Can you believe it? Five years already. And while the collection might have been slightly (okay, more than slightly) maligned at launch, it seems to be finally hitting its stride. With the release of smaller 38mm Codes last year, plus better dial textures and indices, AP seemed to crack the – you know what, I’m not going to say it. This year, there are a few changes to the collection. First, you’ll no longer see Code 11.59 in white gold for chronographs and time-only pieces. Complications are still theoretically fair game, but we were told that steel and white gold seemed too close to each other and tended to cannibalize their own market. So expect to see more pink gold – the only gold variant the brand is doing on the Code for now https://www.highluxurystore.ru.
I didn’t get to spend much time with the Codes, but this is what we saw. The introductions were all dial variations on the now-existing platforms of 38mm and 41mm self-winding pieces and the 41mm chronographs, all in pink gold with stamped dials. In 38mm by 9.6mm models, you can now see the “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” color of the original ref. 5402 Royal Oak on the stamped texture dial, delivered with a matching alligator strap or blue textured rubber. There’s also a much lighter light blue dial, a color between powder blue and turquoise. The 41mm three-hand (with date) models now come in that same dark blue and green (like seen on the steel pieces last year). Finally, the chronographs have blue, green, or black dial options now, and yes, they’re all now the stamped dial style from the steel chronographs, a massive improvement.
Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding, ref. 77410OR (38mm) and 15210OR (41mm), 38mm by 9.6mm OR 41mm by 10.7mm 18k pink gold case, with 30m water resistance; Light blue (38mm only), “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50,” or green dial with stamped motif, applied pink gold hour- markers and hands with luminescent material, and matching color inner bezel; Self-winding Calibre 5900 with 60 hours of power reserve (38mm) or Self-winding Calibre 4302 with 70 hours of power reserve (41mm). Textured rubber straps in matching colors.
Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph Ref. 26393OR; 41mm diameter by 12.6mm thick 18k pink gold case, with 30m water resistance. “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50,” or green dial with stamped motif, applied pink gold hour- markers and hands with luminescent material, and matching color inner bezel, gold surrounds on the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock subdials; Flyback chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds and date; Selfwinding Calibre 4401 and 70 hours of power reserve. Color-matching textured rubber strap.