With the 2021 “Black Panther” watch making history in the horology world, Audemars Piguet continues its partnership with Marvel to unveil the limited-edition Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man”.
To commemorate the release, Hypebeast teams up with the Swiss Haute Horlogerie expert to explore local neighborhood heroes and how with great power comes great responsibility. Taking inspiration from Peter Parker’s iconic slogan, the campaign stars Kevin Hart, Nour Arida and Loyle Carner — each bearing an essence of the Super Hero’s ethos into their philanthropy and creative outlets.
From Emmy Awards to sold-out arenas, Kevin Hart is undeniably the biggest comedian of our generation. However, as well as providing the world with laughter, giving back to the community is just as important to the actor. Having launched Help From the Hart Charity in 2017, the non-profit organization was formed to support young people from underrepresented communities with opportunities to make an impact through scholarship programs. Spider-Man, to him, is the epitome of having a selfless mentality and helping others as he explains, “[he] immediately wanted to use that power for good.”
Hailing from North Philadelphia, it’s the city’s energy that shaped his formative years. As he takes us on a journey through where it all started, he mentions the Kevin Hart: Live. Love. Laugh. mural created by Willis "Nomo" Humphrey and commissioned by Mural Arts Philadelphia. Located on the side of Max's Steaks, a classic cheesesteak spot, it’s right around the corner where Hart grew up and remains a proud achievement in his life.
Joined in the campaign by his eldest daughter Heaven, she explains that Miles Morales is a character that resonates most closely with her dad. “He’s underrated and a character that’s for the people,” she says. As well as explaining that glitching would be her superpower of choice, Hart jokingly says that for him it’s “the ability to make my kids listen.”
“When you’re given power, you are responsible for using it to make a change,” Nour Arida explains. For the Paris-based Lebanese designer, model, and women’s rights advocate, it’s being raised amongst the beauty of Beirut that has helped her be that voice for change.
Having been awarded Arab Woman of the Year 2023 for her efforts in protecting women in the region, Arida explains that “I’ve been trying to defend their bodies, their rights, in a region where they’re not protected.”
Named after her grandmother who she sees as a Super Hero, “Nour” which translates to “light” in Arabic, aims to be the light that shines in people’s lives. Family plays an integral role in her journey and visiting Beirut “every six weeks is important for my soul,” she says. With Arida’s curious side leaning toward wanting to possess psychic powers, one piece of advice she gives is that “You are way more powerful than you think you are.”
Spider-Man is one Super Hero that has transcended generations. Being a constant throughout Loyle Carner’s life, from seeing his younger brother have the costume and now his son getting excited about the same, proves the value the character has on shaping childhoods, “everyone dreams of being that thing.”
As with the other talent, the burgeoning UK musician’s diverse South London surroundings play a pivotal role in his outlook, and it’s the distinct vibe that separates it from the rest of the city. As well as music, he also launched Chilli Con Carner in 2016, a cooking school for young people with ADHD.
As someone who has been diagnosed with the condition, and having a mother who was a special educational needs teacher who helped him have “an understanding of what my brain was doing and how it operated,” Carner recognizes the importance of his initiative. Giving kids a space to learn, connect and create is the main aim of the campaign but getting the chance “to spend time with the younger generation is essential,” he says. “They’re so innovative, they don’t want to follow rules.”
Limited to 250 pieces, the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man” arrives in a 42mm case combining titanium and black ceramic, as well as Audemars Piguet’s new hand-wound caliber 2974 showcasing its meticulous craftsmanship. The movement’s stripped-back yet complex design achieves a level of transparency that allows Spider-Man’s character to appear in 3D.
Final finishings are completed by hand like the instantly recognizable two-tone suit handpainted in matte red and metallic blue. The dial itself features alternating blackened gold hour markers and Arabic numerals finished with a white luminescence that turns blue in the dark. The watch itself is presented with an interchangeable strap, equipped with a black and gray rubber strap with an AP buckle as well as a second black and red rubber strap to reference the Super Hero’s suit.
Much like its 2021 “Black Panther” predecessor, the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man” was put up for auction to raise money for non-profit organizations First Book and Ashoka, which help empower underprivileged young people to create a positive change in their communities.
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The second release from Audemars Piguet’s groundbreaking partnership with Marvel. Ancestral expertise meets futuristic technology, with everyone’s favorite wall-crawler taking center stage on the watch face.
Transparent architecture makes Spider-Man appear in a three-dimensional form.
Spider-Man’s suit is laser-engraved to create detailed textile differences.
Limited to 250 pieces worldwide.
Originally designed by Dr. Otto Octavius to facilitate the safe handling of radioactive substances, a freak laboratory accident fused these arms to the already ‘unconventional’ scientist.
Each arm is made of a titanium-steel alloy, has telescopic reach and three pincers at the tip.
The motors required to employ the arms use energy sourced from a nuclear-powered, thermo-electric generator.
Venom is the alias of an alien symbiote merged with Eddie Brock, a deadly combination of two living beings, both with a vendetta against Spider-Man.
The symbiote has the ability to heal itself, shapeshift and manipulate its own matter into weapons.
Sound is the symbiote’s weakness - which Spider-Man puts to great effect.
Like other symbiotes, Venom has the ability to spawn offspring.
Not just limited to being a science whizz, Peter Parker is also skilled in photography, using his talents to earn a living as a part-time newspaper photographer.
Peter (reluctantly) sells photos of Spider-Man - often staged - to J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle.
He uses a traditional 35mm camera with a telescopic, wide-angle lens.
Peter develops the photos himself, often using the equipment available to him at high school.
The Pumpkin Bomb is the Green Goblin’s weapon of choice, first developed by Norman Osborn - to assist in his clashes with Spider-Man!
Shaped like a mischievous jack-o’-lantern, it carries a powerful explosive charge.
The detonation settings can be adjusted by rotating the stem at the top of the pumpkin to the desired position.
Green Goblin has adapted the types of explosives he uses in his many attempts to defeat Spider-Man.
A wrist-worn device designed by Peter Parker himself. It shoots adhesive webs to entangle foes and allow the hero to swing through the city.
Activated by a trigger on the palm of Spider-Man’s hand, the webbing has incredible tensile strength and can create a variety of complex web patterns.
Small turbine pump veins compress the web-fluid and force it through the spinneret nozzle.
The chemical makeup of Spider-Man’s web-fluid is known only to Peter Parker.
Discover more about the Royal Oak Concept on the brands website.
Credits
Joe Iley –
Creative Director / Hypebeast,
Lilli Conreen –
Senior Creative / Hypebeast,
Luke Brown –
Lead Designer / Hypebeast,
Reece Evans –
Junior Designer & Developer / Hypebeast,
Ali Mohammed-Ali –
Senior Creative Editor / Hypebeast,
Anthony Ferrieres –
Senior Producer / Hypebeast,
Benji Reeves –
Producer / Hypebeast,
Joe Maskall –
B-Roll Producer / Hypebeast,
Brianna Jade Lewis –
Production Admin / Hypebeast,
Michael O'Connell –
Set Designer / Hypebeast,
Harriette Ings –
Account Director / Hypebeast,
Megan Jones –
Account Manager / Hypebeast
Kevin Hart –
Talent,
Olivia Rose –
Director,
Isaac Sokol –
DP,
Nate Shuler –
Photographer,
Evadne Gonzalez –
Lighting Technician,
Michael Russo –
B-Roll Videographer,
Dylan Malone –
Line Producer,
Kristen Iverson –
Production Assistant,
Vince Barrucco –
Production Manager,
Leonard Murray –
Client Services,
Charles Lodi –
1st Assistant Director,
Melissa Baltierra –
1st Assistant Camera,
Dillon Vaughn –
2nd Assistant Camera,
Ferdinand Almalvez –
Production Sound Mixer,
Julian Lopez –
DigiTech,
Gucci Gaffer –
Gaffer,
Amber Jones –
BBE,
Sergio Silva –
Key Grip,
Aaron Stinde –
BBG,
Ashley North –
Wardrobe Stylist,
John Clausel –
Grooming,
Michael O’Connell –
Set Designer,
Laiken Joy –
Set Assistant,
William Jacobus –
Set Assistant
Nour Arida –
Talent,
Olivia Rose –
Director,
Amelia Hazlerigg –
DOP,
Christina Ebanezer –
Photographer,
Guillaume Mercier –
Lighting Technician,
Johnny Fonseca –
DIGI Tech,
Adam Jammal –
B-Roll Videographer,
Krunal Saadrani –
Gaffer,
Anna Brooks Beckham –
Spark,
Dale Healy –
Spark,
Rowena Colman –
Sound recordist,
James Moser –
DIT,
Ali Copland –
1st Assistant Director,
Jessy Amr –
2nd Assistant Director,
Benjy Kirkman –
1st Assistant Camera,
Francesca Amoroso –
2nd Assistant Camera,
Ioanna Hatzi –
Trainee Assistant Camera,
Eddie Cook –
Desk Op,
Dan Huntley –
Key Grip,
Alex Aguilar Bojic –
2nd Grip,
Kingsley Tao –
Stylist,
James O’Riley –
MUA,
Tinu Bello –
Manicurist,
Sharon Robinson –
Hairstylist,
Rochelle Berry –
Hair Assistant,
Michael O'Connell –
Set Designer,
Nicholas Rodgers –
Set Assistant,
Amy Lindsay –
Runner,
Alicia Davidson –
Runner
Loyle Carner –
Talent,
Olivia Rose –
Director,
Amelia Hazlerigg –
DOP,
Christina Ebanezer –
Photographer,
Guillaume Mercier –
Lighting Technician,
Johnny Fonseca –
DIGI Tech,
Milo Alexander-Travers –
B-Roll Videographer,
Krunal Saadrani –
Gaffer,
Anna Brooks Beckham –
Spark,
Dale Healy –
Spark,
Rowena Colman –
Sound Recordist,
James Moser –
DIT,
Ali Copland –
1st Assistant Director,
Jesse Emens –
2nd Assistant Director,
Benjy Kirkman –
1st Assistant Camera,
Francesca Amoroso –
2nd Assistant Camera,
Ioanna Hatzi –
Trainee Assistant Camera,
Eddie Cook –
Desk Op,
Dan Huntley –
Key Grip,
Alex Aguilar Bojic –
2nd Grip,
Zahra Asmail –
Stylist,
Reece Moore –
Stylist Assistant,
Rosie Grace Smith –
HMUA,
Lauraine Bailey –
Groomer,
Michael O'Connell –
Set Designer,
Nicholas Rodgers –
Set Assistant,
Amy Lindsay –
Runner,
Olive Gilson –
Runner
Avenues –
Post House,
Sam Maton –
Editor,
Sharon Chung –
Colourist,
Amanda Jenkins –
Post Producer,
Katie Buxton –
Audio Producer,
Father –
Music,
Wave Studios –
Audio Post House,
Beresford Cookman –
Sound Engineer,
³axis –
3D Design,
Edward Drewry –
Canopy Translation,
The Bunker –
Image Retouching
Heaven Hart –
Talent,
Willis "Nomo" Humphrey –
Mural Artist / Mural Arts Philadelphia,
Max Weiner –
Max's Steaks Restaurant,
London Film Studios –
London Studio,
Hartbeat –
LA Studio