Unique, Striking Code 11.59 Grande Sonnerie Models for AP’s 150th Anniversary

As you probably know by now, Audemars Piguet is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Last week, the Le Brassus-based brand released an array of new watches, predominantly focused on a new, clever and technically advanced perpetual calendar movement getting rid of recessed correctors (it is far more complex than you might imagine…) But that was not all, as the brand will do many special 150-year models throughout the year, such as what we’ll be looking at today: five unique editions of the mighty complex Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie, either in highly technical styles or, on the contrary, using striking stones. 

This striking version of the Code 11.59, equipped with one of the grails of watchmaking – a grande sonnerie movement – was first released in 2020 with dials made by renowned enamel artist Anita Porchet with a paillonné decor. We have explored this watch in full detail, including a long movie here, showing everything that is hidden under its special caseback (acting as a resonance chamber). In 2023, Audemars Piguet brought back this spectacular watch in three unique pieces, with a sapphire dial revealing the intricacies of the movement, in white, rose or yellow gold. As we’re now celebrating the 150th anniversary of the brand, 5 new unique pieces are unveiled, with a special decoration on the back.

One of the few brands capable of crafting such a chiming watch, Audemars Piguet’s Grande Sonnerie mechanism is a patent display of the brand’s formidable mechanical prowess. Combine that with the brand‘s patented Supersonnerie technology and a carillon, and you’re looking at a remarkable chiming machine. Perhaps the highest complication of all, a Grande Sonnerie strikes the hours, every hour, and the number of hours and quarters on every quarter. Unlike minute repeaters that can chime the hours, quarters and minutes on demand, a Grand Sonnerie chimes the hours and quarters automatically. Naturally, the time can be chimed on request like a traditional repeater via a second crown to select the Petite Sonnerie small strike (hours only) or Silent mode. The third pusher on the case middle at 10 o’clock is to activate the minute repeater.

Audemars Piguet’s Grand Sonnerie is combined with a carillon. Instead of two gongs, this carillon complication is equipped with three gongs and hammers producing different pitches, meaning that the quarter hours can be struck with three successive notes, ranging from high, middle, and low. Last but certainly not the least part of the in-house calibre 2956 is the Supersonnerie, a mechanism developed and patented by AP over eight years (with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne) and featured inside the Royal Oak Concept RD1 of 2015. The patented case construction and gongs, which are not attached to the mainplate but to a device acting as a soundboard, improve the sound transmission on par with the volume and resonance associated with pocket watches.

This year, AP releases five unique versions of the 41mm Code 11.59 Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie, with cases ranging from black ceramic and platinum to 18-carat white, pink and sand gold in different combinations. Three of these unique pieces are somehow reminiscent of the editions of 2023, showcasing the intricate mechanism ticking within, thanks to clear sapphire dials adorned with subtle contrasting details. The first model (26397PN.OO.D008KB.01) has a silver-grey aesthetic with a white gold bezel, lugs and caseback, accentuated by a polished platinum case middle and a grey textured rubber-coated strap with calfskin lining. It also features a pink gold-toned inner bezel and pink gold hour-markers and hands.

The second iteration (26397CR.OO.D009KB.01) features a white and pink gold case with a three-tone dial – slate-grey inner bezel, light grey minute track pink gold luminescent hour-markers and hands, slate grey movement. The third timepiece (26397QS.OO.D002KB.01) offers powerful contrasts with a sand gold case with a black ceramic case middle and crown, and a dial that plays with sand gold, black and grey tones – the model photographed here.

In addition, AP releases two models with time-only display (no small seconds) but dials made from natural opal (0.45 mm-thick pieces that are then mounted on a disc made of a hard alloy to prevent it from breaking). The first Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie (26397OR.OO.D417CR.01) unites a pink gold case with a rare harlequin opal dial, revealing a unique pattern made of small angular patches in colours ranging from green, blue, red and yellow. It is paired with a shimmering green inner bezel and a matching alligator strap.

The second version (26397BC.OO.D357CR.01 – not photographed) is crafted in white gold with a polished crystal opal dial displaying green and blue hues. This version is paired with a shimmering blue inner bezel and a blue alligator strap.

Each of the aforementioned Code 11.59 Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie is a unique piece only available from the brand’s boutiques, upon request. Prices are not revealed but should be in excess of CHF 700,000. More details at audemarspiguet.com.