AUDEMARS PIGUET – ROYAL OAK Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Edition

 

AUDEMARS PIGUET – Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Alloy Platinum and Titanium Edition 2023

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is happy to unveil the new iteration of its 41 mm Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin model. This 200-piece limited edition is the heir to the RD#2 model launched in 2019, and to the developments that the Manufacture has been pursuing for several years in terms of ultra-thin calibres. 

 

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Attired in titanium and featuring an entrancing new smoky-blue dial with three black counters, this new version combines aesthetic sophistication with a cutting-edge astronomical complication.

 

NEW DIAL DESIGN

This new edition features titanium on the case, bracelet and bezel, while also incorporating the alternating finishes dear to Audemars Piguet. The screws and chamfers of the bezel, case and bracelet links are polished, while the other surfaces are adorned with a vertical satin-brushed finish. This aesthetic signature stems from a genuine symbiosis between the machine and the artisan’s hand: the former prepares the surfaces – those in titanium are particularly resistant – while the latter ensures all the final finishes ensuring perfect homogeneity.

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This reference introduces a new smoky-blue dial developed especially for the model. Light in the centre and black around the rim, it is decorated with a sunburst motif endowing it with luminous aesthetics facilitating read-off of the calendar indications, month and leap year at 3 o'clock, date at 6 o'clock, day and day/night indicator at 9 o'clock.

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Each of these items of information appears in a snailed black counter. The moon phase at 12 o’clock is the only indication whose design has not been modified. The dial remains punctuated by 12 luminescent applied hour-markers and two central hands, likewise luminescent.

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On the caseback side, this new Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin features a sapphire crystal providing a chance to admire the technical prowess embodied in Calibre 5133.

5133, THE BENCHMARK ULTRA-THIN PERPETUAL CALENDAR CALIBRE

Calibre 5133 was introduced in 2017 and pushed the limits of extra-thin complications into the realm of the ultra-thin. Elegantly combining robustness and reliability, it comprises 256 parts within a space measuring just 2.9 mm thick and 32 mm in diameter. This masterpiece of miniaturisation and engineering operates at a frequency of 2.75 Hz (19,800 vph) and delivers a power reserve of at least 40 hours.

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Inside, the perpetual calendar functions usually placed on three separate levels are positioned on a single plane. This new technical feat led to the development of two patented innovations: the integration of the end-of-month cam with the date wheel and the association of the month cam with the month wheel. To further reduce thickness, the dial also acts as a bridge.

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These major advances have been achieved through a combination of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) and CAD (Computer Aided Design) technologies used by the Manufacture since the 1980s.

THE PURSUIT OF CUTTING-EDGE DEVELOPMENTS

At its launch in👉 2018, the unique and soberly named "RD#2" became the world's thinnest selfwinding perpetual calendar. In 2019, the commercial version of this prototype was launched and named Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin RD#2. 

 

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Equipped with a movement measuring 2.9 mm thick (including the oscillating weight) housed in a case measuring just 6.2 mm thick, this reference is attired in a 950 titanium and platinum alloy combining state-of-the-art technology, aesthetic refinement and lightness.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

 

Today, the Manufacture presents the worthy heir to this model, entirely made of titanium.

This new iteration also perpetuates the long tradition of calendar watches and ultra-thin movements at Audemars Piguet. A century ago, in 1921, the Manufacture began this two-fold quest with the thinnest pocket watch movement ever made (1.32 mm thick), followed by a similar record for a hand-wound wristwatch movement (1.64 mm in 1938) and then a selfwinding one (2.45 mm in 1967). In 1978, when the watch industry was entirely focused on the development of quartz watches, the Manufacture unveiled a selfwinding perpetual calendar wristwatch movement that was the thinnest in the world at the time of its launch (3.95 mm).

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Today the new Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin represents the culmination of this age-old watchmaking approach, as well as a valuable stepping-stone towards future developments.

“Born in Le Brassus, raised around the world.”

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TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model:   Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin / 43 mm

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

 Reference:  26586PT.OO.1240PT.01

MOVEMENT
Self-winding Manufacture Calibre 5133
Total diameter: 32.00mm (14 ¾ lignes)
Total thickness: 2.89mm
Number of jewels: 37
Number of parts: 256
Minimal guaranteed power reserve: 40h
Frequency of balance wheel 2.75Hz (=19,800 vibrations/hour) 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

FUNCTIONS
Perpetual calendar with day, date, astronomical moon,
month, leap year, night and day indication, hours and minutes
CASE
950 platinum case
Glare-proofed sapphire crystal and caseback,  
Royal Oak – RD#2 engraved on the caseback.
Water-resistant to 20m.
DIAL
Blue dial with “Grande Tapisserie” pattern, blue counters.
White gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating
BRACELET
950 platinum bracelet with AP folding clasp

 🔰Edition: ✅ of 200 pieces

🔴 Price : incl. VAT 60'000 EUR /53 900 CHF 💰

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Press Release - 2023
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Audemars Piguet (Marketing) SA
Route de France 16 - Case postale 16
1348 Le Brassus - Switzerland
Phone : + 41 21 642 39 00
Fax : + 41 21 642 34 02
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AUDEMARS PIGUET – ROYAL OAK Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph Ceramic Edition

 

AUDEMARS PIGUET – ROYAL OAK Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph Black Ceramic Edition 2023

Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is happy to unveil a new black ceramic iteration of its Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph highlighting its architectural micro-mechanics with new striking green accents. 

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Mounted on a matching green interchangeable rubber strap, this sporty timepiece brings intricate hand-craftsmanship, in concert with cutting-edge technology. With this new limited edition of 100 pieces, Audemars Piguet’s mastery of materials and colours takes another step forward on the occasion of the collection’s 30th anniversary.

BLACK CERAMIC A BLEND OF TECHNOLOGY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

In 2021, the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph marked the beginning of a new generation of Royal Oak Offshore with a 43 mm diameter. This year, the Manufacture launches a new version crafted in black ceramic.

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The manufacturing of the ceramic case follows a complex industrial flow, requiring meticulous programming, dedicated tools and skilled personnel. Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2) powder is combined with binder content, the composition of which remains a closely guarded secret. This feedstock is given preliminary shape by five-axis computer-numerically controlled (CNC) milling machines, before the binder is removed. Each component obtains its hardness and final colour by sintering at approximately 1,000 °C. The component is then hard machined with diamond-tipped tools before being pre-polished and pre-satin-brushed.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Ultimately, all the components of the black ceramic case are hand-finished with the Manufacture’s trademark alternation of satin brushing and polished chamfers. This juxtaposition of finishing techniques gives life to the multifaceted case which toys with the light with each move of the wrist.

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This labour of love now extends rearside, too, as the timepiece encompasses a ceramic caseback for the first time in the 43 mm Royal Oak Offshore collection. This fine component, engraved with “Royal Oak Offshore Limited Edition of 100 Pieces,” frames a sapphire-crystal display window revealing the inner work of Calibre 2967 and its blackened 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight matching with the case colour.

BLACKENED ARCHITECTURAL DIAL WITH GREEN ANODISED ACCENTS

The 2023 iteration presents a dramatic evolution of the selfwinding Calibre 2967 launched in 2021. This 526-part flyback chronograph movement is regulated by a flying tourbillon, whose single underlying bridge holds the rotating cage at 6 o’clock. While calling on historic Haute Horlogerie techniques, this movement also sports a contemporary, 3D architecture which offers an exciting canvas for aesthetic experimentation.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The architectural black PVD-coated titanium bridges, finished with satin-brushing and hand-polished angles, are enriched with vivid green inserts endowed with an even aluminium coating, achieved through an electrolytic process called “anodisation.” Lastly, the bright external polished chamfers highlight the bridges’ titanium base and add depth to the multi-layered movement.   

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The two translucent chronograph counters, outlined with a black outer ring, leave the view of the two-tone movement unencumbered, while 18-carat pink gold hands, illuminated with luminescent coating, glow on their journey around the dial. Furthermore, a green anodised inner bezel, keeping in with the bridge inserts and strap, serves as the minutes track, while red chronograph hands add a racy flash of colour.

STRAP IN, SWITCH UP

This limited timepiece is fitted with the Manufacture’s interchangeable strap system complementing the latest generation of Royal Oak Offshore models. This system has been directly integrated into the case’s studs and buckle. The ease and efficiency of the new system allows wearers to change the straps and buckles of their new timepiece themselves with a quick click and release. The double-push system also grants optimum security when the watch is worn on the wrist.

The watch’s green rubber strap can be swapped out for the second black rubber strap coming with the model. Owners benefit furthermore from the ‘AP’ folding clasp in lightweight, satin-finished titanium.

“Born in Le Brassus, raised around the world.”

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
 

Model: Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Flyback Chronograph

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Reference: 26622CE.OO.D062CA.01

Case
Diameter 43 mm
thickness: 15.5 mm.
Black ceramic case, glareproofed sapphire crystal,
Black ceramic and glareproofed sapphire caseback
Black ceramic push-pieces and screw-locked crown
Sandblasted titanium push-piece guards and studs
Water-resistant to 100m
Dial
Openworked - Black PVD-coated titanium bridges, black openworked counters,
18-carat pink-gold hands with luminescent coating, green anodised inner bezel.
Flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock .
Blackened titanium bridges
Movement
AP manufacture calibre 2967 (based on Code 11.59 calibre 2952) 
Total diameter:   33.6 mm (13¾ lignes) - 526 parts
Automatic - 21,600vph/3Hz  - 65h power reserve
Functions hours, minutes, flying tourbillon, flyback chronograph
Strap
Interchangeable green rubber strap with satin-finished titanium AP folding clasp.
Additional interchangeable black rubber strap.

🔰 Limited edition to 100 pieces  

---------------------------------
Press Release - 2023
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--------------------------------------------------------------
Audemars Piguet (Marketing) SA
Route de France 16 - Case postale 16
1348 Le Brassus - Switzerland
Phone : + 41 21 642 39 00
Fax : + 41 21 642 34 02
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AUDEMARS PIGUET – ROYAL OAK Selfwinding Chronograph 43mm Ceramic and Gold

 

AUDEMARS PIGUET – ROYAL OAK Selfwinding Chronograph 43mm Black Ceramic and Yellow Gold 30th Anniversary - 2023

 AUDEMARS PIGUET UNVEILS A NEW ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE SELFWINDING CHRONOGRAPH COMBINING BLACK CERAMIC WITH YELLOW GOLD

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is pleased to unveil a new version of its 43 mm Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph crafted in black ceramic. To celebrate the Royal Oak Offshore’s 30th anniversary, this new reference unites black ceramic with yellow gold accents, delivering a refined and powerful contrast. The timepiece is further enriched with a Méga Tapisserie dial and an interchangeable strap endowed with a similar two-tone appearance.

AN ERGONOMIC CASE, UNITING MODERNITY WITH TRADITIONS

This latest version of the 43 mm Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph is encased in black ceramic with contrasting yellow gold elements on the dial, push-piece guards, studs and buckle. The addition of yellow gold extends to the caseback, where the noble metal is used to frame a pane of sapphire crystal, revealing the refined movement ticking within.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Each component of the black ceramic case necessitated a complex manufacturing process and the use of several refined hand-finishing techniques. Their composition unites Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2) powder with a specific binder, albeit the precise composition of the ceramic remains a closely guarded secret. 

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Once the material is sintered at a temperature of approximately 1,000 °C, its final colour is revealed, appearing homogenous throughout. The different components are then pre-polished and pre-satin-brushed prior to being finished by hand, culminating in polished chamfers juxtaposed with satin-brushed surfaces. The same elegant decorations adorn the yellow gold caseback, push-piece guards and studs that attractively engage with light.

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In addition, this new two-tone 43 mm Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph features the collection’s latest ergonomic case design. It incorporates large polished chamfers on the edges, while the bezel along with the screw-locked crown and chronograph push-pieces are slightly curved. The ceramic bezel gently arcs from 6 to 12 o’clock, matching the profile of the sapphire crystal, and is punctuated with eight screws.

A CONTRASTED DIAL

The two-tone dial of this latest model incorporates an array of textures, depths and lines. The black tones are comparatively reserved, serving as a foil for the yellow gold elements to shine.  The applied AP monogram, executed in polished gold, sits atop a black Méga Tapisserie dial, while black counters employ both white and gold elements to impart meaning.

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The Royal Oak hands and hour-markers are formed of yellow gold and decorated with black lacquer. Lastly, a black minute track stands out against a yellow gold background and is joined by a white tachymeter scale on a black background that is situated on the inner bezel.

A FULLY INTEGRATED CHRONOGRAPH

At the heart of this reference is the Manufacture’s latest chronograph movement, the selfwinding Calibre 4401. It is fully integrated and features a column wheel and a flyback function. Unlike a regular chronograph, the flyback function allows the wearer to start, stop and reset the chronograph in one simple action.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The column wheel works in collaboration with a vertical clutch system. When starting or stopping the chronograph, the hands respond accordingly without any hint of jumping. Furthermore, the push-pieces feel smooth when pressed. 

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A patented zero resetting mechanism ensures that each one of the counter hands instantaneously resets to zero. The movement is decorated with an elegant finish that includes Côtes de Genève, circular graining, circular satin-finishing and polished bezels, all of which are visible through the sapphire case back.

“Born in Le Brassus, raised around the world.”

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TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model:   Royal Oak Selfwinding / 43 mm

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

 Ref. 26420CE.OO.A127CR.01

 
MOVEMENT
Selfwinding Calibre 4401
Total diameter                 32 mm (14 lignes)                   
Total thickness                6.8 mm               
Number of parts                381               
Number of jewels            40                           
Minimum power reserve guaranteed    70 h           
Frequency of balance wheel        4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)   
FUNCTIONS
Flyback chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds and date.
CASE
Black ceramic case and bezel, glareproofed sapphire crystal,
yellow gold and glareproofed sapphire caseback,
black ceramic push-pieces and screw-locked crown,
yellow gold push-piece guards, studs in yellow gold,
water-resistant to 100m.
DIAL
Black dial with Méga Tapisserie pattern,
black counters and external zone,
yellow gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with black lacquer, black inner bezel.
BRACELET
Black interchangeable alligator strap with golden stitching, 18-carat yellow gold pin buckle.
Additional black interchangeable rubber strap.

🔴 Price : incl. VAT 60'000 EUR /53 900 CHF 💰
 

---------------------------------
Press Release - 2023
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--------------------------------------------------------------
Audemars Piguet (Marketing) SA
Route de France 16 - Case postale 16
1348 Le Brassus - Switzerland

E-mail: laura.marino@audemarspiguet.com
Phone : + 41 21 642 39 00
Fax : + 41 21 642 34 02
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AUDEMARS PIGUET – ROYAL OAK Perpetual Calendar Purple Dial Diamonds Bezel

 

AUDEMARS PIGUET – Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar White Gold 41 mm Purple Diamonds Bezel Automatic 2022

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AUDEMARS PIGUET UNVEILS
A NEW ROYAL OAK PERPETUAL CALENDAR
UNITING PURPLE HUES
AND BAGUETTE-CUT DIAMONDS

Audemars Piguet unveils a new version of its 41 mm Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, featuring a Grand Tapisserie dial suffused with purple tones. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The model is housed in an 18-carat white gold case while the bezel is enlivened with baguette-cut diamonds. It will be sold exclusively in Audemars Piguet boutiques.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Audemars Piguet unveils a new version of its 41 mm Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, featuring a Grand Tapisserie dial suffused with purple tones. The model is housed in an 18-carat white gold case while the bezel is enlivened with baguette-cut diamonds. It will be sold exclusively in Audemars Piguet boutiques.

A PURPLE BLOOM

This latest version of the 41 mm Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar features a Grande Tapisserie dial dressed in a distinctive, rare shade of purple. Each counter is purple and framed with a rhodium-toned circlet, delineating them from the main dial area. The three counters indicate the day, date and month, while an astronomical moon indication is positioned at 6 o’clock.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The white gold Royal Oak hour and minute hands, featuring luminescent coating, collaborate with matching applied hour-markers to indicate the prevailing time. A third hand points to the week number shown on the dial’s inner bezel.

Audemars Piguet has chosen to pair the purple dial with an 18-carat white gold case and matching bracelet, both hand-finished with the brand’s emblematic alternation of satin-brushing and polished chamfers. The watch also comes supplied with two additional rubber straps in black and purple.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Expertly set by the Manufacture’s craftspeople, the 32 baguette-cut diamonds (~ 2.85 carats) adorn the bezel. These are punctuated with eight hexagonal polished screws, a design characteristic found on all Royal Oak models since the inaugural model was released in 1972.

A RARE EXPERTISE

Audemars Piguet has a rich history of crafting calendar watches, the ultimate expression of this horological genre being undoubtedly the perpetual calendar.

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The new Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar is equipped with the brand’s selfwinding Calibre 5134, which automatically takes into account the number of days in the month and correctly displays the prevailing date even in leap years. Assuming the watch is kept fully wound, the date will not require manual correction until 2100, at which point it will need to be adjusted in order to stay in line with the Gregorian calendar.*

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

The watch’s sapphire caseback reveals the refined decorations adorning the movement, which include Côtes de Genève, circular graining, circular satin and polished chamfers. The 22-carat gold openworked oscillating weight is further embellished with Clous de Paris.

“Born in Le Brassus, raised around the world.”

* The Gregorian calendar omits three leap years every 400 years to remain in line with solar time. This is achieved by omitting February 29 in the century years which number can be divided by 100, but not by 400. As a result, 2100 will not be a leap year and perpetual calendar mechanisms will have to be moved forward by one day.

  ==============================
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model:  Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar / 41 mm

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

Ref. 26598BC.ZZ.1220BC.01 - Gold

MOVEMENT
Selfwinding Calibre 5134
Total diameter 29 mm (12¾ lignes)   
Total thickness  4.3 mm
Number of parts  374
Number of jewels 38         
Minimum power reserve guaranteed 40 h   
Frequency of balance wheel 2.75 Hz (19,800 vibrations/hour)
FUNCTIONS
Perpetual calendar with week indication,
day, date, astronomical moon, month, leap year, hours and minutes.
CASE
18-carat white gold  case Ø 41 mm
18-carat white gold bezel set with baguette-cut diamonds
Glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback
Water-resistant to 20 m.
DIAL
Purple dial with “Grande Tapisserie” pattern
Purple counters with rhodium-toned external zone
White gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.
Purple inner bezel.
BRACELET 
18-carat white gold bracelet with AP folding clasp
Two additional rubber straps in black and purple.

Warranty
Two year warranty

Your watch is guaranteed against manufacturing defects for a period of 2 years subject to our International Sales Warranty.

  ---------------------------------
Press Release - 2022
---------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
Audemars Piguet (Marketing) SA
Route de France 16 - Case postale 16
1348 Le Brassus - Switzerland
Phone : + 41 21 642 39 00
Fax : + 41 21 642 34 02
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AUDEMARS PIGUET – Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet STARWHEEL 41 mm

 

AUDEMARS PIGUET – Code 11.59 STARWHEEL White Gold/Ceramic 41 mm Blue Aventurine Dial - 2022

THE CODE 11.59 BY AUDEMARS PIGUET
STARWHEEL REVISITS THE TRADITION OF
WANDERING HOURS

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

STARWHEEL AND THE
WANDERING HOURS

Le Brassus, December 2022 – Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is delighted to present its new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel, a timepiece that combines black ceramic with 18-carat white gold. Invented in the 17th century, wandering hours are a type of horological complication that display the hours using a system of satellites that gravitate along a minute scale arranged in the form of an arc. This aesthetic presentation of the hours and minutes brings a certain mystique to the reading of time. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Equipped solely with a seconds hand, the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel indicates the time using three discs
that point to a 120-degree scale graduated with 60 minutes © Courtesy of Audemars Piguet

After falling from favour in the 20th century, this system was rediscovered and reintroduced by Audemars Piguet in 1991. Named the Starwheel, this unusual mechanism equipped many models up until the early 2000s. Today, the Starwheel is making a comeback in the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection, whose ultra-contemporary design highlights this fascinating display while also paying tribute to a relatively unknown classic in Haute Horlogerie complications.

WANDERING HOURS IN AN ULTRA-CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

From the 17th to the 20th century, the beauty of the wandering hours complication laid in a mysteriously hidden mechanism. Reinterpreted by Audemars Piguet in 1991, this complication revealed in all its splendour with its mechanism visible on the dial.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The new Starwheel launched this year is a continuation of the models from the 1990s and is housed in the ultra-contemporary Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet case, whose architectural lines are enhanced by the wandering time display. The architecture of the case is reinforced by the overlapping of geometric shapes, including a round bezel, caseback and Starwheel discs as well as a rounded octagonal case middle.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Blue aventurine serves as a shimmering backdrop for the three discs that rotate on their own axes, like planets in the tiny universe of the dial. The three slightly domed discs are made of aluminium and are tinted black thanks to a PVD treatment, before being adorned with an opaline sandblasted finishing touch. The white wandering hours numerals are then transferred onto the dial. Following the contemporary design, the 120-degree minute sector, which extends in an arc from 10 to 2 o’clock, and the inner bezel, are both black with white minute indications.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Blue aventurine serves as a shimmering backdrop for the three discs that rotate on their own axes, like planets in the tiny universe of the dial. The three slightly domed discs are made of aluminium and are tinted black thanks to a PVD treatment, before being adorned with an opaline sandblasted finishing touch. The white wandering hours numerals are then transferred onto the dial. Following the contemporary design, the 120-degree minute sector, which extends in an arc from 10 to 2 o’clock, and the inner bezel, are both black with white minute indications.

PLAYING WITH MATERIALS

This new 41 mm reference plays with materials by combining aventurine with 18-carat white gold and black ceramic. This diversity of materials as well as the refined hand finishing – a signature of the Manufacture, which creates an infinite play of light – underscores the complex design of the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection. In addition to this, the 18-carat white gold bezel, lugs and caseback contrast with the black case middle and the new black ceramic crown.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Like the gold components, the ceramic case middle is meticulously finished with the iconic interplay of polished bevels and satin-finished surfaces. Furthermore, Audemars Piguet artisans have used their expertise to achieve the perfect alignment between the multiple angular and round surfaces of the case, which is only possible thanks to their manual craftsmanship. 

On the dial side, the double-curved sapphire crystal magnifies both the numerous details present in the blue aventurine and the finishing of the various elements, while also bringing increased depth to the dial. On the back of the watch, the sapphire crystal reveals the beating heart of the movement, as well as the 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight dedicated to the collection. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

This new reference is fitted with a textured black rubber-coated strap and a new pin buckle engraved with the Audemars Piguet logo, instead of the usual AP monogram.

A STARWHEEL MOVEMENT
IN THE CODE 11.59 BY AUDEMARS PIGUET COLLECTION

For the very first time, the emblematic Starwheel display is integrated into the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection with the selfwinding Calibre 4310. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

This next-generation hour, minute and seconds movement is directly derived from the Calibre 4309, to which a new module has been added. Combining watchmaking technology, traditional know-how and refined decorations, this movement has a minimum power reserve of 70 hours and is water-resistant to 30 metres.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

The time display is achieved thanks to a central rotor operating a complete revolution in three hours and on which are fixed three aluminium discs that turn on their own axes. Each disc has four digits from 1 to 12 that take turns in pointing to the arched sector at the top of the dial on which the minute scale is printed. The 18-carat white gold trotteuse is slightly curved at the tip to follow the relief of the discs, indicating the seconds like in a traditional timepiece. 

A TRADITION OF TIMEPIECES WITH WANDERING HOURS

The wandering hours system can be traced back to the 17th century following a special request from Pope Alexander VII. Suffering from insomnia that was aggravated by the ticking of a clock, he ordered a “night clock” from the Campani brothers who were clockmakers based in Rome. He requested a clock that would be silent and easy to read in the dark. The Campani brothers presented the Pope with the first wandering hours clock, where the time was read on a semi-circle in an aperture that indicated the quarter hours and was lit from the inside. This night clock was the precursor of the wandering hours system.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

From the end of the 17th century, this complication was introduced into pocket watches without backlighting. While the arc-shaped aperture still measured 180 degrees, the minutes were graduated in addition to the quarter hours for greater precision. During the following century, these watches were offered as prestigious gifts, often bearing the effigy of famous personalities.

In the 19th century, the popularity of the wandering hours complication started to wane. The timekeepers that were produced at this time presented a sector of 120 degrees to facilitate the reading of the time. The quarter hours disappeared along with the small window for the hours, although the display remained mysterious as the mechanism was still hidden. The 360-degree wandering hours version made an appearance at this time too, although it was gradually replaced by the jumping hour that was to become typical of the Art Deco period during the first half of the 20th century. 

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 In 1989, an Audemars Piguet watchmaker rediscovered the wandering hours system in an article in the Journal suisse d’horlogerie. This was a period of increased creativity as the industry was seeing a revival of mechanical watchmaking. In 1991, after 18 months of development, the Manufacture’s first wandering hours watch was presented (Ref. 25720). Named the “Star Wheel” – probably in reference to the three stars that support the sapphire hour discs fixed on a large central wheel – this watch broke the mystery of its operation by revealing the mechanism.

Between 1991 and 2003, around 30 “Star Wheel” models were produced by the Manufacture in several different collections. These aesthetically creative timepieces varied in design with the arc-shaped aperture present in different lengths and locations, some of which also incorporated gemsetting and openworking. By reintroducing the wandering hours system, Audemars Piguet paved the way and opened a new chapter in 21st-century watchmaking.

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Today, with the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel, the Manufacture is reviving this little-known complication as well as paying a highly contemporary tribute to traditional watchmaking.

    “Invented in 1655 thanks to a request by Pope Alexander VII, who suffered from insomnia that was exacerbated by the ticking of his clock, the wandering hours complication was rediscovered by Audemars Piguet in 1991 and combines history, technical challenges, design and poetry.”
    Sébastian Vivas – Heritage and Museum Director at Audemars Piguet

“Born in Le Brassus, raised around the world.”

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TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model:  CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel / 41mm

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 Ref. 15212NB.OO.A002KB.01 – Gold/Black ceramic

Movement
Selfwinding Calibre 4310
Total diameter: 32 mm (14 lignes)
Total thickness: 6.05 mm
Number of parts: 261
Number of jewels: 32
Minimum power reserve guaranteed: 70 h
Frequency of balance wheel: 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour) 

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Functions
Hours, minutes and centre seconds.
Case
Black ceramic case middle and crown / 18-carat white gold
Diameter 41 mm
Thickness: 10.7 mm
18-carat white gold bezel, lugs and caseback
Double glare-proofed sapphire crystal
Glare-proofed sapphire caseback
Water-resistant to 30m.
Dial
Blue aventurine dial, black opaline aluminium discs, 18-carat white gold hands and black inner bezel.
Glass
The Manufacture has created a contemporary double curved sapphire crystal, 
whose tense, arched profile plays with depth, perspective and light for a unique optic experience. 
While its internal surface is shaped like a dome, it is vertically curved from 6 to 12 o’clock.
Bracelet
Textured black rubber-coated strap with 18-carat white gold pin buckle.

 
🔴 Price :  55.000 €

 New Product Overview 2022

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Press Release - 2022
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Audemars Piguet (Marketing) SA
Route de France 16 - Case postale 16
1348 Le Brassus - Switzerland
Phone : + 41 21 642 39 00
Fax : + 41 21 642 34 02
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