From Pocket To Pendant, A Selection Of The Coolest Non-Wristwatches

There was no getting around the Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop these past week and a half or so, especially for us, as we were the first to show you what it actually looked like. And while it sparked a very strong debate, to say the least, the transformability of the Royal Pop did get us thinking. Out of all the watches we see, and it’s in the thousands each year, what were some of the coolest non-wrist- or convertible/transformable watches in recent years? With that in mind, we started digging and selected what we think are the best ones, ranging from affordable to very expensive. And we fully admit this list isn’t endless, so feel free to suggest alternatives in the comments!

Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop

The Royal Pop is the obvious choice, the one that was on everyone’s feed, timeline and mind for days on end following the cryptic first teasers. Like it or not, Swatch created a buzz again, and Audemars Piguet is actually commended for doing this in our minds. The Royal Pop is a pendant watch, a pocket watch and a desk clock in one, fusing the DNA of the iconic Royal Oak with the frivolity of the original Swatch Pop concept. Wear it around your neck, as a keychain, a pocket watch or prop it up to see time while you work, it really is up to you! Two models with 8 variations in total are available, with accessories to switch styles (apart from converting to a wristwatch, for now at least), and prices are either EUR 385 for the hour-and-minute Savonnette style, or EUR 400 for the hour-minute-seconds Lépine-style Royal Pop.

For more information, please visit Swatch.com or AudemarsPiguet.com.

Volan Type One

Not too long ago, Dutchman Diederik van Goolen introduced us to his new brand, Volan Watches. Merging lifestyles, the Volan Type One brought back the concept of the tyre watch from the 1950s, and added to that a deck-wood version for those with a passion for yachting. Sold as keychain watches at heart, they could also be considered a form of pocket watches, really. Both come with a mechanical movement, a time-only display in black or white and a thematic exterior to match. One comes with a rubber bumper around the case with a tyre tread pattern, while the other has a layered teak and beach-wood casing mimicking the look of a boat’s deck. Priced at EUR 950 each, Volan Type Ones are both fun and relatively affordable.

For more information, please visit Volan-Watches.com.

Bovet Monsieur Bovet turquoise

If you want versatility, the Bovet Monsieur Bovet is right up your alley. Thanks to its clever case construction, you can wear this as a wristwatch, but also convert it to a pocket or pendant watch, or even make it stand upright as a desk clock. The lug system incorporates a pair of pushers that remove the leather strap to make room for a chain or a stand. And best of all, it’s also reversible front to back! Powered by a single integrated movement, you have a full dial on one side, and an offset dial with exposed mechanics on the other! While this Turquoise Monsieur Bovet might be a bit too punchy for some, the Monsieur Bovet collection also includes a teal blue model, and bespoke options are available, too. The price starts at USD 60,000.

For more information, please visit Bovet.com.

Hautlence Retrovision 85

Speaking of transforming watches, Hautlence took this quite literally with last year’s Retrovision 85. This pretty sizeable chunk of 3D-printed titanium conceals the brand’s beloved wandering hours display (also found in Moser’s watches, of course) into a literal transformer. It can be worn on the wrist like a regular wristwatch, or you can take the transformer off the holder, reveal the legs and arms and even give it a face! And while you have it set up as a transformer, it of course keeps perfect time on its “torso” and exposes its tourbillon escapement for good measure. Limited to just 8 pieces, and likely all sold out by now, the price was around USD 100,000 when released. You can check out the conversion from watch to transformer right here!

For more information, please visit Hautlence.com.

Delma Quattro Limited Edition

Combining fun and functionality, the Quattro Limited Edition by Delma is a proper tool designed to be used. Worn on the wrist, it’s a big, sturdy and very capable dive watch with a depth rating of 500 meters, but that’s not all. The case can be taken off the wrist-worn cradle, after which you can fix it to a plate with a double decompression table (one for dives at altitudes above 700m, and one for below). The special Rapid Bracelet Exchange System can be best compared to how you exchange lenses on a camera. Limited to 999 pieces, it came in six different colour combinations, some of which are still available. The price for this nifty and robust diving tool is EUR 2,299.

For more information, please visit Delma.ch.