1159 White Gold/Ceramic (pictures and thoughts)

[CobraKai2020]

Hi All,

A few months ago, I purchased a 26393NBOOA002KB01 - also known as the White Gold/Black Ceramic CODE 1159 with the woven rubber coated leather strap.

I know there are a ton of negative thoughts on the CODE, but prior to this purchase, I hadn't really been involved in the watch collecting community and only purchased what I like based on my own tastes - uninfluenced by the market or hype.... Until recently. I've been very interested in what has been going on with Patek and AP and the watch world in general and started unveiling what the market has been saying about specific brands and their flaship pieces.

Personally, I think the White Gold/Black Ceramic CODE is the perfect timepiece. I have a decent collection but my CODE has been getting the most wrist-time.

Lately, I have been coming the internet for content and it's difficult to come by on this piece so I figured I would share a few photos of the piece and my personal thoughts.

I would enjoy hearing other people's thoughts on this specific piece... good/bad or neutral. I've been a bit curious...

Cheers and Happy Holidays.

Fox

[ShinyVenusaur]

Personally I do not like it, but there are a lot of people who love it.

[HMHM]

I like it a lot, particularly the introduction of the ceramic into the line up.but I would prefer a black lacquered dial rather than a brushed finish. It’s a good watch and one I will definitely consider down the road. Though I still prefer the 5172.

[maciej]

This is hands down my favorite Code after the perpetual calendar, great piece!

[www777]

Beautiful piece!

[bmaier]

For me, the font for the numerals kills the whole collection. I like this and the perpetual because you dont get as many of those giant, super modern hour markers on the dial.

[macrowatch]

Very nice!

I’ve started to try different Straps and found it to make the code a bit more fun.

[alexlt730512]

I like it a lot and this is something that you'd need to check out in person to love even more. you'll appreciate the overall design and finished on it.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by bmaier

For me, the font for the numerals kills the whole collection. I like this and the perpetual because you dont get as many of those giant, super modern hour markers on the dial.

The typeface for the CODE numerals is derived from that of 1940s/50s AP minute repeaters like the one below.

[mykii]

The case design is genius IRL. I don't think the 11.59s will be sleepers for too much longer once people see them in the flesh and do some research.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by mykii

The case design is genius IRL. I don't think the 11.59s will be sleepers for too much longer once people see them in the flesh and do some research.

Seeing them in the flesh has become the problem lately - at least the local boutique now has pictures of watches in the previously empty cases

[chiscott_29]

This is a stunning watch…The only Code I might like **slightly** better would be the white gold and blue fume dial.

If I wasn’t already invested in the Code line, I’d absolutely buy this. I hope you enjoy it, and ignore all the noise out there about the code. Keyboard warriors…


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[Noak]

Originally Posted by chiscott_29

This is a stunning watch…The only Code I might like **slightly** better would be the white gold and blue fume dial.

If I wasn’t already invested in the Code line, I’d absolutely buy this. I hope you enjoy it, and ignore all the noise out there about the code. Keyboard warriors…


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Agree, this chrono is stunning but like you, I’d prefer the WG blue fume time-only dial more.




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[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Noak

Agree, this chrono is stunning but like you, I’d prefer the WG blue fume dial more.

Hm, I thought I had finally settled on the pink gold/ceramic chrono, but white gold with the grey strap is really nice.

[bmaier]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

The typeface for the CODE numerals is derived from that of 1940s/50s AP minute repeaters like the one below.

The size of numerals on the code lack the class of the original and just seem so modern and gigantic. Not a fan.

[fspfsp]

Beautiful piece!!

[smallcollector]

They are growing on me. . .but I just don't understand the pricing. Why are they so expensive?

[Zavier]

Originally Posted by smallcollector

They are growing on me. . .but I just don't understand the pricing. Why are they so expensive?

If you go to AP website and check out polishing price, you'll see that it costs alot more to polish the code 1159 than an entire royal oak with bracelet. As much as the royal oaks are famous for their amazing bevels and finishing, the code 1159's case itself is a wonder.

[Neom]

Love the perpetual codes - the others, not so much

[only1swami]

Originally Posted by CobraKai2020

Hi All,

A few months ago, I purchased a 26393NBOOA002KB01 - also known as the White Gold/Black Ceramic CODE 1159 with the woven rubber coated leather strap.

I know there are a ton of negative thoughts on the CODE, but prior to this purchase, I hadn't really been involved in the watch collecting community and only purchased what I like based on my own tastes - uninfluenced by the market or hype.... Until recently. I've been very interested in what has been going on with Patek and AP and the watch world in general and started unveiling what the market has been saying about specific brands and their flaship pieces.

Personally, I think the White Gold/Black Ceramic CODE is the perfect timepiece. I have a decent collection but my CODE has been getting the most wrist-time.

Lately, I have been coming the internet for content and it's difficult to come by on this piece so I figured I would share a few photos of the piece and my personal thoughts.

I would enjoy hearing other people's thoughts on this specific piece... good/bad or neutral. I've been a bit curious...

Cheers and Happy Holidays.

Fox

beautiful piece fam...wear it in good health

the case back on a Code is to die for...literally a piece of Art.

I'm hoping the next gen ROC will get a clear case back with in house...then I'm in ;-)

[only1swami]

Originally Posted by smallcollector

They are growing on me. . .but I just don't understand the pricing. Why are they so expensive?

Check these out -

(1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5yGbPDuCW0

there are ton of other vids that break it down fairly ...but the engineering required to make that case, is bonkers. The diff angles of finish, elements from all other wathces, etc. You really have to see it in person. The dial itself might look plain, but when the light hits, boyyyyyy

[Qimchi]

A beautiful piece. WG with ceramic is nice!

I went from code hater to fanboy.

There are reasons why some changes their mind upon seeing one in flesh.

Hope to add a PC Code into my collection one day.

[chiscott_29]

Originally Posted by smallcollector

They are growing on me. . .but I just don't understand the pricing. Why are they so expensive?

I encourage you to go check out the watch. They are precious metal for one. The movement is new and in-house and is extremely well finished. The case design is very novel and intricate.

I think if the Code had a positive social media presence the price wouldn’t even be a question. The issue here is a perception that the Code is “bad” and that it doesn’t command a premium (like 99% of the watches made). Thus we tend to question the price…

Make no mistake the price is aggressive but given today’s market and what you’re actually getting, I personally don’t feel it egregious.


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[Mbbgysam]

I really love the gold and ceramic Codes. If this version had been released when I bought mine, it would've been a serious contender! Glad you're enjoying it.

I took my Code chrono to a collector's event last month and it got a surprising amount of attention. Several folks asked to try it on, and the common feedback was that they were surprised how much they liked it in person. I think the tide is slowly turning on Code sentiment, especially if AP continues to release these beautiful new iterations.

As for pricing, it's in line with a comparable gold RO Chrono on a strap (both with the new 4401 movement). The Code is $1,400 USD more than the RO, but -- as others have mentioned -- is probably justified by the complicated case construction and finishing.

[Vipes]

Cool shot. My only issue with the chrono is with the case design, it wears kinda thick on the wrist.

[raclaims]

Really the biggest issue the codes have currently is not enough people have seen or handled one themselves. I find many of them extremely hard to read the time but this one is sweet.

In time people will love the codes.

[nsarkas]

I’m growing to like the newer versions, it looks like they’re going in the right direction.

I don’t agree with the price though, a (slightly) better price might have helped build interest, and they could’ve hiked it later on

[chiscott_29]

Originally Posted by nsarkas

I don’t agree with the price though, a (slightly) better price might have helped build interest, and they could’ve hiked it later on

Valid point for sure, but do keep in mind that they’ve followed this strategy already to some extent. I think the price has always been perceived as “high”, but I believe the Codes have had at least 3 price increases since mid-2020.

I think AP’s reasoning now is that they sell everything they make, so when they do price adjustments on RO/ROOs, they may as well apply it to the Code as well if only because they can.


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[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by nsarkas

I’m growing to like the newer versions, it looks like they’re going in the right direction.

I don’t agree with the price though, a (slightly) better price might have helped build interest, and they could’ve hiked it later on

Happy to be proven wrong, but AFAIK the CODE chrono is the cheapest gold-case chrono from any of AP's "peers" - PP, VC, ALS. The 3-hander is 20% more than the plainest of the plain PP Calatravas and 10% more than a Saxonia automatic (which would be my choice if I had any interest in a straightforward dress watch). Again not grossly out of line.

It also seems that while AP was trying to figure how to build interest and manage production, the market caught up to them over the last ~6 months, and they are now sitting pretty even with the CODE line.

[macrowatch]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

Happy to be proven wrong, but AFAIK the CODE chrono is the cheapest gold-case chrono from any of AP's "peers" - PP, VC, ALS. The 3-hander is 20% more than the plainest of the plain PP Calatravas and 10% more than a Saxonia automatic (which would be my choice if I had any interest in a straightforward dress watch). Again not grossly out of line.

It also seems that while AP was trying to figure how to build interest and manage production, the market caught up to them over the last ~6 months, and they are now sitting pretty even with the CODE line.

100% agree. Features aside and purely price point shopping, was it a gut punch to pay 50k USD compared to a gold Chrono on strap from Rolex that costs 30k? Yes. But at the same time it was still 20k easier on the budget versus Patek.

Bitcoin and Tesla millions smooths out all price disparities in the 5 figure range. Lol.