Audemars Piguet has unveiled the 'CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Star Wheel,' a timepiece combining black ceramic and 18K white gold. The Vagabond Hours, born in the 17th century, is a complication watch with a unique display where time is shown as it travels across a sector tracing an arc. This technique, which had disappeared by the 20th century, was revived by Audemars Piguet in 1991 and added to its collections under the name Star Wheel, with many models created until the early 2000s. Now, a new contemporary Star Wheel has arrived, a model whose classic and captivating display is truly impressive.

The Vagabond Hours, reinterpreted by Audemars Piguet in 1991, saw this complex and beautiful mechanism brought into the spotlight by revealing its mechanics on the dial side.

The 'CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Star Wheel,' which revived the tradition of the Vagabond Hours, is a model that showcases the evolution from its 1990s predecessors. Its contemporary case and architectural design further enhance the Star Wheel's display. The case's architecture layers geometric forms: circles (bezel, caseback, and the mechanism's disc) and a rounded octagon (middle case).

A cosmos of blue aventurine unfolds beneath the dial's three discs, which rotate like planets across the face. The three discs are made of aluminum with a slight curvature, finished with micro-bead blasting over a black PVD coating and an opaline layer. The Vagabond Hours numerals are transfer-printed in white onto the discs. In contrast, the sector, spanning 120 degrees from 10 to 2 o'clock, and the flange are both black, with minute numerals and markers transfer-printed in white.

The playful combination of materials is also delightful. This new 41mm reference combines aventurine, 18K white gold, and black ceramic. The contrast between these materials accentuates the complex design of the CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection, creating a more striking look. The bezel, lugs, and caseback are in 18K white gold, beautifully contrasting with the black ceramic middle case. The crown, also in black ceramic, adds to its presence.

On the dial side, the double-curved crystal ensures that the blue aventurine details and numerous other elements are clearly visible, adding depth to the dial. Through the sapphire caseback, one can glimpse the beating heart of the central mechanism and the collection's signature 22K pink gold rotor.

Furthermore, for the first time, it is incorporated into the CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection as the self-winding Calibre 4310.

This movement, a fusion of watchmaking expertise and traditional know-how, boasts a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The hours are displayed by three rotating aluminum discs, each completing a revolution in three hours, driven by a central rotor. Each disc features four numerals from 1 to 12 printed on it, indicating the hour against the arc sector on the dial printed with minute markers. The 18K white gold seconds hand is slightly curved at the tip to match the discs' curvature, indicating seconds in a classic manner.

CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Star Wheel / 41mm
Ref. | 15212NB.OO.A002KB.01
Functions | Hours, minutes, centre seconds
Case | Black ceramic middle case and crown, 18K white gold bezel, lugs and caseback, double-curved anti-reflective sapphire crystal, anti-reflective sapphire caseback, 3 ATM water-resistant
Case thickness | 10.7 mm
Dial | Blue aventurine dial, aluminum black opaline discs, 18K white gold hands, black inner bezel
Strap | Black rubber-coated textile-effect strap, 18K white gold pin buckle
Movement | Self-winding Calibre 4310
External diameter | 32 mm (14 lignes)
Thickness | 6.05 mm    
Number of parts | 261            
Jewels | 32    
Power reserve | Approx. 70 hours            
Frequency | 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)    
Price | JPY 6,875,000 (as of end of December 2022)
Availability | Scheduled for sequential delivery from March 2023