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.

The Discussion

pfang56

Feb 13, 2022

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

jlux

Feb 13, 2022

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.

pfang56

Feb 13, 2022

You have clearly done a much better job capturing the essence of the dial Mind sharing your photo setup? In any case, very very happy with this piece. Looking forward to sharing future experiences! Peter

Feb 13, 2022

Been in love with it from day 1, even when people were saying it looked like a Daniel Wellington. They have not seen the sensuous lugs, the hidden octagonal shape, the domed crystal, and the heft of the gold piece. This is stealth wealth. I kept a budget for this. But the AD here never has it. I wish I had this piece. It is a dream to me. Ticks all the boxes for me. I hope you never part with it. It is sublime. It is among my favourites.

pfang56

Feb 13, 2022

I admire your passion and curiosity - I requested it sight unseen from the AD and then holding it in person was another experience altogether. I hope you get a chance to see one and get one in person - perhaps when travel opens up in the near future. I suspect in this 50th anniversary year most requests and supply will go to the RO line but CODE will remain Good luck with your hunt - and thanks for your passionate comments. Like old Panerai days, I also feel like it's a watch only for those "in

pfang56

Feb 13, 2022

I think they have done a wonderful job with the smoked dials - I had previously considered a blue one but perhaps with the preponderance of traditional black, blue, grey dial models in my collection - this was my first foray into more exotic dials. And as you said, adding fun straps will make this a versatile piece. Cheers and thank you for your feedback! Peter

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