BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
Have you ever looked at your watch and thought, “man, this thing is just too legible”? If you own a Panerai or one of the watches from our Top 5 list on the topic, clearly the answer is yes. Thankfully, Audemars Piguet is back with a rarely-seen dial layout that’s sure to have a few readers baffled.
The new Code 11:59 “Starwheel” watch features a wandering hours complication, and it’s something that this collection needs. The Code 11:59 wasn’t well received at launch, people mocked its somewhat plain design and ridiculous name. Since then, though, I’ve come to like it more. The new Starwheel is even more exciting, combining the age-old wandering hours layout with modern design and haute horlogerie.
You see, a wandering hours display splits the time up onto disks typically. These disks pivot around the dial’s centre where the hands normally are. These disks also spin on their own axes, creating a magical dance when sped up on video. The numerals on the disk align with the minute track at 12 O’clock, giving a roughly precise reading of the time. I say roughly precise because reading these at a glance can be tricky, but with practice, it shouldn’t be too bad.
Powering the watch is the self-winding calibre 4310, which has a 4Hz beat rate and 70-hour power reserve, plus top-level finishing from one of the world’s most prestigious watchmakers. All of this is wrapped up in a 41mm x 10.7mm case made of 18k white gold with a black ceramic insert in the middle and aventurine on the dial. The price? $57,900.
Visit Audemars Piguet here.
