To kick off its 150th-anniversary year, Audemars Piguet unveiled the Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar Automatic 41mm, featuring a brand-new movement that allows all perpetual calendar functions to be adjusted via a single crown—a true milestone in watchmaking. Find all the details, live pictures, and pricing below.
This is a major breakthrough from Audemars Piguet. The new Calibre 7138 isn’t just another movement—it introduces something rarely seen in watchmaking: a perpetual calendar that can be fully set using a single crown. Owners of perpetual calendars know the struggle—setting one usually requires a special tool and careful adjustments. With the Calibre 7138, AP simplifies the process, making it a true innovation.
The new crown has four positions:
Position 1 – Wind the watch clockwise.
Position 2 – Set the date clockwise; adjust the month and leap year counterclockwise.
Position 3 – Set the time in both directions.
Position 2’ (push back one step) – Set the day and week clockwise; adjust moon phases counterclockwise.
For all the details on the new Calibre 7138, check out my other article here.
The new 41 mm Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar features a sleek 18-carat white gold case, just 10.6 mm thick, with a mix of satin-brushed and polished finishes. Its smoked blue PVD dial showcases a rippling concentric pattern, first introduced in 2023, created with Swiss guilloché artisan Yann Von Kaenel. The design, punctuated by tiny holes for depth and light, is paired with luminescent white gold hands, hour markers, and a white calendar display. A blue rubber-coated strap with a calfskin lining and textile motif completes the contemporary look.
For the first time since 1978, the AP perpetual calendar subdials have been rearranged. The dial now features a European date display, with the day at 9 o’clock, the date at 12 and the month at 3 o’clock. The week numbers are printed on the inner bezel as for previous perpetual calendar models.
Through the sapphire caseback, you can admire the refined aesthetics of the new Calibre 7138. The openworked 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight and the barrel bridge, visible from 12 to 3 o’clock, stand out against the rhodium-toned components. The movement is finished with exquisite Haute Horlogerie decorations, including Côtes de Genève, satin brushing, circular graining, snailing, and chamfering.
For me, this is one of the best-looking Code 11.59 model yet. The perpetual calendar perfectly complements the case’s complex design. But it’s not just about aesthetics—it also features impressive innovation that addresses a well-known challenge. I can’t think of a better way for Audemars Piguet to celebrate its 150th anniversary than with this release.
The price of the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar Automatic is €108,000 (including VAT).
| Reference | 26494BC.OO.D350KB.01 |
| Functions | Perpetual calendar with week indication, day, date, astronomical moon, month, leap year, hours and minutes. |
| Case | 18-carat white gold case, double curved glareproofed sapphire crystal, white gold and glareproofed sapphire caseback |
| Case diameter | 41 mm |
| Case thickness | 10.6 mm |
| Water resistance | 30 m. |
| Dial | Smoked blue Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet embossed signature dial, blue subdials, 18-carat white gold hour-markers, 18-carat white gold hands with luminescent material, blue snailed inner bezel. |
| Movement | Selfwinding Calibre 7138 Total diameter 29.6 mm Total thickness 4.1 mm Number of parts 422 Number of jewels 40 Minimum power reserve guaranteed 55 h Frequency of balance wheel 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour) |
| Strap | Blue textured rubber strap with calfskin lining, 18-carat white gold three-blade folding clasp. |
| Price | €108,000 |
More details about Audemars Piguet watches find on www.audemarspiguet.com
