Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Starwheel

Product detailed description

The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Starwheel marks a modern revival of one of the brand’s most fascinating historical complications—the traveling hour system, which Audemars Piguet first used in its Star Wheel wristwatches in 1991. This complication replaces the traditional hour hand with a trio of rotating discs that sequentially indicate the current hour on an arched minute scale. Introduced in 2022, this model combines this unusual time display with the modern architecture of the Code 11.59 collection.

The 41-mm-diameter, 10.7-mm-thick case combines black ceramic with 18k white gold, from which the bezel, lugs, and case back are crafted. The watch’s focal point is the blue aventurine dial, whose delicately shimmering surface evokes the night sky. Above it, three black aluminum discs with white numerals rotate, displaying the hours via a 120-degree minute scale. A central white gold seconds hand completes the time display. The watch is fitted with a black textured strap with a rubberized finish and an 18k white gold pin buckle. The double-curved sapphire crystal and transparent case back are complemented by water resistance to 30 meters.

Inside, the watch is powered by the Audemars Piguet 4310 in-house automatic caliber, based on the 4309 caliber and enhanced with a traveling hour module. The mechanism uses three satellite discs that rotate in sequence to display the current hour, while the central hand indicates the seconds. The movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 half-vibrations per hour (4 Hz), consists of 261 components, and offers a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. Through the sapphire crystal case back, one can admire its sophisticated construction and the decorated rotor of the automatic winding mechanism.

The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Starwheel combines the historic complication of a traveling time watch with modern materials and an original design. The contrast between black ceramic, white gold, and the blue aventurine dial creates a distinctive look, while the unusual method of displaying the time underscores the technical and aesthetic exceptionality of this model.