Tag: Top Fake Audemars Piguet Watches

What do you think of when you hear the name Audemars Piguet? Probably the Royal Oak. But what about the brand’s Code 11.59 collection? It’s probably not in the forefront of many watch enthusiasts’ thoughts. After a very rough start, the Code 11.59 won the praise of watch critics in 2023. The manufacturer was awarded the Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix at the GPHG in Geneva with its Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle (RD#4). We also saw a number of great new stainless steel best replica Audemars Piguet watches that fans loved. So, how did the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 go from being hated to loved? Time to find out!

Introduction of the Code 11.59 Collection

Let’s go back to the introduction of the Code 11.59 collection in 2019. With CEO François-Henry Bennahmias at the helm, Audemars Piguet set out to introduce a groundbreaking new series. Bennahmias called it the biggest launch since the Royal Oak in 1972. But was it really? In terms of watchmaking effort, the new collection was very impressive: a total of 13 new references were introduced with six different movements, three of which were developed specifically for the Code 11.59 line. This was no ordinary launch. This was a new direction for the brand that had slowly become synonymous with the Royal Oak, but that wasn’t what the media and fans focused on.

Problems With the Code 11.59

Top replica Audemars Piguet watches enthusiast often need time to get used to a new design, and that’s what Bennahmias was banking on. He didn’t expect overnight success, but he did hope for instant praise; however, watch fans had a lot of fundamental problems with the Code 11.59. Let’s start with the launch itself: Bennahmias emphasized at volume that the collection was groundbreaking – too loud, according to many. It may have well been groundbreaking in terms of horological achievement, but it needed the design to back it up. And that’s where the real problems began.

Design of the Code 11.59

The three-piece case of the Code 11.59 is ingenious. The construction and design demand respect. It’s incredibly well-thought-out and meticulously executed, but there is one problem: It borrows heavily from the Royal Oak. The middle section of the case mimics the hexagonal design of the Royal Oak’s bezel. If you are going to start a new iconic collection, why would you borrow from one of your existing series?

The dial design also received a lot of criticism. The look of the numerals reminded some of those used on fashion cheap copy Audemars Piguet watches – once you see it, you can’t unsee it – and that can be detrimental to an ultra-luxury brand like Audemars Piguet. The release created an immediate social media storm, and the watch media acknowledged that while the technical mastery was hard to ignore, the design had obvious flaws. So, how do you recover from that?

The Silver Lining

While the case may borrow features from the Royal Oak, the ingenious design and construction are nothing short of impressive. There was one watch that showcased the greater potential of the Code 11.59 right away: the Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar. The main reason why it stood out was that it didn’t use numerals on the dial, proving that without the numerals, the whole look changes. Paired with a rose gold case and gorgeous blue aventurine dial, this watch was the biggest eye-catcher of the collection and a beacon of the Code 11.59’s future potential.

Winning the Prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

At the same time, Audemars Piguet introduced its most complicated watch ever created. With the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4, the brand created a watch with 40 different functions, 23 of which are complications. Thanks to a focus on modern usability, ergonomics, and comfort, this unique timepiece can be worn like a normal watch, even though it is a marvel of Haute Horlogerie. The beautiful beige dial version won first prize at the GPHG 2023. It was recognition from the industry that this unique version of the Code 11.59 is a truly wonderful masterpiece.

Price Development of the Code 11.59

As a result of these recent events, there has been a massive increase in interest in the watch, but has this led to an increase in value? First, it must be said that after a long period of rising prices, the value of all perfect clone Audemars Piguet watches from all brands has come down in the last 12–18 months. Second, it will take time for people to understand the increased appeal of the Code 11.59. This means that demand may rise over time, and that more of the improved, better-appreciated watches will be available for sale.

At the moment, most of the Code 11.59 watches for sale on the secondary market are the initial release self-winding watches with numerals, which are only available in precious metals and selling for well below their original list price. However, we can already see that the prices of the new stainless steel high quality Audemars Piguet replica watches with the updated dial design are selling for closer to their actual list price on Chrono24. Moreover, the Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar, which has never had any numerals, is selling for close to or even above its retail price.

Is this the first sign that things are changing? Only time will tell. But in the meantime, Audemars Piguet has created some stunning timepieces that demonstrate the true power of the Code 11.59 – and that is something that people have come to appreciate. With CEO François-Henry Bennahmias leaving Audemars Piguet at the end of the year, it will be interesting to see if his successor, Ilaria Resta, can keep the Code 11.59 momentum going. All the ingredients are in place to make the Code 11.59 the key to even greater success for Audemars Piguet.

The “Code” is growing on me. It wasn’t exactly love at first sight, to put it mildly. Still, with time and, more importantly, some much-needed significant cosmetic changes, I’m warming up to the replica watches that weren’t just hindered by a seemingly lazy dial design and somewhat ridiculous name. Last year, I had a most pleasant experience with an automatic watch in pink gold with a blue dial, and this year, things got even more intense when I encountered the new 41mm Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding in gray. Man, this steel three-hander’s got the looks. But it also has some je ne sais quois that has me contemplating the Code. Could it be an entry point into the AP universe, or do you always need to start with a Royal Oak? It’s just one of the questions I’m still trying to find an answer to.

Let’s explore the top replica Audemars Piguet watches before pondering the eventual acquisition of a Code and its possible consequences. The Code has come a long way since its 2019 debut. The three-hand Selfwinding, especially, has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis. It went from an ugly duckling to something closer to a swan. The various bland dials with four lonesome Arabic numerals, off-balance 4:30 date window, and alarmingly skinny hands are all gone. Indexes have taken over, the date moved to 3 o’clock, the hands have been replaced with more voluptuous, skeletonized ones, and the dials now show a dynamic pattern you could mistake for guilloché. Instead, it’s a stamped dial with a ripple pattern. “Stamped” sounds less luxurious than “guilloché,” but the pattern designed by Yann von Kaenel, an independent engine-turning specialist, does look rich and luscious. The new 41mm Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding in gray is the best version yet.

There were, however, so many elements that struck a chord — the proportions, for instance. The 41 × 50 × 10.7mm case perfectly suits my wrist. The construction of the said case is also quite something. You will only experience and fully enjoy it when you handle the Swiss fake Audemars Piguet Code watches in real life; in pictures, it just doesn’t come across. The case is like a sandwich in which the bezel and the back hold the octagonal mid-case. The open-worked lugs are welded against the bezel; they touch the case back but are not welded to it. Importantly, the brushed and polished finishing of the case and lugs is at a very high level, and so are details like the hexagonal screws for the strap.

Another element that sets the Code apart is the double-curved crystal. Its shape mixes a classic convex circle on the underside and a vertical curve from 12 to 6 o’clock on the top. The crystal simultaneously offers an undeformed view of the dial from the top and, at some angles, puts on a show of magical distortion. But when you see a frontal picture of a Code, its case’s complicated construction and execution and the dynamically shaped crystal go unnoticed, leading to an almost instant misunderstanding and underestimation of the watch.

Since I wore the new gray Code during the 150th-anniversary celebrations earlier this year at the Audemars Piguet HQ in Le Brassus, these perfect clone Audemars Piguet watches have been on my mind. This steel Code is giving me a mild form of Tetris Syndrome. This effect or syndrome, named after the famous video game, can occur when you dedicate vast amounts of time, effort, and thoughts to something. As a result, the preoccupation with that thing — in this case, a watch — can lead to it altering thoughts, (day)dreams, and other experiences not directly linked to it. The gray Code keeps popping up in my thoughts at unexpected moments, and I keep wondering what would happen if I acquired one. At the same time, however, I can’t quite visualize myself owning and wearing one.

The material aspects of the watch don’t seem to stand in the way of me manifesting the AAA copy Audemars Piguet watches on my wrist. Not only are the proportions just right, but so are the colors. The gray is serious yet fresh and sporty as well. It’s informal, but the stamped, ripple-like pattern also gives it a dose of formal gravitas. And then there’s the “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” flange. Not only is this an iconic “AP” shade, but there is also just enough of it on the elevated flange to brighten the gray dial.

The three-hand Code is the perfect everyday watch for this day and age. The irritatingly vague dress codes “casual chic” and “business casual” suddenly make perfect sense when you look at this watch. It offers a classic shape with a twist in a contemporary size and with a strap that is the equivalent of hand-made sneakers.

This gray rubber-coated strap, which has a 22–20mm taper and shows a delicate texture, is sporty and elegant. The strap ties the Code 11.59 together, so to speak. It helps match the replica watches with a Hawaiian, denim, button-down, or dress shirt. The pin buckle AP decided to use also deserves a mention and praise. It’s a well-made and easy-to-use alternative to a needlessly complicated folding clasp that gives you a false sense of luxury.