Seeing one you are amazed, owning one you are eternally captivated. CODE11.59 has been a controversial release from Audemars Piguet since its debut in 2019. For me personally, it’s a beautiful and contemporary design that made me walk into AP’s boutique in the first place. I have had my eyes on the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar since it was released in 2019; but only got around to actually owning it 3 years later. It’s really worth the wait though.

The typical design of the CODE11.59, having a traditional round dial with an octagonal middle case, makes it hard to see anything special from the front. However, the deep blue aventurine that simulates a starry sky and the realistic moon on the dial are more than enough to make me keep looking at the dial too often, even though I can hardly read the time. The rose gold case and hands make such a nice contrast and complement the mesmerizing dial very well.

You can only truly enjoy the CODE11.59 with a three-dimensional view. An alternated satin finished with a polished bevel on the octagonal middle case and perforated lugs alone make me often turn the case around just to see them playing with light. I also often rotate the dial just to see the different lighting effects on the double-curve sapphire.

The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar this year comes with a calf-skin rubber-coated strap. Some might say it looks less elegant than the alligator strap that came with the original release. I for one like this strap better as it matches well with the contemporary case design that the CODE11.59 offers. I always feel odd having the alligator strap on such a case and I was glad to have received this update.

Powering the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar is the beautiful 5134 caliber. A mere 40-hour power reserve and slow beat at 2.75Hz are by no means any deal breaker once you have witnessed how beautiful this caliber is from the case back.

At 41mm diameter and 10.9mm thickness, the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar is very comfortable to wear. The fold-over clasp snaps crisply and tightly in place. I cannot ask for any more comfortable mini-galaxy on my wrist.

A few minor things that bug me. I am not fond of the week number hand as I always mistake it for a minute hand or sweep second hand, even though it is not moving much. Another thing is the crown that sits too close to the bottom of the case instead of being in the middle. The crown looks oddly placed but it may have to do with some technical limitation of the caliber and middle case construction.

Last, the heavy price tag (that has been skyrocketing by more than 30-40% since its initial release) could put most people off.

In all, this is as close to having the entirety of space on my wrist as it gets. I enjoy this timepiece a lot. I would pick the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar as my only aventurine dial in the collection anytime.