Buffy Acacia
A new Code 11.59 Chronograph pays tribute to Tuscan dials of Audemars Piguet of the past, with a textured blue finish and baguette indices.With a case in ceramic and white gold, it’s one of the most delectable variants of Audemars Piguet’s newest collection.The piece will be exclusive to North America for two months, before hitting stores worldwide in May. Price: US$85,600.The Code 11.59 collection from Audemars Piguet has been a head-scratcher for a lot of people. But, now in its sixth year, it seems the times have begun to catch up with its forward-thinking approach. It's a watch that knows exactly which rules to break and which to respect, resulting in a neo-traditional archetype that's unique without being alienating. This new model with its Tuscany Blue dial leans even harder into the fusion confusion by combining a sportier aesthetic with a bejewelled dial, as part of the brand’s First Semester 2025 set of novelties.The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph almost aggressively defies genre. Being constructed from a mixture of 18k white gold and ceramic sections, it's simultaneously daring you to scratch it an insisting on being respected. The case's architecture plays with a traditional silhouette from the top-down, and yet the side view reveals crisp edges, exact and defined finishes, and futuristic skeletonisation of the lugs. At 41mm in diameter and around 50mm lug-to-lug, it secures a lot of wrist presence without overextending itself. 12.6mm is surprisingly slender for a watch with an automatic chronograph movement, although the 30m of water resistance means that the only rule you should follow is keeping it away from the pool.Dubbed Tuscany Blue, the new Code 11.59's dial is an exuberant shade that's much more exciting than classical navies but still timeless, and not as showy as some of the modern pastels. Its speckled texture lends it a lot of depth without being distracting, as the dial's layout already has a fair bit going on. There are the three subdials counting 12 hours, 30 minutes, and 60 running seconds, with clean printing for ease of use. Then there's the chapter ring which is highly dimensional, with a flat bezel depicting a tachymeter, and a steep slope with printed minute markers. The hour markers are baguette-cut diamonds with an approximate total weight of 0.32 carats, injecting the sporty colour with luxurious flash.From the sapphire display caseback you can peer in at the Audemars Piguet calibre 4409. It's a manufacture movement with automatic winding, a flyback chronograph that lets you restart the timer instantly, 70 hours of power reserve, and a full 4Hz beat rate for a smooth sweep of the seconds hand. It's decorated tastefully but with exact precision, showing off the c?tes de Geneve and perlage of the upper and base plates. It also has column wheel actuation which makes the start/stop functionality much more satisfying, with a heavy click. The only decision of which I'm not a fan is the matching blue strap that's coated in rubber and backed with calfskin, as it makes the watch look extremely casual, which doesn’t exactly play with the vibe of the dial. But if casual isn't your thing and you're prepared to own this watch, finding an alternative strap won't be an issue at all, and may leave room for a more personal touch.Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph Tuscany Blue price and availabilityThe Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph Tuscany Blue will be available in North America in March 2025, before the rest of the world gains access in May. Price: US$85,600BrandAudemars PiguetModel11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph 41 Tuscany BlueReference26439NB.00.A346KB.01Case Dimensions41mm (D) x 12.3mm (T) x 50mm (LTL)Case material18k white gold with blue ceramic mid-caseWater Resistance30 metresCrystal(s)Sapphire front and backDialTuscany Blue with baguette-cut diamond hour markers, ~0.32ctBracelet and strapRubber-coated woven strap with calfskin backingMovementCalibre 4409, in-house, automaticPower Reserve70 hoursFunctionsHours, minutes, running seconds, chronographAvailabilityNowPriceUS$85,600
26.02.25