Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Black Panther Flying Turboullion

Last month, Audemars Piguet announced a partnership with Marvel Entertainment, and today we’re getting a look at the first watch born from this superhero collaboration. Check out the limited edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Black Panther Flying Turboullion, who’s futuristic design recalls the cutting-edge suit of Marvel’s Black Panther. While it’s not made from Vibraniaum, it certainly looks like something straight out of Wakanda!

The AP Royal Oak Concept Black Panther Flying Tourbillon features a textured look with satin-brushed and polished titanium inserts, topped off with a polished black ceramic bezel. The dial presents a hand-painted rendition of the Black Panther, comprised of white gold. The suit’s texture has been carved out by laser, while the details adorning his hands, claws, muscles and facial features have been sculpted by hand. Numerous layers of diluted dark paint have been meticulously added by hand to reach the perfect balance of texture, contrast and depth.

Beneath its centerpiece, the watch is powered by the Caliber 2965, a hand-wound mechanism with a flying tourbillon first released in the RO Concept Collection in 2018. Visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback are the titanium geometric bridges sandblasted and coated with black and grey PVD coating, the back of the tourbillon cage and part of the gear train. The dial side also offers a peek at the open-worked barrel at 10 o’clock and the coiled mainspring, providing 72 hours of power reserve.

This horological fantasy comes wrapped in a new intermediate 42mm titanium case (versus 44mm and 38.5mm) with an octagonal black ceramic bezel and crown, thus sitting more easily on most wrists. Lightweight enough not to weigh you down when combatting whatever real-life villains cross your path, the watch’s purple gasket and rubber strap add extra flair in case you need to exert your superhero status.

While this watch may seem like a big departure for AP, it’s clearly found an audience, as during a charity auction, a one-off Royal Oak Concept Black Panther Flying Tourbillon with a hand engraged white gold case with a motif inspired by the superhero’s costume sold for a whopping $5.2 million, going to a buyer in China. LeBron James was also spotted wearing one recently.

If you want to get your hands on an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Black Panther Flying Tourbillon, you’d best not delay, as it’s being released in a limited edition of 250 pieces, with a price tag of $162,000. And if you miss out on it, the good news is there should be another superhero for your wrist in the future, as this partnership is just getting started.

What do you think of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Concept Black Panther Flying Turboullion?