Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Replica collection is gaining traction, especially after several facelifts that bestowed smoked dials, two-tone cases, as well as open-worked movements on the line.Continuing the evolution – and improvement – is the Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon that combines white gold and black ceramic in a novel two-tone case. More striking is the unexpected simplicity of the dial, which is a polished expanse of onyx stone, resulting in the most striking version of the model to date.
Since the launch of the collection, most AAA Audemars Piguet Replica model have been redesigned in a manner that is somewhat formulaic, though the results have been attractive. The makeovers usually involved brighter dial colours or new materials, like the recent Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon that got an aventurine glass dial.In comparison, the latest redesign is a surprise that proves less is more. Stark and minimalist yet far from plain, the onyx dial easily sets the watch apart from its peers in the collection.
Aside from the onyx dial, I also like the smart application of coloured accents. Though it is mainly in silver and black, it has just the right amount of rose gold details in just the right places to give it warmth and a bit of a vintage feel. And the black is also smartly utilised to highlight the case band as well as the tourbillon carriage, but in a subtle manner.
Unusually for the Code 11.59 line, the new Cheap Audemars Piguet Replica does away with the applied hour markers and minute hashmarks. Those elements are almost the defining features of the range, but here the minimalist design makes sense since it allows the onyx dial to take centre stage.
And the redesign was almost certainly also a matter of practicality – onyx and similar stones are a challenge to work so drilling holes to accommodate the applied markers would have been a headache accompanied by a high rejection rate.
Starting with a single block of onyx, the stonemason divides the block into thin slices that form dial blanks. Each is then cut to create the aperture for the Audemars Piguet Replica Watches before being ground and lapped to achieve a smooth, glossy surface. Finally, the stone disc is secured to a brass dial plate with adhesive and then mounted onto the movement.
Because the hour and minute markers have been removed, the domed and lacquered chapter ring becomes more obvious. It is a good match for the High Quality Audemars Piguet Replica Watches black dial, with the glossy, rounded surface of the chapter ring giving the face more depth and an upscale feel.Notably, the case has a high contrast appearance thanks to its twin materials, which allows the complex geometry and finishing to become more obvious.
The ceramic case band, for instance, has been precisely milled to form an octagon and then hand finished with either brushing or mirror polishing. Though the ceramic case middle is a rarity in the Code 11.59 Replica Swiss Movement line, it will surely become more common in the future just because it looks good.Though its finishing is done with mix of manual and industrial techniques, one detail certainly reveals the brand’s respect for tradition: the barrel visible at 12 o’clock features a grand sonnerie-style winding click, a bonus that’s typically found in top-of-the-line striking watches.
