Description

After a dramatic few months of teasing, during the 2019 SIHH, Audemars Piguet dropped an entirely new family of watches called the Code 11.59.
Five years of designing and development resulting into a revolutionary model, nothing like anything that AP had done before.
But as with every new development, there are mixed emotions. Some critics did not spare Audemars Piguet either.
For a brand that is part of the ‘Holy Trinity’ of watchmaking, the expectations were very high. Or should we say, different.
The contemporary design of the Code 11.59 was so new and fresh, it didn’t go down well with a part of the audience, and quite understandably so. It is difficult to accept something so bold and modern, from a brand that is so deeply rooted in history and tradition.
But one thing was certain. It was a window into AP’s future and how it’s clientele is evolving.

In terms of the aesthetic, the 41mm case has a three-piece construction, with the center segment having the signature AP octagonal design, but in a very subtle way.
The lugs are detached from the case on the underside, while being soldered to the bezel, which holds the domed sapphire crystal, curved on two different radiuses.

At the time of the launch, this new collection featured three all-new calibers, with 13 new references across 6 contemporary models including a basic time and date and a chronograph (with lacquer dials), a flying tourbillon and a Supersonnerie (with enamel dials) and the present reference, the perpetual calendar with an aventurine dial.

This model reference 26394OR.OO.D321CR.01  is one of the most striking to look at, with the 41mm case in pink gold and a gorgeous blue aventurine dial depicting a starry night sky, which is pretty apt for a perpetual calendar watch. The hands and the hour markers are all in pink gold.

The dial layout is very symmetrical, with the months and the leap year indicator at 12 o’clock, the date at 3 o’clock, moonphase at 6 o’clock and the days of the week at 9 o’clock. There’s also a ‘52-week’ indicator marked on the periphery of the dial, which is lacquered blue.

In the world of classical perpetual calendars, this model offers a fresh new design that is bold and contemporary.

It is powered by the trusted old self-winding AP Calibre 5134, offering a 40hour power-reserve.
The calibre is just 4.3mm thick, featuring an 18K rosegold skeleton rotor with the AP logo. One can admire the robustness of the movement through the sapphire caseback. The case is 10.9mm thick and offers a 20m water resistance.

This piece of contemporary art is offered on a hand-stitched blue leather strap.

Audemars Piguet – bio

Audemars Piguet is a Swiss manufacturer of mechanical watches founded in 1875. They began in the Vallée de Joux. Jules Louis Audemars formed a partnership with Edward Auguste Piguet. Audemars created complicated blank watch movements for other manufactures to use. Piguet specialized in the final regulation of watches. They then split responsibilities when they began their own company. Audemars was in charge of production and technical aspects while Piguet focused on sales and management. One of their first achievements was creating the first repeater wristwatch in 1892 and in 1972 the iconic steel “Royal Oak”.