In simply 5 brief years since its inaugural 13 fashions, the Code 11.59 assortment has welcomed and kicked out a slew of references. Between the present assortment, legacy watches (a.okay.a. discontinued fashions), and particular editions listed on Audemars Piguet‘s web site, I counted virtually 90 Code 11.59 references. The latest one to affix the social gathering is the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph Shades Of Gray watch, a moody iteration of an already current mannequin that mixes two issues, varied supplies, and sure, even just a few colours.
If you have a look at the dial, do you see a resemblance to Bane from Batman? Or is it simply me? Between the AP Spiderman and Black Panther items from just a few years again and the truth that the Code 11.59 was the supervillain of fans all over the place (unfairly, would possibly I add) when it made its debut in 2019, I can’t shake off the comedian guide vibes.
The aesthetic of the dial is thanks largely to the structure of the three Hz and 65-hour energy reserved Caliber 2952, which options an interesting melange of sturdy strains, geometric patterns, and a palette that runs from mild grey to black with touches of pink gold and magenta. The pink gold stability wheel of the flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock matches the pink gold fingers at each the middle and on the clear 12-hour and 30-minute chronograph counters at 3 and 9 o’clock, respectively. The black barrel bridge at 12 o’clock blends into the blackened mainplate whereas the opposite bridges — rhodium-toned for a silver end — distinction properly with the inky background, as do the even lighter gears, wheels, and screws. Ending off the dial is the slate grey, semi-matte, circular-snailed interior bezel with a white printed seconds scale.
The ending of the motion is, as anticipated from Audemars Piguet, top-notch — for example, in response to the model, there are 111 interior angles on the bridges and ornamental components, all performed by hand. I confess I didn’t attempt to depend the 111 situations however I’ve no purpose to not imagine it.
The motion and open-worked dial are housed inside a 41mm case that mixes white gold and black ceramic. The ultra-thin bezel, caseback ring, and skeletonized lugs are normal from 18k white gold whereas the octagonal center case and winding crown are manufactured from black ceramic. In true AP kind, there are many alternating brushed and polished finishes so as to add much more design curiosity to the already visually putting timepiece. The case is 13.8mm thick, water-resistant to 30 meters, and furnished with the Code 11.59’s attribute double curved (and glare-proof) sapphire crystal. Hooked up to the case is a weave-pattern rubber-coated strap in darkish grey, fitted with an 18k white gold folding clasp.
By way of acceptance throughout the high-expectations-driven fanatic circles, the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph (ref. 26399NB.OO.D009KB.01) has a lot to beat. It checks off loads of packing containers of what vocal watch of us (myself included) are sometimes important of — tourbillon fatigue, busy skeletonization, eye-popping price ticket (CHF 272,500), and maybe most related right here, the general Code 11.59 design. But, I discover the watch to be fairly photogenic, or at the very least the renders are properly executed; the somber colorway and supervillain-esque design swimsuit it properly, and like every efficient baddie, it has charisma. For extra details about the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph Shades of Gray watch, please go to the model’s web site.