Audemars Piguet is ending the watch year 2022 on a high note: The Swiss tradition manufacture from Le Brassus breathes new life into the “wandering hours,” a rare and ancient complication that dates back to the 17th century. Its clever mechanism displays the hours using a system of satellites that gravitate along a minute scale arranged in the form of an arc.
The new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel is not the first timepiece by the Swiss luxury manufacture, though. In fact, the brand’s Ref. 25720, released in 1991 at the height of the mechanical renaissance and today sought-after by collectors, featured a wandering hours display.
The new Starwheel edition is a continuation of the models from the 1990s and housed in the signature Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet case. Crafted from white gold and black ceramic, it has a diameter of 41mm and a thickness of 10.7mm.
Blue aventurine serves as a shimmering backdrop for the three discs that rotate on their own axes. Slightly domed, they are made of aluminum and tinted black thanks to a PVD treatment, before being adorned with an opaline sandblasted finishing touch. The white wandering hours numerals are then transferred onto the dial. Following the contemporary design, the 120-degree minute sector, which extends in an arc from 10 to 2 o’clock, and the inner bezel, are both black with white minute indications.
On the dial side, the double-curved sapphire crystal magnifies both the numerous details present in the blue aventurine and the finishing of the various elements, while also bringing increased depth to the dial. On the back of the watch, the sapphire crystal reveals the self-winding manufacture caliber 4310, as well as the 22-carat pink gold, partially skeletonized oscillating weight dedicated to the collection. The movement amasses a power reserve of 72 hours.
The entertaining time display is achieved thanks to a central rotor operating a complete revolution in three hours and on which are fixed three aluminum discs that turn on their own axes. Each disc has four digits from 1 to 12 that take turns in pointing to the arched sector at the top of the dial on which the minute scale is printed. The 18-carat white gold trotteuse hand is slightly curved at the tip to follow the discs, indicating the seconds in a traditional fashion.
The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel is fitted with a textured black rubber-coated strap and a new pin buckle engraved with the Audemars Piguet logo, instead of the usual AP monogram.
The retail price is marked at $57,900.
To learn more, visit Audemars Piguet, here.
