A new chronograph with a flying tourbillon by Audemars Piguet.
The story begins in 1999, when Audemars Piguet first married a tourbillon with a chronograph. That was when a model called Jules Audemars Tradition d’Excellence No. 1 appeared, where the watchmaker included a minute repeater to keep the other couple of complications company. The Royal Oak collection welcomed the first automatic Caliber 2889 with the chronograph-and-tourbillon medley in 2003.
The manufacture finally got around to writing a new page in the history of this successful duo in 2020, when Audemars Piguet launched their first watch with a flyback chronograph and flying tourbillon, equipped with a self-winding movement: Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Flying Tourbillon Chronograph.
The limited edition launched a couple of years ago in a white-gold case stood out for the symmetrical structure of its openworked movement and its blue lacquered inner bezel. A new edition has been presented this year: Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph.
The first thing that strikes you is the use of pink gold and black ceramic. This is a tried and tested combination. It was used in 2019 on the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in a black ceramic case with gold hands and hour markers, and again in 2020 on the Royal Oak Offshore, where gold has a more palpable presence.
The combination of gold and ceramic is executed perfectly in the complex construction of the case for the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph. Ceramic is used for the octagonal case middle, embraced by gold lugs connected by a slim gold bezel and caseback.
The contrast is carried onto the dial, where a black lacquered inner bezel frames a composition with two pink-gold chronograph counters. The case measures 41 mm in diameter and 13.8 mm in height.
The rotor responsible for winding Cal. 2952 is also made of gold in a movement consisting of 479 components. This isn't one of those skeletonized movements that see the light of day when excess metal is scrapped from a traditional movement. It was intentionally assembled as an intricate work of watchmaking art.
The openworked movement showcases some first-rate finishing: the artisans at Audemars Piguet spent over 70 hours decorating the details, including the creation of 111 V-angles on the bridges and decorative elements.