Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Starwheel Rose Gold Watch Audemars Piguet has given some striking updates to its distinctive timepieces.

When the first Code 11.59 Starwheel was launched in 2022, it was perhaps the first Code 11.59 watch I truly fell in love with. Of course, I get excited at the mere sight of aventurine on the dial, but what captivated me about this watch was Audemars Piguet's complete reinterpretation of the exquisitely elegant Wandering Hours complication launched in 1991—a tribute to 17th-century watchmaking—giving it an ultramodern industrial look and crafting it in white gold.

At the heart of this "Wandering Hours" complication is a centrally rotating disc with three satellite hour subdials displaying the twelve hours. As the dial rotates, the current hour is at the top, with an arrow pointing to the 120-degree minute hand track; while the other two "stationary" satellite discs continue to rotate, with a star-shaped gear beneath each disc rotating the next hour onto the next hour disc. The 1990s version had a clearer and more easily understood structure, with a transparent dial showcasing its complete internal system and revealing the origin of the watch's name. In this Code 11.59 Starwheel watch, the entire system is comprised of the 4310 caliber movement, a modern in-house movement with a 70-hour power reserve.

Besides their high degree of similarity in complexity, the 1991 Starwheel and the 2022 Code 11.59 Starwheel have completely different appearances—in fact, their juxtaposition reflects the evolution of the brand's design language over the past three decades.

Rumors about the new Code 11.59 Starwheel rose gold watch have been circulating online for a long time, and just a month ago, the brand quietly released the timepiece, coinciding with the highly anticipated release of the RD#5 watch. In my opinion, nothing beats the cool, technological look of the Starwheel watch with its black and blue color scheme (does anyone think of Pittsburgh style?). After all, this watch's design is far from formal, and I was initially unsure if switching from white metal to rose gold was truly appropriate. However, after using the rose gold Starwheel for a while, it might just become my top choice.

This watch, at 41mm in diameter and 10.7mm thick, isn't exactly small. While I personally find the all-rose gold Code 11.59 case a bit bulky, the beveled black ceramic middle case cleverly solves this problem. It not only creates a pleasing visual contrast with the dial but also lightens the case's heaviness. As you've probably heard countless times, the Code series remains one of those collections you have to see in person to make a final judgment. The watch case offers much to appreciate, from the "floating" skeletonized lugs welded to the top, to the beveled, brushed, and polished finish of the ceramic mid-case, and the ceramic crown adorned with a contrasting rose gold signature appliqué. Regardless of your aesthetic preferences, the craftsmanship of the Code case is undeniably exquisite.

While technically this new version might simply be a change in case material and dial color, these alterations are significant given the numerous elements on the Star Wheel watch's dial. Perhaps the most noticeable change is the replacement of the previously simple white and silver hour markers with matching rose gold. I'm not sure if this is purely a visual illusion, but the rose gold hour markers do indeed appear more three-dimensional on the rotating disc compared to the white gold version. These markers possess a metallic quality absent before, which may be one reason for this effect, and it once again demonstrates that even minor changes can have a profound impact on the final product. The seconds hand is also crafted from rose gold, while the minute markers and bezel retain the black and white color scheme, with the Audemars Piguet logo positioned at the (traditional) 6 o'clock.

In this design, the dial color changes from blue aventurine to black aventurine, shifting the visual focus back to the rose gold elements. While this change is less obvious, it is more striking. With the aventurine taking a backseat, I particularly appreciate the effect of the central module seemingly floating in the center of the dial. Thankfully, the starlight-like quality of the aventurine is not lost. Small accents of silver, gold, and blue add a touch of brightness to the overall matte dial, serving as the perfect finishing touch.

Wearing it on the wrist, the Starwheel watch feels like the Code 11.59 at its best. If there's any shortcoming in the Code's design, it's that viewing it from above (the primary perspective when wearing the watch) doesn't truly reveal its intricate craftsmanship. However, the addition of the Starwheel makes the Code exceptionally eye-catching from every angle. The matching black canvas strap with a rubber lining complements the rose gold case perfectly, and the clever combination of black and rose gold adds just the right amount of sophistication to this timepiece, which isn't known for its elegance.

After all, it's an industrial-style watch, and one of the reasons I appreciate the Starwheel's design is that it feels far more complex than it actually is. While the "roaming hours" function might be considered a complication, it ultimately remains a watch that displays hours, minutes, and seconds. However, the skeletonized metal frame for the rotating hour dial, the modern numerals, and the high contrast between the black ceramic inner case and the aventurine case all blend seamlessly with the case's contours.

This is undoubtedly a good thing, because in this ultramodern era of exploration beyond the Royal Oak, this watch showcases Audemars Piguet at its best. While its design itself is already widely praised, this rose gold version is even more stunning. I've always dreamed of owning one.