One may recall that the Code 11.59 star made its appearance in Audemars Piguet’s universe in 2019. The very same year, one model won the Men’s Complication Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. The complex yet bold architecture of the case, combining an extra-thin round bezel with an octagonal case middle, is reminiscent of the various unusual designs punctuating the history of the Manufacture since its inception. This sophisticated UFO with its ultra-contemporary aesthetic adopts an innovation drawn from the history of Audemars Piguet: wandering hours. Invented in the 17th century yet all but forgotten during the 20th, this complex display mechanism was reintroduced by the Manufacture from Le Brassus in 1991 and used for a decade on a few models. Named Starwheel, this system paid tribute to the wandering hours tradition, which derives its name from having a number showing the hour travel across an arc-shaped minutes scale. In December 2022, the Starwheel returns to the spotlight in Audemars Piguet’s latest collection. The result is not only striking, but also aesthetically stunning and brimming with positive energy.
Like planets floating in space, the three domed disks on a blue aventurine background spin on their axis in their blackened, beadblasted aluminum attire, coming to rest in turn in front of the minutes scale to indicate the time (in this case 10:22). Sweeping around the dial is a single hand, curved at its tip to follow the contours of the watch face and indicating the seconds. The play on materials continues with the black ceramic of the case middle and crown, alternating between polished chamfers and satin-brushed surfaces, extending to the white gold of the sculptural hand-finished case, the pink gold of the oscillating weight visible through the curved sapphire caseback, as well as the rubber strap with a new pin buckle. The new-gen self-winding movement driving this beautifully rounded ballet is a version enriched with a new module of Caliber 4309, endowed with a comfortable power reserve of at least three days. Time to wander in zero gravity?
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