Audemars Piguet
CODE 11.59 26397QA.OO.D002KB.01

The lug design of the CODE 11.59 is an integral part of the case architecture: the lugs are sculpted in continuity with the middle case and do not follow a standard spring-bar geometry. An off-the-shelf aftermarket strap cannot be integrated with this structure. A strap is entirely achievable, built to measure directly on the watch by <a href="/pages/casati-booking">Casati Milano</a>, with precise measurements taken in the atelier.

The watch is brought in person to the atelier, where the master craftsman measures the lug interface with precision instruments. The strap ends are constructed directly on the case, ensuring perfect volumetric continuity. Leather, colour, stitching, and clasp type are all agreed upon during the appointment, and the strap is refined until final delivery.

Smooth-belly alligator in dark tobacco or midnight blue complements the warm reflections of the yellow gold without competing with the sapphire's transparency. For a more contemporary reading, military-grain calf or hand-patinated bull leather echoes the tactile hardness of the ceramic case. The final choice is made in the atelier alongside the craftsman, based on intended use and aesthetic preference.

A strap made from first-grade leather, hand-stitched and lined with silk or suede, can maintain its form and integrity for many years. Longevity depends on exposure to moisture, perspiration, and direct sunlight, as well as regular care with appropriate leather conditioners. A bespoke strap, built to the exact geometry of the watch, does not lose its shape over time the way an adapted standard strap does.

The Grande Sonnerie is regarded as the most complex striking complication in haute horlogerie: it automatically chimes the hours and quarter-hours at each interval, without any action from the wearer. In calibre AP 2956, this function coexists with the Petite Sonnerie — which chimes hours only — and the on-demand minute repeater, alongside a flying tourbillon. Combining all three striking functions within a 41 mm sapphire case, making the movement fully visible, represents one of the most ambitious exercises in contemporary watchmaking.