Casablanca has given new life to one of Audemars Piguet’s most popular timepieces.
In collaboration with MAD Paris, Casablanca founder/designer Charaf Tajer reworked the Royal Oak model to reflect the ethos and playful aesthetic of his high-end brand. Highsnobiety reports Tajer created two iterations of the 36mm version, drawing most of his inspiration from Japanese culture as well as the postmodern Memphis Milano movement. The designer’s use of bold colors gives the Royal Oak a youthful, almost toy-like look that is rarely seen in the luxury watch realm.
Tajer told the outlet the final products showcased “the contradiction of designing a luxury item for adults, which has design elements inspired by the childhood innocence and intrigue that we all have experienced.”
The designs were part of MAD Paris’ Designer Series, in which the luxury watch customizer enlists creatives to put their own spins on classic models. MAD Paris also recently joined forces with Matthew Williams of 1017 ALYX 9SM, giving him the opportunity to revamp the 38mm Royal Oak with a minimalist, brushed metal look.
“It was about taking part of the ALYX world and creating a watch I would like to wear,” Williams told Highsnobiety, “and for like-minded people, myself and my friends, people that may have not been into watches before that.”
