Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 Collection Overview

pfang56 · 2022-02-13T10:35:59Z

Discover the Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 with a Bordeaux dial. Peter Fang shares his insights on its unique craftsmanship, versatile aesthetics, and strap options.

pfang56

WPS member · Audemars Piguet forum

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Peter Fang (pfang56) shares his latest acquisition, an Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 with a captivating Bordeaux dial. His post delves into the nuanced appeal of this reference, highlighting how its in-person presence transcends initial perceptions and offers a refreshing departure from traditional Audemars Piguet collecting. Fang's insights are particularly valuable for those considering the CODE 11.59 line, especially its more adventurous dial configurations.

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Continuing my journey with CODE 11.59 and with a little inspiration from a combination of Lunar New Year, Valentine's Day, and some fine Bordeaux...

Over some period of time, I've been looking at getting some kind of Red dial variant - and lo and behold there was always a special piece "in the family" of AP. As with other owners and feedback, CODE is best enjoyed in person to appreciate the meticulous craftsmanship of the smoked dial, case, crystal, and hands - and compared to my other CODE Perpetual in RG this piece in WG feels more cosmopolitan and cool, and the Bordeaux dial has so much personality in different lighting conditions. In the dark, it's an uber rich black with some central dark purple accents, in the light it's an elegant ruby red, and in the middle, the Bordeaux shines in depth and luxury.

I know I still owe the Food and Wine a few late reviews of some wines (trust me, it will come in the future) but the dial really resonated with me and is an ideal "pairing" for future red wine tasting. Very excited to share some next week in future travels.

Separately, what I also found exciting is the selection of straps available for the CODE. I don't have all of the photos below, but it reminded me a bit of old Panerai days - where the change of a strap can change the personality of the outfit. I was able to get a red Kevlar, an ecru Kevlar, a khaki Kevlar, a black croc, and the attached grey croc - and there were probably more than double in other fabrics, materials, and cuts. I'm hoping in the future that AP does come up with a "quick change" system to make things easier, especially given that gold screws are probably easy to scratch and expensive to replace.

Anyway, many thanks to the team at AP for making this new CODE line an opportunity to expand my own collecting horizon beyond the traditional Royal Oak line - super excited for sure on the 50th anniversary but the satisfaction I have wearing this CODE is on par with my other RO models!

Cheers and have a good weekend all!

Peter

Key Points from the Discussion

The Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59, particularly with its smoked dials, is best appreciated in person, as its intricate craftsmanship, case architecture, and crystal design are difficult to convey through photographs.
The Bordeaux dial of the CODE 11.59 exhibits remarkable versatility, appearing as a rich black with purple accents in low light, an elegant ruby red in bright conditions, and a deep, luxurious Bordeaux in ambient lighting.
The CODE 11.59 offers extensive strap interchangeability, reminiscent of early Panerai models, allowing owners to significantly alter the watch's personality with options like Kevlar and various crocodile leathers. However, a quick-change system would be beneficial to protect the gold screws.
Despite initial public skepticism, the CODE 11.59 possesses 'stealth wealth' appeal, characterized by its sensuous lugs, hidden octagonal shape, domed crystal, and substantial gold weight, which are often overlooked in two-dimensional images.
The increasing popularity of exotic dial colors, such as green and turquoise, indicates a broader trend in watch appreciation, where color differentiation is becoming a significant factor in a timepiece's appeal.
While the date window is a functional feature, some collectors express a preference for a clean, date-free dial on certain models, acknowledging the manufacturing effort required for such a design.
Expanding the color spectrum for lines like the CODE 11.59 and Diver is seen as a fitting strategy to inject more vitality and excitement into the Audemars Piguet brand.
The CODE 11.59 can evoke a similar passionate collecting experience to the early Panerai days, appealing to those who appreciate Audemars Piguet beyond its traditional Royal Oak offerings.

The Discussion

amanico

Feb 13, 2022

Very nice photos, my friend. As for the watch, it is not a secret I am a big fan of the case, less of the dial even if I must confess that this Bordeaux one is very nice looking. Without the date, it would be even nicer.

pfang56

Feb 13, 2022

Many thanks for your note...

Good point on the date window - it would be extremely nice to have a model with a clean dial. There must be a lot more work and effort from the manufacture to add this feature. Now with a few watches with the same superlative feature it does become a little nuisance at the beginning of every month - on top of the design impact. Anyway, my eyes are not so great these days so I'm spending more time looking at the bigger numerals Cheers Peter

amanico

Feb 13, 2022

It is not that complicated to make a version without date. With a bit of photoshop work, I will try to see if I can post something without date... For the fun.

ZSHSZ

Feb 13, 2022

Congratulations to this great addition! S lovely pice Indeed, but as I’m not a purist as most, my love on this reference goes to the chrono version with the same dial color.

Enjoy yours in good health!

pfang56

Feb 13, 2022

I think AP Chronographs are really special...

And the CODE received the new in-house Chronograph movement. Just a beauty along multiple dimensions. Cheers Peter

jlux

Feb 13, 2022

The burgundy dial Code is such a great looking watch.

I do enjoy mine a lot and it is amongst the most positively commented watches in my collection. Very nice strap btw. Here a picture of mine on the original red strap.

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Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 Collection Overview

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