Latest news with #GrandeSonnerieCarillonSupersonnerie
Vogue Singapore
03-07-2025
- Business
- Vogue Singapore
Audemars Piguet's Code 11.59 collection enters a new generation
The Swiss haute horlogerie manufacture Audemars Piguet is celebrating its momentous 150th anniversary this year. That's a century and a half of creating some of the finest timepieces in the world, and doing it in great style. The brand is perhaps most well-known for its iconic Royal Oak, but the collection that defines its contemporary, forward-looking perspective is the Code 11.59. First introduced in 2019, the brand describes this line as 'classic by nature, unconventional by design'. Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding in stainless steel, with this year's new slate grey dial colour. Courtesy of Audemars Piguet Rather than reinvent the wheel, as it were, the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet is all about the very postmodern sense of a familiar classic that treads novel ground. Its architecture and silhouette are sporty, yet it is not a sport watch. Its cumulative details are elegant, yet it is not a dress watch. What sets it apart are some of the consistent design details throughout the collection. It's crafted with an ultra-thin bezel that grants an open, inviting vista of the dial. The classical Code 11.59 dials are embossed with a concentric pattern that resembles ripples from a perfectly balanced drop of water. The sapphire crystal that guards the watch is double curved, both concave and convex, to reduce glare and grant an unimpeded view. Its case is a complex piece of work, with a contrasting hexagonal middle, and a plethora of subtle brushed and polished finishes on its surfaces. Its openworked arched lugs, which have the look of flying buttresses, are joined to the bezel at the tops; and left to nest on the bottoms, delicately and in perfect alignment, without any welding or soldering. With all these strengths, the Code 11.59 collection is in a great place for Audemars Piguet to build on for the present and the future. So far this year, the haute horlogerie manufacture has rolled out a number of exciting new references. A complication that's the height of haute horlogerie Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie '150th Anniversary' Courtesy of Audemars Piguet This pièce unique model, crafted for AP's anniversary, is one way that Audemars Piguet is flexing its horological prowesses. In the realm of fine, complicated and truly mind-bogglingly complex watchmaking, a grande sonnerie watch ranks as perhaps one of the rarest. Very few exist in the world, quite simply because so few watchmakers can master one. Where minute repeater watches chime the time on demand, a grande sonnerie watch does it automatically on the hour and every quarter hour. It's a complicated feature you might find in a fancy clock—all the more impressive that it's been miniaturised into a 41mm wristwatch. Audemars Piguet's rendition comes, courtesy of its hand-wound calibre 2956 movement, equipped with a three-gong carillon, with three sounding options. The caseback of this Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie reference, as well as several other anniversary editions, come with a special 150th logo. Courtesy of Audemars Piguet In its grande sonnerie mode, the hours and quarters are rung every 15 minutes. In the petite sonnerie mode, the quarters are rung every 15 minutes, and the hour only when a new hour has passed. And in its silenced mode, time passes conventionally—that is, without chiming. Audemars Piguet has crafted this particular reference in a combination of super modern case materials. In sand gold, the warm 18-karat alloy that is the manufacture's proprietary alloy introduced in 2024, and the octagonal case middle in polished black ceramic. And it features a completely transparent sapphire dial that reveals the intricate inner workings of this timepiece. A perpetual calendar for a new generation Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar Courtesy of Audemars Piguet The perpetual calendar (or quantième perpétuel , or QP) is one of AP's most cherished horological complications. The movements of celestial bodies and timekeeping is a traditional, long-held connection for watchmakers. What makes perpetual calendars so impressive is that these watches account for the irregularities of a calendar, keeping up with the changing orders of days of a week, days in a month, and leap years. When properly set and kept wound, a perpetual calendar will hold its accuracy for its century. Special editions of the Perpetual Calendar for the 150th anniversary feature a moonphase subdial with a vintage Audemars Piguet signature. Courtesy of Audemars Piguet This year, Audemars Piguet is introducing what it dubs a 'new generation' of perpetual calendar watches. It's driven by the new self-winding movement calibre 7138, which features three patented mechanisms. And because the most technical aspects of a perpetual calendar have, in a sense, been sorted out, AP focussed instead on enhancing and innovating on the ergonomic experience of wearing it. To wit, this new movement has distilled all adjustments made to the QP to a single crown. No need for additional tools or a jog to a boutique. It wears its complexity with elegant ease. Even better, AP has improved on its movement so that what's known as the 'danger zone'—a period of time when adjusting the watch will damage it and throw off its record of the time, day and date—has been solved. During those hours, the movement will simply disengage so that no accidental changes can be made. A high complication for the modern day. A flying tourbillon in 38mm sand gold with diamonds Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Courtesy of Audemars Piguet The Code 11.59 collection is introducing this year its smallest model yet that's equipped with a flying tourbillon. At just 38mm, this svelte new movement, calibre 2968, was the fruit of AP's RD#3 Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon. Though ostensibly a regulating mechanism to improve accuracy, the flying tourbillon in this model is so elegant as to almost be a visual accent on the dial. The watch case, hour markers and hands are crafted in lustrous sand gold, with a gold-toned embossed dial and inner bezel to match. Adding to its beauty: 277 brilliant-cut diamonds set on the case middle, lugs, crown and folding clasp. A new slate grey colourway for the Code 11.59 Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Chronograph Courtesy of Audemars Piguet This year, AP has introduced a new grey colourway to its Code 11.59 collection. The line's signature ripple dial—created in collaborated with Swiss guilloché artisan Yann von Kaenel—now comes in a slate colour, accented with touches of the brand's famous 'Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50' shade of blue. It's a sophisticated choice of colours, giving the collection a pair of understated options in the form a time and date, and chronograph model—both in stainless steel. In order to preserve the fine contours and details of the embossed concentric pattern, AP uses a galvanic process to tint and colour the dials. The contrasting blues are applied with PVD, or physical vapour deposition; and on the chronograph, the counters are encircled by a rhodium galvanic thread for a subtle but clear contrast. Discover the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection here.
Khaleej Times
21-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Audemars Piguet marks 150 years with a limited-edition Royal Oak and a Code 11.59 collection
Founded in 1875 in Le Brassus village, located in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland, Audemars Piguet (AP) has long stood as an archetype of horological mastery and is considered one of watchmaking's 'holy trinity'. From the groundbreaking Royal Oak that defied convention in 1972 to avant-garde complications that push the boundaries of mechanical art, AP's legacy is one of quiet revolution. Now, as the Swiss maison celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025, it has unveiled a trio of exceptional timepieces: a limited-edition Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar and two special Code 11.59 Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie models. Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Limited to 150 pieces, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked '150th Anniversary' stands out for its technical brilliance and historical significance. This 41mm timepiece marks the swan song of the legendary Calibre 5135, which has powered AP's openworked perpetual calendars for nearly a decade. The case and bracelet are crafted from lightweight titanium, enhanced by shimmering Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG) on the bezel, caseback frame, and bracelet studs. This palladium-based alloy – renowned for its resistance to wear and corrosion – lends the watch a mirror-polished glow. At its heart lies the Calibre 5135, an evolution of the perpetual calendar lineage that began with the groundbreaking Calibre 2120/2800 in 1978. Its openworked design reveals the intricate skeletonisation and hand-finishing, visible through both the sapphire dial and caseback. The perpetual calendar automatically adjusts for the varying lengths of months and leap years, with a moon-phase display at 6 o'clock offering a photorealistic depiction of the lunar cycle based on NASA imagery. The twin moons reflect both the northern and southern hemispheres — a nod to the universal nature of time. The dial draws inspiration from a historical pocket watch (ref. 25729) housed in the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet" The dial draws inspiration from a historical pocket watch (ref. 25729) housed in the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet. The deep blue inner bezel and subdial surrounds, white gold bathtub hands, and silver-grey hour markers reflect vintage elegance. The refined typeface used for the calendar indications completes the sophisticated look, while the '150' engraved on the caseback and the inscription '1 of 150 pieces' add to its exclusivity. Code 11.59 Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie Along with the special Royal Oak, AP's Code 11.59 collection introduces two special '150th Anniversary' Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie models. The Grande Sonnerie is among the rarest and most complex complications in watchmaking, with the ability to automatically chime the hours and quarters. The Supersonnerie mechanism enhances the sound's clarity and resonance, further elevating the acoustic experience. One of the new Code 11.59 150th anniversary models features a mesmerising natural opal dial, a study in light, hue, and texture. It pairs an 18-carat pink gold case with a rare harlequin opal dial – a kaleidoscope of green, blue, red, and yellow hues that shift with the light. Its shimmering green inner bezel frames the dial, while pink gold hands and hour markers provide elegant contrast. The other special-edition Code 11.59 features a sapphire dial, offering an enchanting view of the hand-wound Calibre 2956 orchestrating the chiming complication. The case combines sand gold with a black ceramic case middle and crown, framed by a sand gold and rhodium-toned dial. The Grande Sonnerie mode strikes the hours and quarters, while the Carillon mechanism employs three gongs and hammers to create a richer soundscape. The Supersonnerie's patented construction optimises sound transmission through the case, ensuring exceptional acoustic clarity and volume. Each of the five new Code 11.59 references, including the two anniversary specials, reflects AP's mastery of mechanical complexity and aesthetic finesse. The balance of materials, intricate dial textures, and the resonant chime of the Supersonnerie elevate the collection into the realm of haute horology's finest creations. In its 150th year, AP remains true to its founding spirit – continuing to blend technical audacity with timeless artistry. These three masterpieces are not just watches; they are at once a nod to the maison's incredible legacy and an assertion of its future direction, captured in an eclectic mix of metal and glass, and measured in flawless time.
