The blue sodalite Code 11.59 flying tourbillon is my design pick from this selection. The irregular pale veins give the blue dial something worth looking at beyond the mechanism, and the pink-gold case makes the colour feel warmer. For a calendar rather than that visual spectacle, I would compare the 38 mm perpetuals instead. These are selected releases from Audemars Piguet’s 2025 150th-anniversary year, not a new 2026 launch or a complete list of every anniversary watch.
A milestone year for Audemars Piguet
AP’s own history dates the business to 1875 and describes its continuing family ownership. That explains the anniversary, but it does not make every release an automatic collector’s prize. I would compare what each watch actually does, how its dial reads and whether I prefer the bracelet or strap—not buy an anniversary number in place of a watch.
Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar
The Code 11.59 Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar introduced a 38 mm version in the 2025 anniversary year. That is not the first 38 mm watch in the entire Code collection. The smaller calendar format is the useful distinction: compare the complication and case together, rather than confuse a new perpetual-calendar option with the earlier time-only models.
- Case and dial: pink gold with a green embossed dial, not a claim that every dial was individually hand-guillochéd. The September 2025 manufacturer press release reproduced by Europa Star credits Yann Von Kaenel with hand-engraving the stamping tools. That is a real craft contribution, but the tool and the finished dial are not the same object.
- Movement: Calibre 7138, with calendar adjustments controlled through the crown. The current maker’s product page identifies the 38 mm green/pink-gold model as 26441OR.OO.D420CR.01. Match the full reference in an actual offer; this page does not establish that the photographed watch or every calendar is the limited commemorative edition.
- Details: the green calendar display and matching strap keep the colour concentrated. I like that consistency more than adding another contrasting colour. The week-number ring is a useful visual distinction from the Royal Oak’s 7136 layout, not proof that either is easier for every wearer to read.
My reason to shortlist the Code calendar is the combination of a round presentation, green dial and crown-operated complication. I would still ask to see the indications at normal viewing distance. A close-up photograph makes tiny text easy to admire; it does not reproduce the way a watch reads on your wrist.
Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar 38mm
The September 2025 release brought a 38 mm perpetual-calendar option to the Royal Oak range. The steel model’s maker page names Calibre 7136 and a light-blue dial; the pink-gold reference confirms the same calibre in the 38 mm format. These are not the 41 mm Royal Oaks that introduced 7138 earlier in 2025.
- Stainless Steel Model
- Light blue Grande Tapisserie dial with snailed counters.
- Stainless steel case and bracelet showcase the Royal Oak’s iconic brushed and polished finish.
- 18k Pink Gold Model
- Warm beige dial and counters set against a full pink gold case and bracelet.
- Satin-brushed surfaces and polished chamfers give the case and bracelet contrasting finishes. I prefer the warm beige-and-gold combination in the photographs to treating gold as an upgrade simply because it costs more.
7136 versus 7138: the key distinction here is the week calendar: 7136 omits it, while the Code’s 7138 includes it. Both use crown-operated correction rather than side-corrector tools. I would ask the boutique to demonstrate the exact reference’s setting procedure and follow its manual, rather than treat “simpler” as an invitation to guess the crown positions.
Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Collection
The three stone-dial flying tourbillons offer a different attraction from the calendars: a broad field of colour with the mechanism visible at six o’clock. AP’s product records identify these pairings:
- Red Ruby Root Dial with an 18k white gold case.
- Blue Sodalite Dial paired with an 18k pink gold case.
- Green Malachite Dial with an 18k yellow gold case.
The maker’s published specifications identify the selfwinding Calibre 2968 at 3.4 mm thick with a 50-hour power reserve. That is movement thickness, not total watch thickness; the sodalite reference’s published case thickness is 9.6 mm. I would not repeat an “ultra-thin” claim without saying which measurement it describes. Check the exact reference’s strap, clasp and included accessories rather than assume an extra rubber strap comes with every watch.
Celebrating tradition and innovation
The Royal Oak dates to 1972; Code 11.59 was revealed in 2019. I would use that history to understand the different designs, not to declare one more legitimate than the other. If the integrated bracelet is the point for you, compare the Royal Oaks. If the dial and strap combination is the attraction, the Code deserves its own look instead of being treated as the consolation prize.
Key specifications at a glance
| Model | Case Size | Material | Dial treatment / material | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar | 38mm | 18k Pink Gold | Green embossed pattern | Calibre 7138 |
| Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar (Steel) | 38mm | Stainless Steel | Light Blue Tapisserie | Calibre 7136 |
| Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar (Pink Gold) | 38mm | 18k Pink Gold | Beige Tapisserie | Calibre 7136 |
| Code 11.59 Flying Tourbillon (Ruby Root) | 38mm | 18k White Gold | Ruby Root Stone | Calibre 2968 |
| Code 11.59 Flying Tourbillon (Sodalite) | 38mm | 18k Pink Gold | Sodalite Stone | Calibre 2968 |
| Code 11.59 Flying Tourbillon (Malachite) | 38mm | 18k Yellow Gold | Malachite Stone | Calibre 2968 |
Why this collection matters
The practical improvement worth discussing is the way the calendar is set, not a blanket promise that a smaller watch fits everyone. I would compare the two case shapes on the wrist, check the legibility of the date and ask how the bracelet or strap is adjusted. Diameter alone cannot settle comfort, and this update has not worn or operated these watches.
Anniversary edition or related reference?
The manufacturer’s September 2025 release distinguishes the calendar novelties from commemorative editions with a vintage-style signature on the moon-phase display and anniversary caseback engravings, including “1 of 150 pieces”. I would ask for the full reference and actual caseback photographs before paying for that distinction. An article headed “150th anniversary” does not make every related model a 150-piece edition, and a correct-looking engraving alone does not authenticate a watch.
The bigger picture
My verdict: sodalite for the dial, a perpetual calendar for the display you actually want. I love the contrast of deep blue, pale stone veining and warm case metal in the sodalite photographs. The calendar’s crowded face offers a different kind of fascination. I would choose between those pleasures first; an anniversary inscription would come later, and only after establishing the precise edition and purchase terms.
Audemars Piguet in the UAE
For a UAE enquiry, start with AP’s boutique directory and send the full reference. Ask whether the team can show that exact watch or a comparison example; neither the directory nor this article confirms stock, allocation, priority access or a current AED price. I would not substitute an overseas asking price for a UAE boutique quote.
The three stone-dial flying tourbillons above are 38 mm, not 41 mm: ruby root/white gold 26665BC.OO.D632CR.01, sodalite/pink gold 26665OR.OO.D349CR.01 and malachite/yellow gold 26665BA.OO.D412CR.01. I would request photographs of the actual dial offered, not just a catalogue image: the pattern you like in a natural-stone example is part of the buying decision.
The comparison I would take to a viewing
Put four things beside each reference: the function you want, the dial you can read, the fit you have actually checked and the complete purchase terms. At a viewing, I would ask to see the calendar at ordinary reading distance, the case from the side and the clasp closed; for a stone dial, I would look at the actual pattern under more than one light. Those are proposed checks, not tests performed for this article.
For a resale offer, ask about the service record, condition, warranty position, included accessories and the seller’s remedy if the description is wrong. Do not equate an advertised asking price with a completed sale or assume a limited edition must appreciate. No resale dataset or future return was established here.
Research and image scope
Research refreshed: 20 October 2026 UAE time. Maker product and collection records, official indexed specifications and the September 2025 manufacturer press release reproduced by Europa Star were checked. Some product pages exposed only partial specifications; no complete workshop, timing, water-resistance, wear or service-cost test was performed. Four body images and the hero were visually reviewed, with four alts corrected. Original author, publication date, media, indexing and canonical are preserved; no current UAE allocation or price is claimed.
Questions answered
When was the 150th anniversary?
2025, marking 150 years from the manufacture’s 1875 founding.
Are the three stone-dial Code flying tourbillons 41 mm?
No. The ruby-root, sodalite and malachite references discussed here are 38 mm.
Does this guide confirm UAE allocation or price?
No. Request the precise reference’s current price, stock or order terms directly from the brand.
Does the anniversary guarantee appreciation?
No. A commemorative edition or natural stone dial does not establish a future resale return.
