The most dauntless of the revered Holy Trinity is celebrating its 150th anniversary in flying colours with three Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet timepieces, each limited to 150 pieces and distinguished by alluring stone dials of malachite, sodalite, and ruby root.
Stone dials remain one of 2025’s biggest trends, and Audemars Piguet — an early adopter since the mid-20th century — continues to capitalise on it. Trust AP to turn a decorative trend into a technical showcase.
The tri-level Code 11.59 case remains one of my favourites of the modern era — bold, eye-catching, and complex. I defy anyone to see this case in person and not be impressed. The octagonal mid-case, skeleton lugs, and convex (not concave) sapphire crystal are all the work of genius, although you’d be none the wiser if it’s only been seen head-on.
Our subjects today are presented in the smallest Code 11.59 case offering: 38mm in diameter with a
thickness of just 9.6mm. On a leather strap, it’s a truly unisex size. Each stone dial is paired with a different gold alloy:



- 18k Yellow Gold – Green Malachite, a personal favourite. This vibrant green stone with a swirling, ring-like structure has been historically valued by Egyptians and Greeks for ornamentation and protection.
- 18k Pink Gold – Blue Sodalite, often mistaken for lapis lazuli, is a rich royal-to-navy-blue gemstone with white veining. Queen Victoria’s admiration earned it the nickname “Princess Blue” shortly after it’s discovery in the late 19th century.
- 18k White Gold – Ruby Root is ruby in its natural form, still within its surrounding rock or matrix.
The dial is a thin disc cut from the original hard stone. A delicate process at the best of times, but made even more difficult while applying the expansive AUDERMARS PIGUET logo by hand. At 6 o’clock, a gold ring surrounds the hypnotic flying tourbillon. Every stone will have its own unique characteristics, as if owning one of 150 watches wasn’t already special enough. To capture as much natural beauty as possible, the dial forgoes any indexes.
But unlike many super-minimal stone dials, some practicality creeps in. Following the Code 11.59 design language, a steep inner bezel frames the dial with minute indications. More dramatic than a conventional rehaut, the bezel follows the trajectory of the convex sapphire crystal, framing the dial like nothing else. And despite all this opulence, the 18k gold hour and minutes hands feature crisp white lume, ensuring legibility while at the opera.
The in-house Calibre 2968, also known as the RD#3, is an extra-thin automatic flying tourbillon movement, at just 3.4mm thick. It’s the result of five years of development to create a tourbillon suitable for smaller AP watches. It debuted in the 2022 Royal Oak Jumbo Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin, the first 39mm ‘Jumbo’ to feature such a complication.
A tourbillon is a rotating cage that houses the balance wheel and escapement, designed to counteract gravity’s effect on timekeeping accuracy. While a ‘standard’ tourbillon will be fixed with conspicuous bridges, the more labour-intensive flying tourbillon is supported only from below, giving it a floating appearance – perfect for a minimal dial such as this. AP has even matched the colour of the dial-side tourbillon balance wheel and rotor to each case alloy for perfect cohesion.



The alligator straps are designed to let the case, stone, and tourbillon stand out. Each is color-matched to its respective dial, bolstered at the top to follow the curve of the case, and finished with a rembordé folded edge that eliminates top stitching for a clean aesthetic. Rather than calf leather, each strap is lined with alligator flank for extra durability and texture. These limited editions also receive an 18k gold twin-trigger butterfly clasp, ensuring strap longevity, added heft, and security on the wrist. It’s as premium as it gets, but what else would you expect from Audemars Piguet?
Initial Thoughts
The Code 11.59 continues to go from strength to strength. From standard time and date or chronographs, to grand complications and high-jewellery designs like these, Audemars Piguet has deciphered the ‘Code’ that first eluded them in 2019. What you’re getting is a ‘trio of flexes’: a vivid stone dial, a flying tourbillon, and an amazingly sculptured gold case, and nothing else. Observers will notice it in that order. Each element is a statement on its own, yet within a minimalist Code 11.59, they feel even more distinct and self-contained.
It’s Audemars Piguet doing what they do best, making a bold statement backed by undeniable technical legitimacy. After all, you don’t survive 150 years as a high-end watchmaker by playing it safe. If I were lucky enough to see one of these in the metal, the first thing I’d want to see is how the veins of the stone interact with the crystal. My favourite feature of this collection is how light refracts from the dial into the convex glass.
The alternating concentric circles of the standard Code 11.59 guilloché dials take full advantage of this, and the idea of seeing this effect with a natural stone pattern is genuinely exciting. Wearing my armchair designer hat, I would love to see a fourth offering in AP’s recently introduced 18k Sand Gold alloy, a beige-champagne tone, paired with a tiger’s eye dial full of striations. I think that would be glorious. Only 150 of each will exist. A fleeting chance to own a piece of AP’s 150-year legacy, carved in stone.
Specification: Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Pink Gold Soladite (Ref. 26665OR.OO.D349CR.01)

- Dimensions: 38mm x 9.6mm thick
- Case Material: Brushed and Polished 18k Pink Gold
- Dial: Blue Solalite with flying tourbillon
- Water Resistance: 30m (3 Bar)
- Movement: Selfwinding Calibre 2968, flying tourbillon. 50 Hours power reserve @ 3Hz (21,600 VpH)
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Bracelet/Strap: Alligator leather with side-alligator lining. 18k gold twin-trigger butterfly clasp.
Australian Recommended Retail Price: Price on Request.
Availability: Limited to 150 models. For more information please visit Audemarspiguet.com
Specification: Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Yellow Gold Malachite (Ref. 26665BA.OO.D412CR.01)

- Dimensions: 38mm x 9.6mm thick
- Case Material: Brushed and Polished 18k Yellow Gold
- Dial: Green Malachite with flying tourbillon
- Water Resistance: 30m (3 Bar)
- Movement: Selfwinding Calibre 2968, flying tourbillon. 50 Hours power reserve @ 3Hz (21,600 VpH)
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Bracelet/Strap: Alligator leather with side-alligator lining. 18k gold twin-trigger butterfly clasp.
Australian Recommended Retail Price: Price on Request.
Availability: Limited to 150 models. For more information please visit Audemarspiguet.com
Specification: Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon White Gold Ruby Root (Ref. 26665BC.OO.D632CR.01)

- Dimensions: 38mm x 9.6mm thick
- Case Material: Brushed and Polished 18k White Gold
- Dial: Ruby Rootwith flying tourbillon
- Water Resistance: 30m (3 Bar)
- Movement: Selfwinding Calibre 2968, flying tourbillon. 50 Hours power reserve @ 3Hz (21,600 VpH)
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Bracelet/Strap: Alligator leather with side-alligator lining. 18k gold twin-trigger butterfly clasp.