2023 Rolex Perpetual 1908 Vs. Audemars Piguet Selfwinding

The Code 11.59 looks like almost any traditional replica watch with a round case and four lugs. It’s only from the side that it becomes interesting. I understand the Fed’s desire to build on the success of its superstar, but simply repeating its shape doesn’t do it for me.
Moreover, the dial’s craftsmanship can’t hold a candle to the excellent finishing on the case. Balazs calls the dial of the Code 11.59 a “fashion dial” and I agree with him. The dial is too polished and lacks the strong character that the case exudes. It’s almost as if the watchmaker mistakenly put a fashion dial into a sports watch case. This is my next annoyance with the AP Code 11.59.
The Rolex 1908, on the other hand, is perfectly in line with its peers. It helps that the replica Rolex designers were able to reaffirm the earlier Cellini design. You can see that all the clutter is gone and only the necessary design elements are present. It’s modestly sized at 39 millimeters in diameter and just 9.5 millimeters thick. This is exactly what you would expect from a formal watch. It stands out from all the sports watches under the Rolex umbrella. It is also surprisingly water-resistant to 5 ATM, so even in this respect, it beats the AP.
In addition, and perhaps more importantly, dial designs are hard to love. As we all know, the face of a watch is often the first thing you fall in love with. But I just don’t like its numerical font. I know a lot has been said about the dial of the Code 11.59 model, but the main point of criticism seems to be that it mimics the design of several other brands.
Darn, you may think we’re all in this together, but wait a minute. Despite the disappointing look, one watch stood out to me as a shining star in a dark, lonely sky. This rose gold Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar features a stunning dark blue aventurine dial and does away with the numerals.
For this reason, fake Audemars Piguet collaborated with Yann von Kaenel, a Swiss master of guillochage, to create a new dial. These new dials with their radial ripple pattern look stunning. The resulting three dial colors are impressive. The green and blue dials are coated with PVD, while the beige dial gains its color through an electroplating process.
The new dials are combined with three-dimensional hour markers in white gold, which complement the handset’s slim design. The effect is breathtaking. Suddenly the dials make sense and look good – really good.