Introducing Audemars Piguet’s New Code 11.59 Universelle RD#4: The Most Complicated Timepiece Ever

Photo: Monochrome

RD#4 represents the inaugural complicated self-wound timepiece to be unveiled by the Audemars Piguet brand. It is now more than a century since the watchmaker initially created the complicated Universelle pocket piece. This extremely complex watch comes in a Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet casing and is remarkably ergonomic and modern.

Audemars Piguet’s Code 11.59 Universelle RD#4 makes reference to the late nineteenth-century L’Universelle pocket clock. This pocket watch is undoubtedly among the most intricate timepieces ever produced. It was jointly developed by the watchmaking company Dürrstein and Union Glashütte, whose name is imprinted on the dial of the piece. Also, it was first marketed in 1901 with the label “Universal-Uhr,” which, in German, means “universal watch.”

Photo: Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet has recently unveiled four special variants of the latest Code 11.59 Universelle RD #4, which draws cues from the previous pocket watch. One watch comes in pink gold, and the other three are in white gold. Furthermore, each of the four variants has a different dial and appearance. 

Reference 26398BC.OO.D002CR.01

This model blends a white-gold casing with a dial, interior bezel, and chronograph registers brightly accented with opaline black galvanic gold. The bright grey outer zones of the chronograph subdial registers and the region surrounding the dial are echoed by the flying tourbillon enclosure, which is located at six o’clock.

Photo: Monochrome

Hour markings and hands made of white gold are attached, whereas the hallmark of Audemars Piguet, made using a galvanic growth procedure, illuminates in gold at the hour point.

Reference 26398BC.OO.D002CR.04

On the other hand, this Code 11.59 Universelle RD#4 variant comes in an opaline beige PVD gold dial plus an 18k white golden casing. This round, Audemars Piguet selected a black outer zone with pink replicated minute lines and black Chrono subdial registers.

Photo: Audemars Piguet

The watch also features hour markings and hands made of 18k pink gold to complement the pink-gold balancing wheel that can be seen via the flying tourbillon enclosure.

Reference 26398OR.OO.D002CR.01 and 26398BC.OO.D002CR.02

Ultimately, these variants give a fantastic glimpse of the intricate and stunningly crafted movement within. The pieces, which come with two-color displays and a white or pink gold casing, stick out because of their golden open-worked links and black embellishments.

Photo: Audemars Piguet

Also, the day and month are shown on a grey region in the middle of the black chronograph registers that are somewhat open-worked on both variants.

The Movement: Calibre 1000

With over 1,100 parts, this movement pays homage to its moniker, maintaining a 34.3 mm wide and 8.75 mm in height. By incorporating all of these small parts, the designer was able to include 40 capabilities comprising 23 complexities. Some of them are a flying tourbillon, a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, and a split-seconds flyback Chrono.

Photo: Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet brought together a crew of skilled engineers, architects, and watch creators for 7 years to construct this RD#4’s caliber. Because of this effort, the outcome (Cal: 1000) strikes at a speed of 3 Hz and comes with a 64-hour power reserve.