Audemars Piguet’s 150th Celebration: Perpetual Calendars & Tourbillons at the Unbeatable 38 mm Sweet Spot

Audemars Piguet has caused quite a stir this week when unofficial reports claimed that the brand's CEO Ilaria Resta would be stepping down from her role after two years. However, the Maison put rumours to rest when they announced an official statement calling  such claims 'unfounded'. Reaffirming its stance, Audemars Piguet launched a variety of new releases that delighted both fans as well as critics.   

Every now and then, a watch release arrives that feels like it just gets it. Not trying too hard, yet effortlessly sophisticated. That’s exactly how Audemars Piguet’s latest releases feel. As part of their 150th-anniversary celebration, they’ve delivered two standout updates: perpetual calendars shrunk to 38 mm and stone-dial tourbillons, all in cases that actually make sense—finally.

38mm Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar

The Calibre 7136: Perpetual Calendars That Feel Just Right

The first highlight? Audemars Piguet has taken their most poetic complication—the perpetual calendar—and reimagined it in a 38 mm format, offered in both Royal Oak and Code 11.59 styles. It’s powered by the brand-new Calibre 7136, alongside the earlier 7138, both impressively slim at 4.1 mm in height and robustly engineered under five patents. Why does that matter? Because it’s not just about downsizing—it’s about making a daily-wear complication that's elegant, comfortable and somehow more human. Fit, finish, and wearability—this is what happens when you miniaturize with intention.

Audemars Piguet’s perpetual calendar enters a new era at 38 mm, spanning across Code 11.59 and Royal Oak

Dial Clarity & Smarter Functionality

The dials are a game-changer. Layouts are streamlined, clean, and intuitive: day at 9, date at 12, month with leap-year at 3, and a moon-phase centered at 6—balanced and readable. A thoughtful detail? The date wheel is now 31-tooth, so date numerals are evenly spaced. No more squashed sub-dials—little touches like this make the watch feel calm, not cluttered. Even more, adjustments—no more fiddling with tiny pushers. Everything happens via the crown, but in four distinct positions, and with a built-in safety zone to prevent damage if you're adjusting during the calendar change-over hours. Practical, smart, and stress-free—exactly how a modern perpetual should be.

Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon

Stone-Dial Tourbillons: Art Meets Precision in 38 mm

If the perpetual calendars are the sensible investment, the stone-dial tourbillons are the soul-stirring dream. The Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon returns in a sleek 38 mm case (just 9.6 mm thick), draped in natural-stone dials—ruby root, sodalite, or malachite—each matched to a corresponding precious-metal case. These stones aren’t just decoration—they’re art. Sourced from Tanzania, Brazil, and Zambia, thinned to sit just right, and each one distinct; no two dials are alike. And the tourbillon itself? A featherweight, peripheral-driven Calibre 2968 (3.4 mm tall) that lets the dial shine through without distraction. 

Why 38 mm Is Audemars Piguet’s Sweet Spot

• They’ve miniaturized with purpose—not for show, but for daily wearability and emotional connection
• Every design choice is thoughtful—from dial layout to adjustment mechanism, it’s about ease and intention.
• Stone-dial tourbillons? Bold but balanced—showcases materials and craftsmanship without overpowering the wrist
• Anniversary, not anniversary overload—AP didn’t shout spectacle, they whispered excellence

In a world that often equates size with value, Audemars Piguet quietly flips the script. At 38 mm—a size that’s elegant, versatile, and emotionally comfortable—they’ve created perpetual calendars and tourbillons that are as wearable as they are wondrous. Sophisticated but not showy, bold without being brash—just right. The new Audemars Piguet 38 mm Perpetual Calendar and stone-dial Tourbillon creations will be released this September, with each model strictly limited to 150 pieces worldwide.

Pricing (approximate):

Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar – CHF 82,500 ( INR 78.5 lakh)

Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in steel – CHF 86,500 ( INR 82 lakh)

Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in 18k pink gold – CHF 122,500 ( INR 1.16 crore)

Code 11.59 Flying Tourbillon with stone dial – CHF 140,000 ( INR 1.33 crore)