The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4, reference 26398BC.OO.D002CR.01, is a pinnacle of modern haute horlogerie that integrates 40 functions, including 23 complications, into a wearable 42mm white gold case. This landmark timepiece features a black dial with white gold applied hour markers and hands, protected by a unique double-curved sapphire crystal that creates an intriguing optical experience. Despite its immense mechanical complexity, the watch maintains a relatively slim profile of 15.55mm and is powered by the self-winding Calibre 1000, a movement composed of over 1,100 parts that offers a 64-hour power reserve.
The horological sophistication of this model is centered around several major complications, most notably a Grande Sonnerie Supersonnerie, a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar, and a split-seconds flyback chronograph. The perpetual calendar is designed for extreme precision, accounting for the varying lengths of months and leap years without requiring manual adjustment until the year 2400, and it includes a unique astronomical moon phase system. Additionally, the flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock enhances accuracy by counteracting the effects of gravity, while the innovative “Supercrowns” and integrated pushers allow the wearer to navigate and adjust these complex functions with remarkable ease.
General reviews of the Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication are overwhelmingly positive, with experts praising it as one of the most impressive mechanical achievements in contemporary watchmaking. Critics and collectors alike highlight the watch’s ergonomics and user-friendly interface, noting that it successfully balances extreme technical prowess with actual wearability, a rare feat for “Grand Complication” timepieces. While the Code 11.59 collection initially faced a polarized reception at its 2019 launch, high-complication models like the Universelle RD#4 have significantly shifted the narrative, earning respect for Audemars Piguet’s willingness to innovate beyond the Royal Oak silhouette.