The Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is pleased to introduce a new variation of its Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph, interweaving 18-carat pink gold and black ceramic. This year, this light and ultra-resistant material appears on several complicated models in the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection, pushing the limits of hand-finishing once more. Following in the footsteps of its predecessor unveiled in 2021, this new timepiece is limited to 50 pieces and combines contemporary design with ancestral know-how.
Code 11.59 By Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph – An aesthetic packed with powerful contrasts
This complicated timepiece comes in a two-tone black ceramic and 18-carat pink gold case that highlights the complex architecture of the collection along with the three-dimensional aesthetic of the movement.
Even though ceramic has already been used in the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet chronographs in 2021, this is the first time that a number of complicated models in the collection have been crafted in this ultra-resistant material. Part of the beauty of black ceramic is its technicity, with each model requiring specific manufacturing and hand-finishing processes. While the exact composition of the ceramic remains a well-kept secret, it is made of Zirconium Oxide powder (ZrO2) that is combined with special binding content. Its homogeneous colour reveals itself only once the material has been sintered at around 1,400° C.
With its contemporary design, black ceramic provides a blank canvas for the traditional skills of the Manufacture’s craftspeople. Each component is pre-polished and pre-satin-brushed before being painstakingly hand-finished with the brand’s trademark alternation of satin brushing and polished chamfers. These finishes can notably be admired on the model’s case middle, offering a fascinating interplay with the light.
The ultra-thin bezel, stylised lugs, crown and push-pieces are all crafted in 18-carat pink gold for a powerful and elegant contrast that harmoniously matches the ceramic and illuminates its dark aesthetic.
Meticulous craftsmanship
Echoing the two-tone case, the architectural movement is comprised of openworked bridges in both black and pink-gold tones, matching with the pink gold-toned balance wheel. The 18-carat white gold hands bring light into the heart of the movement, while the bridges and decorative elements feature 111 V-angles that have been sandblasted, satin-finished and polished by hand. The decoration of the movement alone represents over 70 hours of work, underlying the technical and extremely precise know-how of Audemars Piguet’s artisans. The result of this meticulous work provides an interplay of shiny and matte finishes that create a captivating play with light reflections, bringing depth to the different levels of the movement.
The transparent chronograph counters and the flying tourbillon cage at six o’clock also reveal parts of the watch mechanism below, allowing the viewer to admire the finesse of the different decorative techniques.
A calibre embracing modernity
This new model, which joins other references released in recent years, is powered by the Calibre 2952, Audemars Piguet’s latest automatic movement that is equipped with a hypnotic flying tourbillon and a contemporary flyback chronograph. This mechanism allows the chronograph to be reset and restarted with one push, without having to stop it first. A 65-hour power reserve and water resistance of 20 metres complete this sporty complication.
The sapphire caseback reveals essential elements among the movement’s 479 components, including the 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight. The caseback also bears the engraving “Limited Edition of 50 Pieces.”
“The latest version of our selfwinding flying tourbillon chronograph brings together the contemporary nature of hand-finished black ceramic and the timeless impact of 18-carat pink gold into a unified and balanced design. The entire watch is a canvas for 21st century hand-finishing and a celebration of the latest generation of complicated mechanisms.”
Michael Friedman – Head of Complications
“Born in Le Brassus, raised around the world.”
Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph / 41 mm Technical Specifications
Reference 26399NR.OO.D002KB.01 – CHF 272.900,- (around € 341.000,- incl. tax)
Functions
- Flying tourbillon,
- flyback chronograph,
- hours and minutes.
Movement specifications
- Selfwinding Calibre 2952
- Total diameter: 32.6 mm (14½ lignes)
- Total thickness: 8.22 mm
- Number of parts: 479
- Number of jewels: 40
- Minimum power reserve guaranteed: 65 h
- Frequency of balance wheel: 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour)
Case
- Black ceramic case middle,
- bezel, lugs, push-pieces and crown in 18-carat pink gold,
- double curved glareproofed sapphire crystal,
- glareproofed sapphire caseback,
- water-resistant to 20m.
- Case thickness: 13.8 mm
Dial
- Black lacquered inner bezel, 18-carat white gold hands.
Strap
- Black textured rubber-coated strap with 18-carat pink gold AP folding clasp.
About Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet is the oldest fine watchmaking manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families (Audemars and Piguet). Based in Le Brassus since 1875, the company has nurtured generations of talented craftspeople who have continuously developed new skills and techniques, broadening their savoir-faire to set rule-breaking trends. In the Vallée de Joux, at the heart of the Swiss Jura, Audemars Piguet has created numerous masterpieces, a testament to the Manufacture’s ancestral savoir-faire and forward-thinking spirit. Sharing its passion and savoir-faire with watch enthusiasts worldwide through the language of emotions, Audemars Piguet has established enriching exchanges among fields of creative practices and fostered an inspired community. Born in Le Brassus, raised around the world. — www.audemarspiguet.com
Follow #AudemarsPiguet
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/audemarspiguet
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audemarspiguet
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/audemars-piguet
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/audemarspiguet/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AudemarsPiguet
Weibo: https://e.weibo.com/audemarspiguetchina
Youku: https://i.youku.com/aptvofficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/audemarspiguet