Watches have had a long tradition of celebrating fictitious characters that grew up alongside collectors. The first name that comes to mind for fun and technically sound watches is perhaps Gerald Genta. The mastermind behind the Royal Oak created a line of watches devoted to bringing Disney characters to life under the Genta name in the 80s, pieces that has been the craze as of late. After much speculation and misconstrued whispers, Audemars Piguet followed suit in finally unveiling their long-awaited Royal Oak Concept Black Panther Flying Tourbillon in the first quarter of 2021. The Marvel Comics are, to today's collectors, what Mickey Mouse and his friends were to the previous generation – iconic. Neither confirmed nor denied, this is rumoured to be the first in a continuing partnership between the Swiss horological powerhouse and Marvel Universe.

No matter if its wearer is a Stan Lee comics fan or not, this Black Panther-centric watch is an extremely well-executed horological marvel, designed to make heads turn. Realised from the Vibranium-rich mines of Wakanda, the timepiece is packed with grey, black, and purple accents with a spirited mini-sculpture of the legendary superhero, ready to pounce and jump out of the dial. From the textured patterns on his suit to the polished highlights on his shoulders, the chiselled muscular physique to the fierce claws and glaring eyes; this wild combination of laser sculpted, hand-carved and manually painted details are the defining elements that breathe life into the white gold avatar of Black Panther himself.

While the case is unfortunately not fashioned out of Vibranium, it is however made of the ultralight, durable, resilient titanium. In contrast to the fitted sand-blasted inserts with a silky satin finish, the dial is composed of a semi-skeletonised fractured backdrop, capturing the moment before the action figure plunges out of the dial by creating the perfect illusion of visual dissonance. Exposing the Audemars Piguet flying tourbillon at the front, the sapphire caseback shows off a set of movement plates that tie in collectively to the crumpling scene on the dial that also conceals the in-house cal. 2965.

One does not require to love comic books to appreciate this altitude craftsmanship, and on so many levels, this is exactly what the Royal Oak Concept Black Panther Flying Tourbillon represents. All proceeds exceeding the cost for the consigner on this fine specimen will be donated to charities supporting access to medical care for families in need and orphanages. Offered at Phillips for the first time, the present wristwatch is one of a 250-piece limited edition, in “like-new” condition with its original accessories. All proceeds exceeding the cost for the consignor will be donated to charities supporting access to medical care for families in need and orphanages.”