The ‘wandering hours’ mechanism of the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Starwheel was invented for an insomniac pope, because the story goes. On the launch of the brand new watch throughout Design Miami 2022, Audemars Piguet CEO François-Henry Bennahmias time-travelled again to seventeenth Century to disclose the historical past and idea of the timepiece. Singer-songwriter John Mayer, a passionate watch collector, joined for the journey and hinted to new collaborations in 2023.
‘Audemars Piguet have been the primary to create the wandering hours mechanism within the Nineties, however after its launch, we left it understanding we are going to carry it again finally. It was extra of an idea again then. It took time for folks to essentially admire,’ explains François-Henry Bennahmias on the unique occasion.
Ben Clymer (proper), Founding father of Hodinkee, in dialog with François-Henry Bennahmias (left), CEO of Audemars Piguet, and Singer-songwriter John Mayer (center) throughout Design Miami 2022
All photos courtesy of Audemars Piguet
For Musician John Mayer, his appreciation for watches stems again to his old flame at six years previous – an Armitron Star Wars version. It wasn’t till his 20s, although, that the actual fascination for timepieces started, gathering chronographs in addition to digital. With a profession of touring the world, the Singer-songwriter would meet new folks, discover out extra about timepieces, and provoke additional curiosities with mechanisms and designs. This way of life highlighted the one companion wherever he was – his watch – that was an vital device to begin every single day.
‘As I travelled, I might discover out increasingly more about timepieces. I realized about one factor which took me to a different factor and one other factor. The best a part of my life now’s to see and listen to different folks have caught the identical bug that I had 20/25 years in the past. There’s something stunning about winding the crown. I take that second to cease and take into consideration the day forward. I do know then that it’s going to be an awesome day,’ reveals John Mayer.
The reinvented Starwheel returns for 2023 in Audemars Piguet’s Code 11.59 mannequin
The idea of ‘wandering hours’ was a way to an finish for Pope Alexander VII in seventeenth Century, additionally like a device. Audemars Piguet reinvented the show for a brand new mechanism in 1991. Its mysterious problems have been fully hid behind its case. The outcome lay deal with the fantastic thing about its show the place the hours are displayed on three discs on one show.
‘The Starwheel was created by Audemars Piguet within the Nineties,’ begins François-Henry. ‘The thought, nonetheless, goes again to seventeenth century when Pope Alexander VII couldn’t sleep at evening. He requested a watchmaker to construct a clock that he, firstly, might learn in the dead of night and, secondly, that it didn’t make any noise. The wandering hours idea shows the hour clearly in order that the time will be learn even throughout the evening. The idea was forgotten till one in all Audemars Piguet’s watchmakers examine this wandering hours clock and approached our CEO, on the time, to create it. We studied the mechanism and launched it as a timepiece to the world in 1991 in two fashions. Each are practically unattainable to seek out at present, as we didn’t make many.’
The hours are displayed in three discs on the face
The Starwheel shows the time due to a central rotor that completes a rotation in three hours. Three mounted aluminum discs activate their very own axes. Every disc has 4 digits, from one to 12, that take turns in pointing to the arched sector on the prime of the dial, the place the minute scale is printed. An 18-carat white gold second hand follows the curve of the discs to finish the mechanism.
The mechanism was invented in 1991, bringing ahead an idea for timekeeping from seventeenth century
The reinvented Starwheel is housed within the ultra-contemporary Code 11.59 case by Audemars Piguet. Its architectural strains of the blue dial, 18-carat white gold case and black ceramic again improve the attract of the wandering hour show. On the dial aspect, the double-curved sapphire crystal provides depth to the show. As nicely, its precision magnifies the quite a few particulars that interaction with mild.
The design evokes its magic due to the precision of its materials and craft
From the advanced mixture of supplies on its case by way of to the revamp strap and buckle, the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Starwheel signifies its significance by sight and really feel for the wearer. Mild displays and refracts towards speckled gems that seem as if naturally forged like stars within the evening sky. The fact is the manufacture’s craftspeople painstakingly hand-finished each ingredient to create the proper timepiece. The design evokes its magic due to this precision.
‘I realized precision from music. If you’re attempting to get the correct tempo for a music and 118 beats per minute is just too quick and 117 beats per minute is just too gradual, there’s 117 and a half beats per minute that may really feel good. You might be both there or not. It’s like an eclipse; every part is lined up or not. It doesn’t matter if there’s only a millimeter out as a result of it must be in that window. That’s how I – and Audemars Piguet – see design,’ concludes John Mayer, as he hints to a collaboration with the watchmaker in 2023.
