Universelle – the latest creation of watchmakers from Le Brassus – is an impressive set of as many as 23(!) complications, packed into one watch suitable for normal use.
The history of the Replica Audemars Piguet manufacture is written on many pages, although for some reason the one dedicated to great watchmaking is often forgotten. It is not without reason that AP belongs to the so-called The “Big Three” of Swiss watchmaking, and it owes this position not only to icons such as the Royal Oak. The brand presents top-class watchmaking, specializing not only in classic large complications, but also in their modern reinterpretations.
Audemars Piguet took the name of the new model from this historical reference. Its technical side includes extended or duplicated solutions known from the three previous watches of the Research & Development (#RD) series: RD#1 Supersonnerie, RD#2 Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin and RD#3 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin. According to the brand, work on the watch lasted 7 years and was based on all its previous experience and solutions.
CODE 11.59 Universelle RD#4 has a total of 40 functions, composed of 23 complications. It can be argued whether all the elements provided by AP should be called this name, but they include: a perpetual calendar, moon phases, a spli-second flyback chronograph, a Grande e Petite Sonnerie repeater and a flying tourbillon. Impressive? No less than the fact that everything was carefully packed into one automatic-winding caliber 1000 and composed of 1,100 components. The entire movement measures 34.3 mm in diameter and 8.75 mm in thickness.
Caliber 1000 uses a “semi-Gregorian” perpetual calendar complication. This means that the watch, running continuously, will show the exact date until the year 2400, when it will need to be adjusted by 1 day. The CODE 11.59 Universelle calendar shows the current date, day of the week, month, year and moon phases. The indications are arranged symmetrically on the dial, in the form of dedicated windows. Two dials, raised slightly above the horizontal axis of symmetry of the dial, are devoted to the chronograph complications. AP proposed a stopwatch combining the flyback function with a split-second complication.
Audemars Piguet decided to enclose the most complicated wristwatch in its history in the CODE 11.59 line case. Typically, these types of ultra-complicated models come with huge packaging, but AP managed to design Universelle so that it can actually be worn every day. Made entirely of white or rose gold, the case measures 42 mm in diameter (just 1 mm larger than other models of the CODE collection) plus 15.5 mm thick and 20 m water resistant. You’ll admit that it’s reasonable – especially considering over 1,000 components locked inside.
As well as comfort of wearing, AP also ensured intuitive, easy operation of all functions. Hence, there are 3 crowns and 3 buttons, arranged respectively on the left and right sides of the casing. Multifunctional laces are used, among others, for: for operating the stopwatch and tightening the main spring, and the buttons can be used to change the calendar, moon phases and activate the repetition. Each one is engraved with an icon suggesting its purpose.
Audemars Piguet offers CODE 11.59 Universelle RD#4 in four versions: two more classic ones with full dials and two slightly more modern ones with a skeletonized dial. The full dial can be chosen in black, opalescent with a galvanic coating or beige and gold with a PVD coating. Skeletonized options include a black and silver or black and gold dial with a view of the working elements of the mechanism. All four were paired with a black alligator leather strap attached to the ears.
