The Audemars Piguet Code 11:59 with "burgundy" fumé dial.

Jul 08, 2020,09:16 AM
 

The Code 11:59 was,without a doubt,the most controversial watch from 2019.


We all know what happened and I am not going back to the story : everyone involved made mistakes, the brand,the media and the internet community.

The regretful part were hate messages and a product bashing from people that actually had not seen nor handled the watch.

A remaining criticism were the (too) conservative dial options as opposed to the modern case design.
Something that AP has now corrected with a series of colourful "fumé" type dials that add drama and life to the design.



I discovered those first a week ago in a post from our dear member "Mohannad",fell in love with the "burgundy" dial,called the AP boutique,made a reservation and a week later the watch was with me.

And what a beautiful watch it is!



The fumé dials (no,Moser has no exclusivity rights ....) are a perfect fit for the personality of the watch.
The radial brushing effect is in reality less pronounced as what the AP computer generated pictures might suggest.It adds however a very attractive silky shimmer to the dial.

The presence and positioning of the date is due to commercial reasons. I can certainly live with it but do understand also that this could be a no-go for others.
High resolution pictures do enhance the visual impact of a date window. In reality however,especially with the fumé effect, the date remains quite discreet.





The double curved sapphire is a real nice design element.



THE highlight of the watch is for sure the case,executed to the high standards that we know from AP.
Octagonal reminiscense to the Royal Oak ...





...and these very specific lugs.



Finally a modern and correctly sized movement from AP.



I am not expert enough to judge on what parts are machine or hand finished.
The result is however very attractive and "clean".







This is not your typical concensus watch and it probably was never intended as such from AP.
It is however a very high quality watch with a refreshing and contemporary design language,something that none of the "usual" competition has.

I strongly recommend to everyone to go and see the watch ....and then make the final judgement.

A final note : I expected this watch to photograph with a lot of difficulties; in fact it was not and I do not understand why so many so really bad pictures of this watch were published (even by serious internet mags)...

Thanks for looking,
Gerard


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Phenomenal write up.

 
 By: K-Lo : July 8th, 2020-10:00
So would you say the dial is the best executed component of this piece?

Thanks,as usual with AP all parts are of a very high standard.

 
 By: jlux : July 8th, 2020-10:10
The case however is in a league of its own. Extremely complex and perfectly executed including quite a lot of hand polishing.

Thanks,yes the case is really well done.

 
 By: jlux : July 8th, 2020-12:07
The lug design is also very wrist friendly!

Thanks.

 
 By: jlux : July 8th, 2020-11:58
Most likely we will not see a steel version very soon.

Thank you!

 
 By: MTR : July 8th, 2020-11:24
Thanks for your interesting post and write-up. I'm not 100% convinced yet, but I think AP is going in the right direction regarding the 11:59. And your watch is really beautiful. Especially the case!! You definitely "turned" me in the „pro-direction“. I a... 

Thanks and whenever you will have the chance go and see the watch.

 
 By: jlux : July 8th, 2020-12:01
Btw, I am also a great fan of Endeavour Concept watch is high on my list.

Thanks for the fantastic pictures

 
 By: GWIS : July 8th, 2020-11:42
Enjoy the watch. Jon

Well, I did not get the Code 11:59 in view of another piece from AP.

 
 By: jlux : July 8th, 2020-12:05
It actually is my favorite piece from their current collection.

Great photos and write up

 
 By: rtgc67 : July 8th, 2020-12:07
Got it too sorry for the bad picture ...  

Wow,another one!

 
 By: jlux : July 8th, 2020-12:51
Huge congratulations!

Thank you , [nt]

 
 By: rtgc67 : July 8th, 2020-18:34

I've tried the blue one

 
 By: piccolochimico (aka dsgalaxy1) : July 8th, 2020-12:29
Nothing more than a nice watch. Like there are already many. A nice colored dial can't change my mind, though the finishing is much better than the first release. How many years did AP take to introduce it? 5? 8? And they needed to show news dial to get s... 

Thanks for your feedback although obviously I do not share your point of view.

 
 By: jlux : July 8th, 2020-12:55
Watch collecting is such a friendly passion: we should leave it this way.

You're welcome

 
 By: piccolochimico (aka dsgalaxy1) : July 8th, 2020-13:37
A polite confrontation is the basic for a civil and, hopefully, insightful thread. If I had to choose a nice dial watch, with a nice movement and case, I'd go for the Cartier Santos with no hesitation. Just to name a worthy competitor. AP has missed the c... 

I also do have the blue dialed Santos.

 
 By: jlux : July 8th, 2020-14:31
A very nice watch but overall quality is nevertheless miles away from the AP.

Cartier is 1/4 of the AP price

 
 By: piccolochimico (aka dsgalaxy1) : July 8th, 2020-22:14
Finishing? They're all made by machines 😅

Beautiful in every way except 1

 
 By: shafran : July 8th, 2020-13:08
I would really love to see thicker hands

Initially I also wanted thicker hands.

 
 By: jlux : July 8th, 2020-14:29
Now I see them as an interesting and integral part of the design. Legibility is by the way excellent.

Congratulation❗️👍🏻😃

 
 By: MCG (Markus) : July 8th, 2020-13:37
The first Code 1159 I „like“ - so to say. 😇

Looking swell...

 
 By: George Gently : July 9th, 2020-02:25
Thank you very much for the write up and nice pics! Regards, Gerorge

Looking super noice and congrats!!

 
 By: Spencer Karrington : July 9th, 2020-05:12
I think that the change to the dial made such a drastic change and the watch looks so different!! I am super excited for when all of their watches are availiable in two tones and then it would be even awesomer!!

Superb [nt]

 
 By: RG1 : July 9th, 2020-05:12

Thanks! [nt]

 
 By: jlux : July 9th, 2020-06:04

These are wonderful photos

 
 By: jmpTT : July 11th, 2020-05:24
This watch is a technical tour de force and, for me, that strength is also a weakness. Your photography is fantastic and I can see why you love this watch, but I’m afraid it is not for me. The case is extremely beautiful on its own, but the combination of...