One of our favorite complications is being brought back by Audemars Piguet to the Code 11.59 collection. The new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel ref. 15212NB.OO.A002KB.01 revisits the tradition of wandering hours with a new ultra-contemporary timepiece that combines black ceramic with 18K white gold. 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.
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.
To accompany the launch of the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Starwheel, an original universe has been developed by the French artist Ugo Gattoni. In addition to his talent as an illustrator, he shares many values with Audemars Piguet, such as a free spirit and a passion for detail. The result is a poetic and playful world in which the Masters of Time —3 characters that move on rotating discs— advance in the middle of an intergalactic space in which the Starwheel components gravitate. Together, they assemble the watch by synchronizing their movements.
This new Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Starwheel reference plays with materials by combining an aventurine dial with a 41 mm case combining 18K white gold and black ceramic. This diversity of materials as well as the refined hand finishing embellishing the different components create an infinite play of light which underscores the complex design of the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection. 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.
The time display is achieved thanks to a central rotor operating a complete revolution in three hours and on which are fixed three aluminum 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 18K white gold trotteuse is slightly curved at the tip to follow the relief of the discs, indicating the seconds like in a traditional timepiece. Blue aventurine serves as a shimmering backdrop for the rotating discs, like planets in the tiny universe of the dial.
For the very first time, the emblematic Starwheel display is integrated into the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection and powered by the automatic Calibre 4310. Combining watchmaking technology, traditional know-how, and refined decorations, this next-generation hour, minute, and seconds movement is directly derived from the Calibre 4309, to which a new module with the starwheel has been added. This 32-jewel movement provides a power reserve of 70 hours when fully wound.
The new Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Starwheel is delivered on a textured black rubber-coated strap with an 18K white gold pin buckle.
Sticker Price $57,900 USD. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
