jlux
4446
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