THE SLEEKNESS OF THE LINES
The Brassus-based manufacture, forever inspired by the beauty of forms and the power of materials, unveils two novel selfwinding chronographs which add their touch to the young coded-named family.
Beyond being a watchmaker that imagines exquisite timepieces, Audemars Piguet is also an architect, passionate about forms and the sleekness of lines, a designer which adores center-staging play on light. And, with their wearer-friendly style, the two new Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph by Audemars Piguet watches are no exception to this rule.
This duo of timepieces stands out from the crowd as the 41 mm-diameter case’s middle is fashioned in black ceramic. This ultra-light, ultra-resistant capsule is retained by a bezel, lugs and caseback crafted in rose or white gold set off by a crown and two pushers also honed in the same precious metal.
The smoky-gray dial, reigning under the double-curvature sapphire crystal dome, is adorned with a vertical satin-brushed finish which infuses the ensemble with a sensation of stretching-out, extending, as such contrasting with the three snailed black counters (small seconds at 6 o’clock, chronograph hour and minute counters at 9 and 12 o’clock). A pair of baton-shaped hands poised in the centre tick away the running hours and the minutes accompanied by a direct-drive for measuring short-time cycles. The date is displayed discreetly in white on a black backdrop at 4:30.
This time data is all driven by the selfwinding manufacture 4401 caliber, a motor boasting a chronograph function with flyback which beats at 4 Hz and delivers a power reserve of 70 hours.
The Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph by Audemars Piguet wraps around the wrist with a black rubber strap, textured like fabric, lined with leather and clasped by a rose or white gold ardillon buckle.
Price: CHF41,700
By Sharmila Bertin