AUDEMARS PIGUET

A year after its official launch, the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 continues to evolve with five new Selfwinding date, hour, minute and second references and five new Selfwinding Chronograph models

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RISING TO A new challenge, Audemars Piguet has affirmed its creative vision via new smoked lacquered dials with sunburst pattern in hues of blue, burgundy, purple, as well as light and dark grey. The dials’ artistry is enhanced by the watch’s extra-thin bezel and double curved glare-proof sapphire crystal. Playing with depth and light, this complex glass brings forward the detailed work adorning the dials, including the applied polished Audemars Piguet gold signature realised in galvanic growth.

The dials’ elegant colours complement the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet’s contemporary architecture and refined decoration. Composed of an octagonal middle case, a round extra-thin bezel and stylised lugs, the unconventional case design pushed ancestral hand-finishing techniques to new heights with more details than meet the eye. The perfectly aligned alternation of satinbrushed and polished surfaces adorning the case was only achievable by hand. Designed for both men and women, this collection also features an optimum curved ergonomics, making it comfortable for all to wear despite its 41mm in diameter.

Audemars Piguet has also enriched its Self-winding date, hour, minute and second models as well as its Self-winding Chronograph models with a two-tone case aesthetics juxtaposing 18k white and pink gold. This exclusive combination highlights the case’s multiple geometries, hand-finished to the nine, as well as the collection’s blend of ageold craftsmanship and innovative design. Each watch comes with a hand-stitched “large-square scale” alligator strap matching the dial’s colour. The sapphire case-back also reveals the 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight matching the middle case’s colour.

Two-tone gold cases are extremely rare in the history of Audemars Piguet’s wristwatches. Out of the 550 wristwatches produced and sold between 1882 and 1969, only 8 examples combined two types of gold. The blend of white and pink gold was particularly rare, with only one wristwatch recorded in the Manufacture’s archives before 1978. Although, this combination has become more prevalent today, it remains a distinct symbol of refinement and elegance.

While the understated nuances of the light grey sunburst lacquered dial brings forward refined light, the smoked grey sunburst lacquered dial gives depth to the watch. The latter’s black inner bezel accentuates the dial’s nuances. The two models come with a matching grey or black hand-stitched “large square-scale” alligator strap.

The new Code 11.59 models are equipped with the manufacture’s latest generation of self-winding and self-winding chronograph

movements released last year. The

Selfwinding models house calibre 4302, an automatic movement with second and instant-jump date indication. The Selfwinding Chronograph models are powered by calibre 4401, an integrated chronograph with column wheel and flyback function that enables to restart the chronograph without stopping and resetting it first.

Both movements are equipped with a patented setting mechanism that brings stability and precision when adjusting the watch’s functions. With a large diameter of 32 mm, these movements also present reinforced chronometry.

Visible through the watch’s caseback, these two calibres uphold fine watchmaking tradition with refined hand-finishing techniques including “traits tirés,” “Côtes de Genève,” circular graining, circular satin, and diamond-polished angles. In addition, calibre 4401 is endowed with a patented zero resetting mechanism which ensures that each one of the counter hands is seamlessly reset to zero. It is also equipped with a vertical clutch system that prevents hands from jumping when the chronograph is started or stopped.

Calibre 4401 additionally presents a pioneering design. This movement has been conceived to highlight functions and components usually hidden from view, such as the column wheel and the so called “dance” of the chronograph hammers when the chronograph is reset to zero. The watch’s dedicated openworked oscillating weight in 22-carat gold further provides unobstructed view on the movement. All these elements can be appreciated through the watch’s case-back.