Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel

THE CODE 11.59 BY AUDEMARS PIGUET STARWHEEL RETURNS IN 18-CARAT PINK GOLD

To celebrate its 150th anniversary, Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is pleased to unveil a new iteration of the 41 mm Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel in black ceramic and 18-carat pink gold. The striking two-toned aesthetic is further enhanced by a shimmering black aventurine dial, lending a contemporary tribute to the Manufacture’s enduring legacy of tradition and craftsmanship. Named after the star-shaped screws guiding the hour discs, the Starwheel made its debut in the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection in 2022, introducing Calibre 4310 – the selfwinding movement with a wondering hours mechanism. Today, this timepiece continues to embody the brand’s dedication to perpetuating ancestral savoir-faire while embracing a modern and sophisticated aesthetic.

A TRADITION OF POETIC HOROLOGY

The wandering hours mechanism can be traced back to the 17th century following a special request from Pope

Alexander VII. Suffering from insomnia that was aggravated by the ticking of a clock, he commissioned a clock that would be silent and easy to read in the dark Meeting his request, the Campani brothers – three clockmakers based in Rome – presented the Pope with the first wandering hours clock, where the time was read not with the hands, but on a semi-circle in an aperture – a small window on the dial – that indicated the quarter hours and was lit from the inside. This night clock was the precursor of the wandering hours system.  time was read

From the end of the 17th century, this complication was introduced into pocket watches without backlighting. While the arc-shaped aperture still measured 180 degrees, the minutes were graduated in addition to the quarter hours for greater precision. During the following century, these watches were offered as prestigious gifts, often bearing an effigy of a well-known person.

In the 19th century, the popularity of the wandering hours complication started to wane. The timepieces produced at this time presented a sector of 120 degrees to facilitate the reading of time, while the quarter hours disappeared along with the small window for the hours. At this time, the 360-degree wandering hours version made an appearance, although it was gradually replaced by the jumping hour that was to become typical of the Streamline Moderne movement during the first half of the 20th century.

In 1989, an Audemars Piguet watchmaker rediscovered the wandering hours system in an article in the Journal suisse d’horlogerie. This was a period of increased creativity as the industry was seeing a revival of mechanical watchmaking. In 1991, after 18 months of development, the Manufacture’s first wandering hours watch was presented (Ref. 25720). Named the “Star Wheel” –in reference to the three star-shaped screws supporting the sapphire hour discs fixed on a large central wheel – this watch lifted the mystery of its operation by revealing its mechanism.

Between 1991 and 2003, around 30 “Star Wheel” models were produced by Audemars Piguet across different collections. These aesthetically creative timepieces varied in design with the arc-shaped aperture present in different lengths and positions, some of which also incorporated gemsetting and openworking. By reintroducing the wandering hours system, Audemars Piguet paved the way and opened a new chapter in 21st-century watchmaking.

Today, the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel bridges past and future in a glowing iteration reflecting the brand’s commitment to offering historical complications with modern design.

A MOVEMENT OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

The emblematic Starwheel display was integrated within the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection in 2022 with the introduction of selfwinding Calibre 4310. This next-generation hour, minute and seconds movement is directly derived from Calibre 4309, to which a wandering hours mechanism was added. Combining cutting-edge technology, traditional know-how and refined decoration, Calibre 4310 embodies the Manufacture’s commitment to technical innovation and aesthetic harmony.

The wandering hours display is orchestrated by a central rotor that completes a full rotation every three hours. Mounted on this rotor are three aluminium discs, each featuring four numerals from 1 to 12, which rotate on their own axes and take turns pointing to the 120-degree arched sector at the top of the dial on which the minute scale is printed. The 18-carat pink gold seconds hand is slightly curved at the tip to follow the relief of the discs, indicating the seconds like a traditional timepiece while adding a subtle yet dynamic layer to the display. This choreography creates a seamless and atypical reading of time, offering a contemporary interpretation of a centuries-old complication.

Visible through the sapphire caseback, the movement reveals its dedicated 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight along with refined decorations. With a minimum power reserve of 70 hours and water-resistance to 30 metres, Calibre 4310 ensures both performance and reliability.

A CONTEMPORARY DESIGN FOR A HISTORIC COMPLICATION

This latest 41 mm variation combines an 18-carat pink gold bezel and caseback with a black ceramic case middle, highlighting the contemporary architecture of the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet case. The contrast of materials and colours extends to the dial, where the black aventurine plate provides a shimmering backdrop for the wandering hours display. e

The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel in 18-carat pink gold and black ceramic reaffirms the Manufacture’s commitment to reviving rare complications through modern design, showcasing the evolution of the collection with new material and colour combinations that bridge 150 years of watchmaking tradition with contemporary aesthetics.

“The Beat Goes On”