Audemars Piguet Launches Code 11.59 Universelle
A truly impressive super complication.replica luxury watches
The Code 11.59 of Audemars Piguet Universelle is undoubtedly its latest new flagship product, and it is the most complicated watch of the brand in recent years-perhaps even ever.
A project started in 2016, rooted in the history of grand complications: it is a tribute to L'Universelle, a grand complication pocket watch made by AP in 1899 for the Union of German Watchmakers. But this watch also pushes the brand's modern watchmaking craftsmanship to the limit, especially when it comes to miniaturizing highly complex mechanisms.
Officially one of the brand's R&D timepieces - this model is also known as the RD#4 - the Universelle was an exercise in combining all the traditional mechanisms that make up the complication into a single watch, followed by the perpetual calendar, rattrapante Chronograph with flyback, tourbillon and grande sonnerie and minute repeater.replica watches for sale
Universelle is a pseudonym that means little to those unaware of its historical inspiration, a horological giant that exemplifies AP's industrial and mechanical prowess.
Despite its highly modern design, the Universelle harkens back to a bygone era of fine watchmaking that prized highly complicated watches that packed as many functions as possible into a (barely) wearable package. In today's market where "hype" watches are valued more than anything else, where a redesigned movement feels more like a business decision than a horological creation, the Universelle is a refreshingly remarkable achievement, not least because it is A large complication designed from the ground up.
As impressive as the lengthy roll call of internal complications is its size, the Universelle measures just 42mm wide and 15.55mm thick—large but remarkably compact considering everything that's going on inside.high quality replica watches
The real steal is the CHF 1.45 million price tag for the “basic” version with a solid dial. That price and annual production (just seven this year) means only a handful will have access to it. But that doesn't matter, because the Universelle proves that AP is back as a renowned watchmaker, and not just for its octagonal creations.
Universelle comes in four styles, three in white gold and one in rose gold. Two dial styles are available: a skeletonized dial with bridges that complement the case metal, revealing much of the perpetual calendar mechanism, and a more traditional solid dial with a restrained instrumental aesthetic. The latter was a prudent choice, as its relative simplicity belies the mechanical complexity underneath.
Alone, the Universelle features 23 complications and a 1,155-part movement, yet it manages to cram everything into a 42mm case that measures just 15.55mm high. The height is an achievement, as the movement is self-winding, with the full rotor visible through the back of the display located below the back of the hinged hunter. One innovation that explains the height is the split-seconds mechanism integrated into the inner bore of the rotor – more on that below.best replica watches uk
Despite being a highly complicated watch, the Universelle is a user-friendly watch, perhaps the easiest complication watch to adjust and set. Thanks to the well-sized buttons, all settings can be accessed manually without the need for tools to activate the tiny recessed buttons.
The three pushers on the right side of the case are typical of a split-seconds chronograph, starting and stopping at two and four o'clock respectively, while the split-seconds pusher is integrated into the crown at three o'clock. In fact, the start and stop pushers are also coaxially nested in separate crowns for added functionality on a single axis - the crown at two o'clock toggles the sonnerie chime mode, with the traditional time setting and winding in the middle , while the crown is located at four for quick adjustment of the perpetual calendar.
Meanwhile, the left side of the case is very simple, containing only three pushers – one for the quick-set corrector of the day, another for the moon phase and, most importantly, the minute repeater start pusher. Each button and crown on either side of the case is appropriately marked with an engraved symbol or an acronym to denote their function, making them virtually foolproof.Replica Richard Mille McLaren
Shock-resistant and water-resistant to 20 meters, further enhancing the usefulness of the watch.
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Of course, the whole point of Universelle is the movement within - cal. 1000. The movement is only 34.3mm wide and 8.75mm thick, yet manages to tick all the boxes that define classic grand complications, namely split-seconds chronograph, perpetual calendar and minute repeater.
However, California. The 1000 went a step further, adding a tourbillon, a flyback chronograph, automatic winding and a grande and petite sonnerie—complications rare even by modern standards. In fact, the only common modern complication not included in cal . The 1000 is probably a power reserve indicator, a feature that is arguably moot given the automatic winding.
In some respects, cal. The 1000 is old school in terms of architecture. It's layered like most big compilation movements in history. The uppermost layer, closest to the crystal, is the perpetual calendar, which borrows innovations from the Royal Oak RD#2 ultra-thin calendar.Replica Franck Muller
The most notable feature of the calendar is that the 48-tooth calendar program wheel is reduced to a single layer, which reduces the height of the calendar module. But Carl. The 1000 increases the complexity of the calendar beyond the RD#2 by adding a large date at 12 o'clock and a two-digit year indicator at four o'clock.
Below the calendar module is the basic movement, derived from including cal. 4401, the brand's main chronograph movement. Carl. 1000 is naturally far beyond cal. 4401 This is just a flyback chronograph movement. It adds a split-seconds chronograph and flying tourbillon, as well as a Grande Sonnerie based on AP’s historic Grande Sonnerie movement.
One of the key innovations that helped keep the movement as thin as possible was the integration of the rattrapante with the automatic winding mechanism. The rotor is supported by a large central hub open in the middle, creating space for the entire split-seconds mechanism. The just-launched Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds GMT also uses the same coaxial split-seconds hand.
All of the intricate mechanics can be seen beneath an articulated hunter back, which is actually the external resonant caseback of the AP Supersonnerie device. It is essentially a double bottom plate that amplifies the sound of the chiming mechanism. In a traditional Supersonnerie the outer backboard is fixed; here it is hinged but performs the same function.replica Audemars Piguet
Code 11.59 of Audemars Piguet Universelle Ref. 26398BC.OO.D002CR.01 (white gold, black dial)
Ref. 26398BC.OO.D002CR.04 (white gold, beige dial)
Ref. 26398BC.OO.D002CR.02 (white gold, skeleton dial)
Ref. 26398OR.OO.D002CR.01 (pink gold, skeleton dial)
Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 15.55 mm
Material: 18k White Gold or Rose Gold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 20 meters
Movement: Cal. 1000 items
Functions: Flying Tourbillon, Big Date, Moon Phase, Perpetual Calendar, Split Seconds Chronograph, Grande Sonnerie, Minute Repeater Winding
:automatic
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 64 hours
Strap: Leather strap with 18k gold folding clasp
Posted
Feb 06 2023, 12:30 AM
by
yolra