Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie
The masterpiece's mechanics of superlative complexity are showcased through a sapphire crystal dial, nestled in two-tone gold and black ceramic cases. Share
With three new Code 11.59 Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie timepieces, Audemars Piguet is marking the introduction of a brand-new sapphire dial as well as the first time that black ceramic has been interwoven into the 18-carat gold cases, creating a stylized two-tone design and powerful contrast of colours and materials. These three one-of-a-kind, highly complicated timepieces are powered by a newly designed Calibre 2956 and come in a choice of 18-carat pink, yellow or white gold.
This latest trilogy showcases a new interpretation of Audemars Piguet’s state-of-the-art Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supesonnerie chiming mechanism by aesthetically redesigning the hand-wound movement in such a way that it can take pride of place under a sapphire crystal dial. The modifications include the openworking of the bridges at four and six o’clock, the removal of the railway track and a change from a circular graining decoration in favour of “traits tirés”.
The colour of each movement has also been studied to be uniform on both sides as well as harmonious with the colour of the case. This year marks the first time that a transparent sapphire crystal dial appears in this collection, making the movement the face of the watch. A semi-matt black opaline inner bezel further draws the eye into the movement that has been hand decorated in the minutest detail with refined finishing techniques that blend tradition and innovation.
The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie timepieces are powered by the hand-wound movement, Calibre 2956, which unites the traditional Grande Sonnerie complication with a carillon and the patented Supersonnerie technology introduced by the Manufacture in 2015 in the Royal Oak Concept collection. This complex movement of 498 components, with its extremely high level of finishing on full show testifies to Audemars Piguet’s uncompromising horological standards.
A Grande Sonnerie timepiece not only strikes the hours, quarters and minutes on request as a traditional minute repeater would do, but like a bell tower, it can also strike the hours and every quarter hour that passes, without any involvement from the wearer. There is a selector so the wearer can choose either grand strike (hour and quarter hours), small strike (hours only), or silent mode. The Grande Sonnerie Supersonnerie also features a carillon, meaning that it is endowed with three gongs and hammers instead of the traditional two gongs, allowing it to strike the quarter hour with three successive notes (high, middle and low) instead of two.
The added Supersonnerie mechanism grants this complicated wristwatch the acoustic performance of pocket watches. This patented technology is the result of eight years of research in collaboration with the EPFL (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne). Inspired by the sonic power of older minute repeater watches as well as by the harmony of musical instruments, a dedicated community of watchmakers, technicians, academics and musicians reviewed the case construction to produce a new chiming technology.
The Supersonnerie’s acoustic power, sound quality and harmonic tone are granted by patented gongs and case construction. The gongs are not attached to the main plate, but to a new device acting as a soundboard, which improves the sound transmission. This innovative Supersonnerie technology also provides a sharp tempo, as the hours and minutes chime without interruption when there is no quarter chiming sequence.
The three 41 mm timepieces are different in terms of the colour of gold used to dress them, with options for 18-carat pink, yellow or white gold. The case middle, however, comes in black ceramic, creating a powerful and elegant contrast with the 18-carat gold extra-thin bezel, stylised lugs, and crown.
Matching the black and gold colours of the case, the three-dimensional face of the timepiece is adorned with hands, hour-markers and a small seconds counter that are also crafted in a mix of black and gold. The black accents on the dial are achieved with a galvanic bath, the duration and temperature of which is crucial to reach homogeneous colouring across the components’ surfaces. The timepieces are completed with black rubber-coated straps with matching gold stitching, a calfskin lining and a gold AP folding clasp.
The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Grand Sonnerie Supersonnerie is available in one-off editions in white, pink or yellow gold. The price is upon request only.
