Audemars Piguet
Introducing the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Universelle RD#4
Audemars Piguet
Introducing the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Universelle RD#4
Traditionally, a grand complication refers to a watch that combines three types of complications – calendrical, chiming and timing. However, in the RD#4, the calendar is a superior form of perpetual calendar that not only has an ultra-thin construction first realized in the RD#2 but also facilitates bidirectional adjustment of the date at any time without risk to the movement, as well as has a 100-year cycle encoded in its gear train, enabling it to account for non-leap years that occur every century. The timing mechanism, on the other hand, is a split seconds and flyback chronograph and the chiming function is a grande and petite sonnerie that incorporates the brand’s Supersonnerie technology first unveiled in the RD#1. Beyond that, it also has a flying tourbillon that houses a high-power balance wheel that debuted in the RD#3. All this is via the Calibre 1000, a full-rotor, self-winding movement that consists of a staggering 1100 parts, which make up 23 functions and 17 devices for greater ease of use and safety.
The top pusher on the left is for actuating the minute repeater, while the next two pushers are for advancing the day and the moon phase, respectively, essentially eliminating the need for a stylus. On the other side of the case, the top crown is for selecting the chiming mode while its pusher starts the chronograph. The date can be set bidirectionally via the central crown in the second position and its pusher splits the chronograph hands. And the last crown is for adjusting the month, forwards or backwards, while its pusher sends the chronograph hands back to zero. The remarkable ease of use across multiple functions no doubt belies complex solutions and security measures, which we will elaborate on when more information is available.
Perpetual Calendar
As with the RD#2, the calendar mechanism in the RD#4 has an ultra-thin construction that compresses two levels of a perpetual calendar into one. The end-of-the-month cam has been integrated into the date wheel, while the month cam has been combined with the month wheel. As such, these two wheels, as opposed to cams, are capable of driving or being driven directly.
It’s worth taking a slight detour here and mentioning that the main challenge with a secular calendar lies in having to negate the month program wheel in the event of a centurial year that is not a leap year. Details are scarce at the moment and what we know is that it relies on a 36-month wheel rather than the traditional 48, and as such the leap year is not encoded in this wheel.
The perpetual calendar also incorporates an instantaneously jumping moon phase display whereby two concentric discs, on which six different moon positions are printed, combine to form ten transitory stages from New Moon to Full Moon each month (every 29.5 days).
Grande Sonnerie
The RD#4 is the latest in a series of chiming watches to benefit from the brand’s Supersonnerie technology that was introduced in the RD#1 in 2015.
One of the most crucial, and, moreover, quantifiable aspects of a chiming watch has to do with how well sound is transmitted from the vibrating gongs through the rest of the watch. Because the gongs typically occupy the circumference of the movement at the base, sound loss is inevitable as it has to travel through the movement, dial and crystal as well as laterally through the case band in order to reach the outside of the case.
However, in the RD#4, the soundboard is crafted in sapphire crystal which has a characteristic ability to act as an acoustic amplifier while being able to showcase the movement. The crystal measures just 0.6 mm thick while the pivotable gold case back has been hollowed out to be as thin as possible and features a series of apertures on the side to boost sound amplification when the watch is worn on the wrist.
Flying Tourbillon
At six o’clock on the dial is a one-minute flying tourbillon which has a classic three-arm carriage anchored only at its base and houses a free sprung 3Hz balance fitted with poising and timing screws on its periphery. This is a configuration employed in the caliber 2950 as opposed to that in the RD#3 which, among other things, introduced a new balance wheel with weights that sit within its rim and set flush to its surface to minimize air resistance as well as to increase inertia for stable timekeeping.
Lastly, while the RD#3 uses a flat hairspring as a height-saving measure, the RD#4 has an overcoil, which is a traditional solution to maintain isochronism.
Split-seconds Chronograph
Last but by no means least, the watch incorporates a split seconds chronograph with a flyback function, making it possible to measure elapsed time with precision and reset that time in a blink of an eye. The chronograph relies on a horizontal coupling system with a rocking function to reduce the potential for stutter.
Options
The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Universelle RD#4 is offered in four configurations: white gold case with an opaline black galvanic gold dial, white gold case with an opaline beige PVD gold dial as well as two versions in white and pink gold wherein the dials have been reduced to a flange to showcase the finely decorated openworked movement. While the solid-dial versions are remarkably handsome and legible, which is more than can be said for most grand complications, the abundance of polished inward and outward angles on the openworked versions is enough to make the whole question of legibility obsolete.
Tech Specs
Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Universelle RD#4
Movement: Selfwinding Calibre 1000; 3Hz; 60-hour power reserve
Functions: Grande and Petite Sonnerie; minute repeater; flying tourbillon; “semi-Gregorian” perpetual calendar; flyback chronograph; split-seconds; hours and minutes
Case: 42mm; 18k white or pink gold; 8k hunter caseback opening onto the Supersonnerie sapphire membrane; water resistant to 20m
Dial: Opaline black galvanic gold dial; opaline beige PVD gold dial; openworked dial with black flange paired white or pink gold case
Strap: Black alligator strap with 18-carat gold AP folding clasp. Additional black textured rubber-coated calfskin strap
Price: Upon request