Audemars Piguet The most concentrated blend of technical sophistication in the universe

Focus on the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4

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To fully appreciate the extent of Audemars Piguet’s achievement and understand why it is impossible to describe it in a few lines, one should first quote its CEO, François-Henry Bennahmias: “The Universelle is like the quest for the Holy Grail with so much expertise in such a small volume! We dreamed about it for 100 years, we thought about it for 20 years, and it took us seven years to achieve.”

Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4 © Audemars Piguet

Another notable element is the press release for this exceptional timepiece: while most of these documents describe watches in one or two pages, this one takes no less than 17! This is hardly surprising since the Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4 incorporates no less than 40 functions, including 23 complications, divided into three families: chronograph, perpetual calendar and acoustic.

Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4 © Audemars Piguet

Protected by three patents and comprising 1,140 parts, this mechanical marvel is housed in a white or pink gold case measuring just 42mm in diameter!

Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4

Case: white gold, double-curved sapphire crystal, “secret” caseback opening onto the Supersonnerie sapphire membrane, water-resistant to 20m
Size: 42mm
Movement: mechanical self-winding (Caliber 1000, 64h power reserve), 1,140 components
Functions: 40 functions including hours, minutes, flyback chronograph with split-seconds function, Grande and Petite Sonnerie, minute repeater, flying tourbillon, semi-Gregorian perpetual calendar
Dial: Black counters with light gray flange, white gold applied hands and hour-markers
Bracelet: black alligator with white gold AP folding clasp, black textured rubber strap
Price: CHF 1.45 million

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GMT Magazine n°81 © GMT magazine