Audemars Piguet's new Code 11.59 collection is challenging the industry on all fronts (remind you ...

In tribute to the Oak's controversial origins - the world's first steel cased luxury sports watch - the new collection answers a question nobody's really been asking Namely, who needs a new "Simple" round watch in a neo-classical style from the venerated Le Brassus brand? The answer, according to its ebullient CEO, François-Henry Bennahmias - he does "We haven't really succeeded with a classical line," explained Bennahmias during an exclusive preview of the new Code 1159 collection.

The new line's credentials are spelt out in other firsts: the dual-curvature of the sapphire for instance and the equally complex construction of the alternately satin and polished 41mm case Besides introducing a brand new automatic flying tourbillon, in addition to a self-winding open-worked tourbillon, minute-repeating supersonnerie and perpetual calendar, two new calibres have joined the AP family: a three-hand-with-date automatic and a flyback automatic chrono - the house's first serially-produced integrated automatic chronograph movement "We have increased the perceived value of the brand a lot - exclusivity, craft - so how do you show that more now? By going to a field where everyone has been making these watches for ever, including us.

We are in the best place ever to launch this, and we will position this new collection as a big new leg in the AP line." "So I think you'll find a lot of people who buy AP buying this, and a lot of people who don't like the Royal Oak buying it, because they respect AP and they respect what we've done Code 11.59 is one minute before a new day and hopefully we are writing a new page for the history of Audemars Piguet." . Source