The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 measures 41mm from side to side, minus the crown, and 50mm from lug to lug. I wish the watch was 40mm or smaller but 41 is not a dealbreaker for me, as I wear what I like regardless of perceived fit.

The lug to lug could have been shaved down a little, but again, not a dealbreaker. The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 is a surprisingly slim watch at 11mm thick. It can definitely be concealed under a cuff and can work well on smaller wrists despite the measurements on paper. The lug spacing is 22mm but I would highly advise that you give the OEM straps a go. I have the red alligator leather strap and it is one of the most comfortable leather straps I have ever worn. There is alligator leather on both sides, so no calf leather on the bottom! Even after months of daily use, the sheen and luster have not worn off. AP was kind enough to also throw in an extra strap made of nylon and rubber. It gives the watch a sportier feel but with 30 meters of water resistance, I would stay far from a pool.

The tiny details in the construction of the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 case are what makes this timepiece so special. The entire case and also the buckle are made of white gold. The lugs are skeletonized so you can see 360 degrees around the case. The strap is connected to the lugs and the buckle by screws, not spring bars. The interesting part is that the screws used are the same hexagonal white gold screws found on the bezels of Royal Oaks. That’s not the only Royal Oak easter egg, the mid-case of the watch is shaped into an octagon as well, mimicking the porthole style bezel of the Royal Oak. Speaking of bezels, this watch has no such thing. The entire front of the case is covered with the complex double curved sapphire crystal. The best way to explain it is to look at a Pringles chip. The sapphire dips down in the middle and flares outward on the sides. It’s almost impossible to photograph and causes all sorts of fun distortions in different lighting.

The dial of the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 contains both my favorite and least favorite aspects of the watch. The burgundy fumé dial is, in my controversial opinion, better than H. Moser’s. The red is so rich and deep, it’s like you’re staring into a red velvet black hole. It’s no wonder that it takes many many hours to create these dials. The dial itself sits deeply into the case while the outboard rehaut is sitting tall over the dial, close to the crystal. The one thing I don’t like is the date window. I believe this watch would have been amazing with no date window to obscure the handsome dial, but 4 o clock position dates are a pet peeve of mine. They sort of disrupt the symmetry of the dial. The date does however blend into the dial as the date wheel is in black with white printing.

The exhibition case-back of the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 proudly displays the in-house 4302 movement, which was introduced with the watch back in 2019. This 32 jewel movement beats at 4hz and offers a modern 70 hours of power reserve. Of course the star of the show is the 22 carat gold rotor (yes 22 carat!) displaying the coat of arms of both families associated with the brand. One of my favorite things to look at is the balance bridge, which resembles Batman’s weapon of choice, the batarang. Majority of the movement is finished with Geneva striping and beveling. There is also some perlage behind the balance wheel, on the main plate. It undoubtedly looks like an expensive movement, since it is one.

Overall, I think the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 is a misunderstood watch. Pictures don’t do it justice. I recommend everyone to check them out in person before forming an opinion. I myself didn’t like it until I got my hands on one in the flesh. It is now a mainstay on my wrist no matter the event. I believe this watch will be a future hit once the mainstream enthusiasts catch on.