AP appear to have done the cleanest possible deal - keep the silhouette but avoid the wrist. Hypothetically, a Royal Oak pocketwatch will protect the meme without diluting the watch.
At the end of the 1970s AP did actually produce some - very, very few - Royal Oak pocket watches. So there is a precedent
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/fine-watches-7/royal-oak-pocket-watch-reference-5691-a-stainless
Also, prior to the Royal adverts, Swatch showed images of the System51 movement, so the upcoming piece is not going to be quartz.
At the end of the 1970s AP did actually produce some - very, very few - Royal Oak pocket watches. So there is a precedent
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/fine-watches-7/royal-oak-pocket-watch-reference-5691-a-stainless
Also, prior to the Royal adverts, Swatch showed images of the System51 movement, so the upcoming piece is not going to be quartz.