{"lien_WSTV":"","tax_name":"deprecated","tax_rate":20,"id_manufacturer":"0","id_supplier":"0","id_category_default":"1190","id_shop_default":"1","manufacturer_name":false,"supplier_name":false,"name":"Code 11.59 By Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon \/ 38 mm","description":"<p><strong>CODE 11.59 BY AUDEMARS PIGUET WELCOMES A GRACEFUL FLYING TOURBILLON IN 38 MM<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Le Brassus, February 2025 \u2013 For 150 years, Audemars Piguet has been beating to the tune of complicated mechanisms. Driven by a shared passion and a free spirit, generations of talented watchmakers and craftspeople have worked together to push the boundaries of their craft, surprising their diverse clientele with complicated timepieces in a wide range of sizes and creative aesthetics. To celebrate this enduring legacy, the Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer is expanding its range of complicated models with a 38 mm Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon in a shimmering monochrome design that interweaves 18-carat sand gold with brilliant-cut diamonds. This elegant timepiece \u2013 the first selfwinding flying tourbillon ever offered by the Manufacture in this diameter \u2013 houses the ultra-thin RD#3 movement, Calibre 2968, which seamlessly combines sophisticated aesthetic with state-of-the-art performance. Building on the brand\u2019s uncompromising approach to fine watchmaking, it heralds a new generation of smaller Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet complications blending traditional craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology and timeless refinement.<\/p>\n<p><strong>AN ULTRA-THIN FLYING TOURBILLON BLENDING FINESSE AND ELEGANCE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet timepiece welcomes to the collection the ultra-thin selfwinding flying tourbillon movement, Calibre 2968 (RD#3), unveiled in 2022 on a 39 mm Royal Oak \u201cJumbo\u201d and a smaller 37 mm model. This state-of-the-art movement, measuring a mere 3.4 mm in thickness, is offered for the first time in a 38 mm case.<\/p>\n<p>This sophisticated, high-end complication counteracts the effects of gravity on the watch\u2019s accuracy. The balance wheel and escapement are housed in a tiny rotating cage that makes one revolution every minute to prevent their centre of gravity from remaining in the same orientation. Unlike its tourbillon sibling, the flying tourbillon cage is supported only from below so as to reveal the watch\u2019s beating heart on the dial side. It is considered today as a symbol of watchmaking art, as it requires a high mastery of the craft.<\/p>\n<p>The flying tourbillon cage of Calibre 2968 has been designed with thinness, harmonious aesthetic and performance in mind. In addition to repositioning several components compared to previous flying tourbillon movements, the AP teams incorporated a new escapement to drive the titanium cage peripherally, improving energy distribution to the tourbillon, while lightening and refining this regulating organ.<a href=\"#_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> In addition, the escapement relies on an oscillator with increased amplitude that pushes the limit at which knocking occurs\u2014a state which happens when excessive energy is transferred from the escapement to the oscillator\u2014and enhances reliability, energy efficiency and precision.<\/p>\n<p>This innovative construction also enhances the beauty of the movement. On the dial side, the geometry and positioning of the balance wheel arms have been modified to place the flying tourbillon cage at the same level as the dial, for a mesmerising visual experience. In contrast, the sapphire caseback highlights the movement\u2019s rhodium-toned bridges, which have been delicately openworked to reveal its inner workings and create a harmonious and symmetrical architecture. The decoration of the movement\u2019s components, also visible through the sapphire caseback, combines the dynamism and classicism of V-angles with the modernity of traits tir\u00e9s \u2013 a finish applied to the bridges to replace the traditional C\u00f4tes de Gen\u00e8ve. The caseback also showcases the sand gold-toned 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight, which echoes the case colour.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> The tourbillon cage\u2019s peripheral drive enables to reduce the tourbillon\u2019s thickness and gain a level, thus making it possible to fit it into the extra-thin 8.1 mm case of the Royal Oak \u201cJumbo\u201d. This solution also improves energy transmission as the smaller angular pitch provides more constant energy distribution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt Audemars Piguet, clients act as a catalyst for both mechanical and design innovation, inspiring us to create a wide array of avant-garde timepieces that anticipate their evolving tastes and expectations. This inclusive pulse has driven our watchmakers and engineers since the company\u2019s inception. With its refined flying tourbillon and sand gold case glittering with diamonds, the new 38 mm Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet will grace the wrist with an uncompromising blend of cutting-edge technology and ultra-elegance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ilaria Resta<\/p>\n<p>Chief Executive Officer, Audemars Piguet<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>A FINE SAND GOLD CASE DANCING IN THE LIGHT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Reflecting the finesse of the movement it houses, the new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon is dressed in an elegant sand gold case set with diamonds that comes to life with every movement of the wrist. This 18-carat alloy, which combines gold with copper and palladium, makes its first appearance in the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection this year, following its debut in the Royal Oak in 2024. Hovering between white and pink gold depending on the light and the angle, this material accentuates the endless play of light created by the case\u2019s multifaceted architecture and the subtle alternation of satin-brushing and polished chamfers that embellishes its surfaces.<\/p>\n<p>The 235 brilliant-cut diamonds (~ 1.2 carats) adorning the case middle, lugs and crown add shimmering elegance. The diamonds have been carefully selected to meet the Manufacture\u2019s exacting criteria in terms of clarity and colour, before being cut in various sizes to match the different geometries of the case. The quality of their cut is as important as their intrinsic quality for infinite radiance, while achieving seamless alignment is key to a graceful and harmonious composition.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A SOPHISTICATED PALETTE FOR THE SIGNATURE DIAL AND STRAP<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Continuing the watch\u2019s glamorous aesthetic, the dial presents a rich tone-on-tone sand gold hue. Obtained by Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD), this warm shade lends brilliance to both the inner bezel and the collection\u2019s signature embossed pattern made up of concentric circles rippling outwards from the centre of the dial. Hundreds of tiny holes complement the design, adding light, depth and character. Debuted in 2023, this motif was created in collaboration with Swiss guilloch\u00e9 artisan Yann Von Kaenel, who hand-engraved the die.<\/p>\n<p>This refined dial opens onto the flying tourbillon pulsating at dial level at 6 o\u2019clock, offering an ethereal view of the timepiece\u2019s beating heart. The 18-carat sand gold hour-markers and hands add to the harmonious monochrome look, while the luminescent materials on the hands grant optimum legibility in the dark.<\/p>\n<p>The watch is mounted on an elegant beige alligator strap with large square scales, the darker shade of which contrasts subtly with the case and dial, while enhancing their natural play with light. The brilliant-cut diamonds adorning the folding clasp add a final touch of radiance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A POWERFUL LEGACY OF COMPLICATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Since 1875, Audemars Piguet has been a pioneer in the manufacture of movements for a varied clientele, making a name for itself both with highly complicated pocket watches and with small complications for women fitted into pendants, brooches or rings. Its expertise in miniaturisation provided a platform for innovation and played a trailblazing role in the development of the wristwatch in the early decades of the 20th century, leading the brand to achieve a series of world firsts in both the ultra-thin and ultra-small categories.<\/p>\n<p>While the miniaturisation of movements opened up new creative and technical horizons, it also contributed to a reduction in the number of complications produced during the 20th century, due to the complexity of fitting intricate mechanisms into smaller diameters. Between 1892, when the first minute-repeating wristwatch was sold, and 1969, the company ledgers count a total of 550 complicated wristwatches.<a href=\"#_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> Today, they are prized by collectors for their rarity, diversity of design and workmanship. Together, they lay the foundations for AP\u2019s creative experimentation with form and function, which has driven horological innovation ever since.<\/p>\n<p>Audemars Piguet also played a key role in the revival of classic complications in the with the release of the thinnest selfwinding perpetual calendar of its time in 1978 and the very first selfwinding tourbillon wristwatch in 1986. Designed by Jacqueline Dimier, this ultra-thin wristwatch, just 5.3 mm thick, placed the tourbillon escapement on the dial side \u2013 a first in the history of watchmaking. Its titanium tourbillon cage remains one of the smallest in the world today with a diameter of 7.2 mm, as well as one of the lightest, weighing only 0.123 grams. The tourbillon has been reinterpreted ever since, alone or in combination with other functions, throughout the Manufacture\u2019s collections, starting with the Royal Oak in 1997.<\/p>\n<p>More than 20 years later, in 2018, the flying tourbillon appeared in the Royal Oak Concept collection, with the launch of two hand-wound 38.5 mm and 42 mm timepieces, each with a distinctive aesthetic. In 2020, the Royal Oak welcomed the Manufacture\u2019s first selfwinding flying tourbillon with a series of 41 mm timepieces. A year later, this prestigious mechanism was found on a 43 mm Royal Oak Offshore, paired with a chronograph.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> They include: 35 minute repeating wristwatches, 188 calendar wristwatches, 307 chronograph wristwatches and 20 double complications (chronograph and calendar combinations).<\/p>\n<p>Pushing technical innovation further to mark the Royal Oak\u2019s 50th anniversary in 2022, the flying tourbillon was fully rethought to fit in the exact dimensions of the Royal Oak \u201cJumbo\u201d case before being housed in an even smaller 37 mm \u2013 a first as this selfwinding complication was previously reserved for 41 mm diameters. The ultra-thin Calibre 2968 (RD#3) that powered these feats of engineering makes its debut this year in a new diameter in the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet, continuing to open up new technical and aesthetic horizons for a wide range of wrists.<\/p>","description_short":"","quantity":0,"minimal_quantity":"0","available_now":"","available_later":"","price":0,"specificPrice":false,"additional_shipping_cost":"0.00","wholesale_price":"0.000000","on_sale":"0","online_only":"0","unity":"","unit_price":0,"unit_price_ratio":"0.000000","ecotax":"0.000000","reference":"226665SG.ZZ.D209CR.01","supplier_reference":"","location":"","width":"0.000000","height":"0.000000","depth":"0.000000","weight":"0.000000","ean13":"","upc":"","link_rewrite":"code-1159-by-audemars-piguet-selfwinding-flying-tourbillon-38-mm","meta_description":"","meta_keywords":"","meta_title":"","quantity_discount":"0","customizable":"0","new":false,"uploadable_files":"0","text_fields":"0","active":"1","redirect_type":"","id_product_redirected":"0","available_for_order":"0","available_date":"0000-00-00","condition":"new","show_price":"1","indexed":"0","visibility":"both","date_add":"2025-02-26 15:27:10","date_upd":"2025-02-27 12:01:19","tags":false,"base_price":"0.000000","id_tax_rules_group":"1","id_color_default":0,"advanced_stock_management":"0","out_of_stock":2,"depends_on_stock":false,"isFullyLoaded":true,"cache_is_pack":"0","cache_has_attachments":"1","is_virtual":"0","id_pack_product_attribute":null,"cache_default_attribute":"0","category":"code-1159","pack_stock_type":"0","id":9300,"id_shop_list":null,"force_id":false,"customization_required":false}
{"Compl\u00e9ment":"Sand Gold - Diamonds - Sand Gold Dial - Strap Alligator","Statut de vente":"En vente depuis","Date":"2025","Sexe":"Homme","Diam\u00e8tre":"38","Epaisseur":"9.6","Types":"Self-winding","Styles":"High Horology","Calibre_autre":"2968 ","Affichage_autre":"18-carat sand gold hour-markers, 18-carat sand gold hands with luminescent material, Snailed sand gold-toned inner bezel","Complication":"Flying tourbillon, Hours, Minutes","Mati\u00e8re du bo\u00eetier":"Sand gold","Particularit\u00e9 du boitier":"Set with diamonds, Sapphire caseback","Etanch\u00e9it\u00e9":"30 meters","Forme":"Round","Couleur du cadran":"Sand gold","Index":"Baton-type","Verre":"Sapphire, Antireflective coating","Mati\u00e8re du bracelet":"Alligator leather","Fermeture du bracelet":"Folding buckle ","Couleur du bracelet":"Sand gold ","Plus de caract\u00e9ristiques":"<br\/>\r\nMovement<br\/>\r\nSelfwinding Calibre 2968<br\/>\r\nTotal diameter\t29.6 mm (13 lignes)<br\/>\r\nTotal thickness\t3.4 mm<br\/>\r\nNumber of parts\t226<br\/>\r\nNumber of jewels\t33<br\/>\r\nMinimum power reserve guaranteed\t50 h<br\/>\r\nFrequency of balance wheel\t3 Hz (21,600 vibrations\/hour)<br\/>\r\n<br\/>\r\nCase<br\/>\r\n18-carat sand gold case set with 235 brilliant-cut diamonds (~ 1.2 carats)<br\/>\r\n<br\/>\r\nDial<br\/>\r\nSand gold-toned Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet signature dial<br\/>\r\n<br\/>\r\nStrap \/ Buckles<br\/>\r\nBeige large square scale alligator strap with 18-carat sand gold three-blade folding clasp set with 42 brilliant-cut diamonds (~ 0.16 carats)"}
Code 11.59 By Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon / 38 mm
226665SG.ZZ.D209CR.01
| Brand : | Audemars Piguet |
| Collection : | Code 11.59 |
| Model : | Code 11.59 By Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon / 38 mm |
| Reference : | 226665SG.ZZ.D209CR.01 |
| Complement : | Sand Gold - Diamonds - Sand Gold Dial - Strap Alligator |
| On sale : | 2025 |
PDF INDEX CARD
-
Brand : Audemars Piguet Collection : Code 11.59 Model : Code 11.59 By Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon / 38 mm Reference : 226665SG.ZZ.D209CR.01 Complement : Sand Gold - Diamonds - Sand Gold Dial - Strap Alligator On sale : 2025 List Price : On request Diameter : 38 mm Thickness : 9.6 mm Styles : High Horology Types : Self-winding Calibre : 2968 Complication : Flying tourbillon Hours Minutes Case material : Sand gold Case peculiarity : Set with diamonds Sapphire caseback Shape : Round Water-resistance : 30 meters Dial color : Sand gold Display : 18-carat sand gold hour-markers 18-carat sand gold hands with luminescent material Snailed sand gold-toned inner bezel Indexes : Baton-type Glass : Sapphire Antireflective coating Strap material : Alligator leather Strap color : Sand gold Strap clasp : Folding buckle + More characteristics :
Movement
Selfwinding Calibre 2968
Total diameter 29.6 mm (13 lignes)
Total thickness 3.4 mm
Number of parts 226
Number of jewels 33
Minimum power reserve guaranteed 50 h
Frequency of balance wheel 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour)
Case
18-carat sand gold case set with 235 brilliant-cut diamonds (~ 1.2 carats)
Dial
Sand gold-toned Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet signature dial
Strap / Buckles
Beige large square scale alligator strap with 18-carat sand gold three-blade folding clasp set with 42 brilliant-cut diamonds (~ 0.16 carats)
DESCRIPTION
CODE 11.59 BY AUDEMARS PIGUET WELCOMES A GRACEFUL FLYING TOURBILLON IN 38 MM
Le Brassus, February 2025 – For 150 years, Audemars Piguet has been beating to the tune of complicated mechanisms. Driven by a shared passion and a free spirit, generations of talented watchmakers and craftspeople have worked together to push the boundaries of their craft, surprising their diverse clientele with complicated timepieces in a wide range of sizes and creative aesthetics. To celebrate this enduring legacy, the Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer is expanding its range of complicated models with a 38 mm Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon in a shimmering monochrome design that interweaves 18-carat sand gold with brilliant-cut diamonds. This elegant timepiece – the first selfwinding flying tourbillon ever offered by the Manufacture in this diameter – houses the ultra-thin RD#3 movement, Calibre 2968, which seamlessly combines sophisticated aesthetic with state-of-the-art performance. Building on the brand’s uncompromising approach to fine watchmaking, it heralds a new generation of smaller Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet complications blending traditional craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology and timeless refinement.
AN ULTRA-THIN FLYING TOURBILLON BLENDING FINESSE AND ELEGANCE
The new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet timepiece welcomes to the collection the ultra-thin selfwinding flying tourbillon movement, Calibre 2968 (RD#3), unveiled in 2022 on a 39 mm Royal Oak “Jumbo” and a smaller 37 mm model. This state-of-the-art movement, measuring a mere 3.4 mm in thickness, is offered for the first time in a 38 mm case.
This sophisticated, high-end complication counteracts the effects of gravity on the watch’s accuracy. The balance wheel and escapement are housed in a tiny rotating cage that makes one revolution every minute to prevent their centre of gravity from remaining in the same orientation. Unlike its tourbillon sibling, the flying tourbillon cage is supported only from below so as to reveal the watch’s beating heart on the dial side. It is considered today as a symbol of watchmaking art, as it requires a high mastery of the craft.
The flying tourbillon cage of Calibre 2968 has been designed with thinness, harmonious aesthetic and performance in mind. In addition to repositioning several components compared to previous flying tourbillon movements, the AP teams incorporated a new escapement to drive the titanium cage peripherally, improving energy distribution to the tourbillon, while lightening and refining this regulating organ.[1] In addition, the escapement relies on an oscillator with increased amplitude that pushes the limit at which knocking occurs—a state which happens when excessive energy is transferred from the escapement to the oscillator—and enhances reliability, energy efficiency and precision.
This innovative construction also enhances the beauty of the movement. On the dial side, the geometry and positioning of the balance wheel arms have been modified to place the flying tourbillon cage at the same level as the dial, for a mesmerising visual experience. In contrast, the sapphire caseback highlights the movement’s rhodium-toned bridges, which have been delicately openworked to reveal its inner workings and create a harmonious and symmetrical architecture. The decoration of the movement’s components, also visible through the sapphire caseback, combines the dynamism and classicism of V-angles with the modernity of traits tirés – a finish applied to the bridges to replace the traditional Côtes de Genève. The caseback also showcases the sand gold-toned 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight, which echoes the case colour.
[1] The tourbillon cage’s peripheral drive enables to reduce the tourbillon’s thickness and gain a level, thus making it possible to fit it into the extra-thin 8.1 mm case of the Royal Oak “Jumbo”. This solution also improves energy transmission as the smaller angular pitch provides more constant energy distribution.
“At Audemars Piguet, clients act as a catalyst for both mechanical and design innovation, inspiring us to create a wide array of avant-garde timepieces that anticipate their evolving tastes and expectations. This inclusive pulse has driven our watchmakers and engineers since the company’s inception. With its refined flying tourbillon and sand gold case glittering with diamonds, the new 38 mm Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet will grace the wrist with an uncompromising blend of cutting-edge technology and ultra-elegance.”
Ilaria Resta
Chief Executive Officer, Audemars Piguet
A FINE SAND GOLD CASE DANCING IN THE LIGHT
Reflecting the finesse of the movement it houses, the new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon is dressed in an elegant sand gold case set with diamonds that comes to life with every movement of the wrist. This 18-carat alloy, which combines gold with copper and palladium, makes its first appearance in the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection this year, following its debut in the Royal Oak in 2024. Hovering between white and pink gold depending on the light and the angle, this material accentuates the endless play of light created by the case’s multifaceted architecture and the subtle alternation of satin-brushing and polished chamfers that embellishes its surfaces.
The 235 brilliant-cut diamonds (~ 1.2 carats) adorning the case middle, lugs and crown add shimmering elegance. The diamonds have been carefully selected to meet the Manufacture’s exacting criteria in terms of clarity and colour, before being cut in various sizes to match the different geometries of the case. The quality of their cut is as important as their intrinsic quality for infinite radiance, while achieving seamless alignment is key to a graceful and harmonious composition.
A SOPHISTICATED PALETTE FOR THE SIGNATURE DIAL AND STRAP
Continuing the watch’s glamorous aesthetic, the dial presents a rich tone-on-tone sand gold hue. Obtained by Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD), this warm shade lends brilliance to both the inner bezel and the collection’s signature embossed pattern made up of concentric circles rippling outwards from the centre of the dial. Hundreds of tiny holes complement the design, adding light, depth and character. Debuted in 2023, this motif was created in collaboration with Swiss guilloché artisan Yann Von Kaenel, who hand-engraved the die.
This refined dial opens onto the flying tourbillon pulsating at dial level at 6 o’clock, offering an ethereal view of the timepiece’s beating heart. The 18-carat sand gold hour-markers and hands add to the harmonious monochrome look, while the luminescent materials on the hands grant optimum legibility in the dark.
The watch is mounted on an elegant beige alligator strap with large square scales, the darker shade of which contrasts subtly with the case and dial, while enhancing their natural play with light. The brilliant-cut diamonds adorning the folding clasp add a final touch of radiance.
A POWERFUL LEGACY OF COMPLICATIONS
Since 1875, Audemars Piguet has been a pioneer in the manufacture of movements for a varied clientele, making a name for itself both with highly complicated pocket watches and with small complications for women fitted into pendants, brooches or rings. Its expertise in miniaturisation provided a platform for innovation and played a trailblazing role in the development of the wristwatch in the early decades of the 20th century, leading the brand to achieve a series of world firsts in both the ultra-thin and ultra-small categories.
While the miniaturisation of movements opened up new creative and technical horizons, it also contributed to a reduction in the number of complications produced during the 20th century, due to the complexity of fitting intricate mechanisms into smaller diameters. Between 1892, when the first minute-repeating wristwatch was sold, and 1969, the company ledgers count a total of 550 complicated wristwatches.[1] Today, they are prized by collectors for their rarity, diversity of design and workmanship. Together, they lay the foundations for AP’s creative experimentation with form and function, which has driven horological innovation ever since.
Audemars Piguet also played a key role in the revival of classic complications in the with the release of the thinnest selfwinding perpetual calendar of its time in 1978 and the very first selfwinding tourbillon wristwatch in 1986. Designed by Jacqueline Dimier, this ultra-thin wristwatch, just 5.3 mm thick, placed the tourbillon escapement on the dial side – a first in the history of watchmaking. Its titanium tourbillon cage remains one of the smallest in the world today with a diameter of 7.2 mm, as well as one of the lightest, weighing only 0.123 grams. The tourbillon has been reinterpreted ever since, alone or in combination with other functions, throughout the Manufacture’s collections, starting with the Royal Oak in 1997.
More than 20 years later, in 2018, the flying tourbillon appeared in the Royal Oak Concept collection, with the launch of two hand-wound 38.5 mm and 42 mm timepieces, each with a distinctive aesthetic. In 2020, the Royal Oak welcomed the Manufacture’s first selfwinding flying tourbillon with a series of 41 mm timepieces. A year later, this prestigious mechanism was found on a 43 mm Royal Oak Offshore, paired with a chronograph.
[1] They include: 35 minute repeating wristwatches, 188 calendar wristwatches, 307 chronograph wristwatches and 20 double complications (chronograph and calendar combinations).
Pushing technical innovation further to mark the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary in 2022, the flying tourbillon was fully rethought to fit in the exact dimensions of the Royal Oak “Jumbo” case before being housed in an even smaller 37 mm – a first as this selfwinding complication was previously reserved for 41 mm diameters. The ultra-thin Calibre 2968 (RD#3) that powered these feats of engineering makes its debut this year in a new diameter in the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet, continuing to open up new technical and aesthetic horizons for a wide range of wrists.
CODE 11.59 BY AUDEMARS PIGUET WELCOMES A GRACEFUL FLYING TOURBILLON IN 38 MM
Le Brassus, February 2025 – For 150 years, Audemars Piguet has been beating to the tune of complicated mechanisms. Driven by a shared passion and a free spirit, generations of talented watchmakers and craftspeople have worked together to push the boundaries of their craft, surprising their diverse clientele with complicated timepieces in a wide range of sizes and creative aesthetics. To celebrate this enduring legacy, the Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer is expanding its range of complicated models with a 38 mm Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon in a shimmering monochrome design that interweaves 18-carat sand gold with brilliant-cut diamonds. This elegant timepiece – the first selfwinding flying tourbillon ever offered by the Manufacture in this diameter – houses the ultra-thin RD#3 movement, Calibre 2968, which seamlessly combines sophisticated aesthetic with state-of-the-art performance. Building on the brand’s uncompromising approach to fine watchmaking, it heralds a new generation of smaller Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet complications blending traditional craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology and timeless refinement.
AN ULTRA-THIN FLYING TOURBILLON BLENDING FINESSE AND ELEGANCE
The new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet timepiece welcomes to the collection the ultra-thin selfwinding flying tourbillon movement, Calibre 2968 (RD#3), unveiled in 2022 on a 39 mm Royal Oak “Jumbo” and a smaller 37 mm model. This state-of-the-art movement, measuring a mere 3.4 mm in thickness, is offered for the first time in a 38 mm case.
This sophisticated, high-end complication counteracts the effects of gravity on the watch’s accuracy. The balance wheel and escapement are housed in a tiny rotating cage that makes one revolution every minute to prevent their centre of gravity from remaining in the same orientation. Unlike its tourbillon sibling, the flying tourbillon cage is supported only from below so as to reveal the watch’s beating heart on the dial side. It is considered today as a symbol of watchmaking art, as it requires a high mastery of the craft.
The flying tourbillon cage of Calibre 2968 has been designed with thinness, harmonious aesthetic and performance in mind. In addition to repositioning several components compared to previous flying tourbillon movements, the AP teams incorporated a new escapement to drive the titanium cage peripherally, improving energy distribution to the tourbillon, while lightening and refining this regulating organ.[1] In addition, the escapement relies on an oscillator with increased amplitude that pushes the limit at which knocking occurs—a state which happens when excessive energy is transferred from the escapement to the oscillator—and enhances reliability, energy efficiency and precision.
This innovative construction also enhances the beauty of the movement. On the dial side, the geometry and positioning of the balance wheel arms have been modified to place the flying tourbillon cage at the same level as the dial, for a mesmerising visual experience. In contrast, the sapphire caseback highlights the movement’s rhodium-toned bridges, which have been delicately openworked to reveal its inner workings and create a harmonious and symmetrical architecture. The decoration of the movement’s components, also visible through the sapphire caseback, combines the dynamism and classicism of V-angles with the modernity of traits tirés – a finish applied to the bridges to replace the traditional Côtes de Genève. The caseback also showcases the sand gold-toned 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight, which echoes the case colour.
[1] The tourbillon cage’s peripheral drive enables to reduce the tourbillon’s thickness and gain a level, thus making it possible to fit it into the extra-thin 8.1 mm case of the Royal Oak “Jumbo”. This solution also improves energy transmission as the smaller angular pitch provides more constant energy distribution.
“At Audemars Piguet, clients act as a catalyst for both mechanical and design innovation, inspiring us to create a wide array of avant-garde timepieces that anticipate their evolving tastes and expectations. This inclusive pulse has driven our watchmakers and engineers since the company’s inception. With its refined flying tourbillon and sand gold case glittering with diamonds, the new 38 mm Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet will grace the wrist with an uncompromising blend of cutting-edge technology and ultra-elegance.”
Ilaria Resta
Chief Executive Officer, Audemars Piguet
A FINE SAND GOLD CASE DANCING IN THE LIGHT
Reflecting the finesse of the movement it houses, the new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon is dressed in an elegant sand gold case set with diamonds that comes to life with every movement of the wrist. This 18-carat alloy, which combines gold with copper and palladium, makes its first appearance in the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection this year, following its debut in the Royal Oak in 2024. Hovering between white and pink gold depending on the light and the angle, this material accentuates the endless play of light created by the case’s multifaceted architecture and the subtle alternation of satin-brushing and polished chamfers that embellishes its surfaces.
The 235 brilliant-cut diamonds (~ 1.2 carats) adorning the case middle, lugs and crown add shimmering elegance. The diamonds have been carefully selected to meet the Manufacture’s exacting criteria in terms of clarity and colour, before being cut in various sizes to match the different geometries of the case. The quality of their cut is as important as their intrinsic quality for infinite radiance, while achieving seamless alignment is key to a graceful and harmonious composition.
A SOPHISTICATED PALETTE FOR THE SIGNATURE DIAL AND STRAP
Continuing the watch’s glamorous aesthetic, the dial presents a rich tone-on-tone sand gold hue. Obtained by Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD), this warm shade lends brilliance to both the inner bezel and the collection’s signature embossed pattern made up of concentric circles rippling outwards from the centre of the dial. Hundreds of tiny holes complement the design, adding light, depth and character. Debuted in 2023, this motif was created in collaboration with Swiss guilloché artisan Yann Von Kaenel, who hand-engraved the die.
This refined dial opens onto the flying tourbillon pulsating at dial level at 6 o’clock, offering an ethereal view of the timepiece’s beating heart. The 18-carat sand gold hour-markers and hands add to the harmonious monochrome look, while the luminescent materials on the hands grant optimum legibility in the dark.
The watch is mounted on an elegant beige alligator strap with large square scales, the darker shade of which contrasts subtly with the case and dial, while enhancing their natural play with light. The brilliant-cut diamonds adorning the folding clasp add a final touch of radiance.
A POWERFUL LEGACY OF COMPLICATIONS
Since 1875, Audemars Piguet has been a pioneer in the manufacture of movements for a varied clientele, making a name for itself both with highly complicated pocket watches and with small complications for women fitted into pendants, brooches or rings. Its expertise in miniaturisation provided a platform for innovation and played a trailblazing role in the development of the wristwatch in the early decades of the 20th century, leading the brand to achieve a series of world firsts in both the ultra-thin and ultra-small categories.
While the miniaturisation of movements opened up new creative and technical horizons, it also contributed to a reduction in the number of complications produced during the 20th century, due to the complexity of fitting intricate mechanisms into smaller diameters. Between 1892, when the first minute-repeating wristwatch was sold, and 1969, the company ledgers count a total of 550 complicated wristwatches.[1] Today, they are prized by collectors for their rarity, diversity of design and workmanship. Together, they lay the foundations for AP’s creative experimentation with form and function, which has driven horological innovation ever since.
Audemars Piguet also played a key role in the revival of classic complications in the with the release of the thinnest selfwinding perpetual calendar of its time in 1978 and the very first selfwinding tourbillon wristwatch in 1986. Designed by Jacqueline Dimier, this ultra-thin wristwatch, just 5.3 mm thick, placed the tourbillon escapement on the dial side – a first in the history of watchmaking. Its titanium tourbillon cage remains one of the smallest in the world today with a diameter of 7.2 mm, as well as one of the lightest, weighing only 0.123 grams. The tourbillon has been reinterpreted ever since, alone or in combination with other functions, throughout the Manufacture’s collections, starting with the Royal Oak in 1997.
More than 20 years later, in 2018, the flying tourbillon appeared in the Royal Oak Concept collection, with the launch of two hand-wound 38.5 mm and 42 mm timepieces, each with a distinctive aesthetic. In 2020, the Royal Oak welcomed the Manufacture’s first selfwinding flying tourbillon with a series of 41 mm timepieces. A year later, this prestigious mechanism was found on a 43 mm Royal Oak Offshore, paired with a chronograph.
[1] They include: 35 minute repeating wristwatches, 188 calendar wristwatches, 307 chronograph wristwatches and 20 double complications (chronograph and calendar combinations).
Pushing technical innovation further to mark the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary in 2022, the flying tourbillon was fully rethought to fit in the exact dimensions of the Royal Oak “Jumbo” case before being housed in an even smaller 37 mm – a first as this selfwinding complication was previously reserved for 41 mm diameters. The ultra-thin Calibre 2968 (RD#3) that powered these feats of engineering makes its debut this year in a new diameter in the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet, continuing to open up new technical and aesthetic horizons for a wide range of wrists.
-
Brand : Audemars Piguet Collection : Code 11.59 Model : Code 11.59 By Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon / 38 mm Reference : 226665SG.ZZ.D209CR.01 Complement : Sand Gold - Diamonds - Sand Gold Dial - Strap Alligator On sale : 2025 List Price : On request Diameter : 38 mm Thickness : 9.6 mm Styles : High Horology Types : Self-winding Calibre : 2968 Complication : Flying tourbillon Hours Minutes Case material : Sand gold Case peculiarity : Set with diamonds Sapphire caseback Shape : Round Water-resistance : 30 meters Dial color : Sand gold Display : 18-carat sand gold hour-markers 18-carat sand gold hands with luminescent material Snailed sand gold-toned inner bezel Indexes : Baton-type Glass : Sapphire Antireflective coating Strap material : Alligator leather Strap color : Sand gold Strap clasp : Folding buckle More characteristics :
Movement
Selfwinding Calibre 2968
Total diameter 29.6 mm (13 lignes)
Total thickness 3.4 mm
Number of parts 226
Number of jewels 33
Minimum power reserve guaranteed 50 h
Frequency of balance wheel 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour)
Case
18-carat sand gold case set with 235 brilliant-cut diamonds (~ 1.2 carats)
Dial
Sand gold-toned Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet signature dial
Strap / Buckles
Beige large square scale alligator strap with 18-carat sand gold three-blade folding clasp set with 42 brilliant-cut diamonds (~ 0.16 carats)