leave the Royal Pop largely unaffected.
Can the Royal Pop get wet? The Royal Pop is water resistant to 20 metres — sufficient for rain and splashing but not for swimming or water sports.
How do I wind the Royal Pop? Push the crown fully in and rotate it clockwise. The crown is at 12 o'clock on the six Lépine references and at 3 o'clock on the two Savonnette references.
How often do I need to wind the Royal Pop? The Royal Pop has a 90-hour power reserve. A full wind will carry the watch for three and three quarter days.
Can the Royal Pop be serviced? The Sistem51 movement is replaced rather than traditionally serviced at the end of its service life.
How do I clean the Royal Pop? Wipe the Bioceramic case with a soft damp cloth. Use mild soap for more thorough cleaning. Dry immediately after any water exposure.