Tennis player Serena Williams spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Serena Williams was recently spotted wearing one of the most technically ambitious pieces in Audemars Piguet's modern catalogue — the Code 11.59 Openworked Tourbillon Electric Blue, a limited edition of just 50 examples globally. The sighting underlines not only Williams's well-documented affinity for high complications but also the growing visibility of the Code 11.59 line among serious collectors after a rocky critical reception at its 2019 launch.

The Code 11.59 Openworked Tourbillon Electric Blue is built around AP's Calibre 2954, a manually wound flying tourbillon movement beating at 21,600 vph with a 72-hour power reserve. What distinguishes it from the broader Code 11.59 tourbillon family is the openworked execution: both the bridges and main plate have been skeletonised and finished in a deep electric blue, creating a visual coherence with the ceramic case middle that feels deliberate rather than decorative. The 41mm case combines 18-carat white gold for the bezel and caseback with blue ceramic at the middle — a two-material architecture that AP introduced specifically to give the Code 11.59 its own identity separate from the Royal Oak family.

From a collector standpoint, a production run of 50 pieces places this squarely in ultra-limited territory for Audemars Piguet. The combination of a flying tourbillon, full openwork on both sides, bespoke ceramic integration, and the chromatic discipline of the Electric Blue execution makes this one of the more cohesive artistic statements the manufacture has produced under the Code 11.59 banner — a line that has steadily won over skeptics since its contentious debut.

Serena Williams has maintained a public association with Audemars Piguet for years, appearing at brand events and wearing pieces across the Royal Oak and Code 11.59 families. Her choice of this particular reference signals comfort with high-complication horology rather than mere brand loyalty — the Openworked Tourbillon is not an entry point; it is a statement of connoisseurship.

At an official retail price of $215,000 USD, the Code 11.59 Openworked Tourbillon Electric Blue sits at the upper register of AP's non-Royal Oak Concept offerings. With only 50 pieces allocated worldwide, secondary market availability is extremely limited, and examples that surface at auction or through grey-market dealers command premiums consistent with other ultra-limited AP tourbillons.