When the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet line launched five years ago, it comprised an astounding 13 watches powered by three new mechanical movements, a feat many years in the making.
The iconic model is now a pillar of the brand. It continues its evolution this year, expanding with seven new 18-karat pink-gold offerings, sized at 38 mm and 41 mm.
What lies beneath the dial is a highly accurate movement, the Selfwinding Calibre 5900, which boasts a full 60 hours of power reserve, and contains 188 hand-finished parts.
The watches include three chronographs in the 41 mm size, and feature four new dial colors: pale blue, deep green, black and the brand’s iconic “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” dark blue, the dial color of the original Royal Oak.
“In addition to the new signature decoration now appearing on certain 41 mm gold models, the new 38 mm line has now been enriched with new references and original colors, enabling the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet to be worn on all types of wrists, illustrating its extreme versatility as well as its contemporary spirit,” explains Audemars Piguet Product Director Sofia Candeias.
While warm-hued golds — including the 18-karat pink used to craft these new pieces — have been trending in recent years, the precious metal has been employed in watchmaking for centuries.
But the Code 11.59’s new juxtaposition of an icy pale-blue dial and strap with its pink-gold case makes it both eye-catchingly modern and audacious.
The color combination is sure to appeal to a watch lover who is ready to up their style game in horological fashion.
But don’t let the timepiece’s cool-blue beauty fool you. What lies beneath the dial is a highly accurate movement, the Selfwinding Calibre 5900, which boasts a full 60 hours of power reserve, and contains 188 hand-finished parts.
The architectural nature of the watch’s multifaceted case design is also decidedly contemporary. Audemars Piguet applies the same exacting, hand-finishing techniques for its alternating satin and polished surfaces as it does for watch movements.
The watch’s embossed dial, introduced in 2023, has now become an important design signature for the collection. The unique guillochage pattern was conceived in partnership with Swiss guilloche craftsman Yann von Kaenel. Engraved entirely by hand, it allows for a play of light on the dial as well as increased legibility.
Meanwhile, the brand employs a physical vapor deposition process to achieve the dial’s elegant blue hue, matching the watch’s large-scale alligator strap. A coordinating textured rubber strap is also available for a more casual look — and plenty of blue-sky dreaming.
Prop styled by Miako Katoh.