AP Code 11.59 38mm Obsidian and Onyx Dials, Plus Farer Stratton II

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Stone dials just will not slow down, and this week proved it at two very different price points. Audemars Piguet put volcanic glass and onyx inside its smallest Code 11.59, while British brand Farer brought back its best selling moonphase on a slab of iron veined quartz for about the price of a nice weekend away. Then IFL Watches threw in three hand painted art dials for under $400. Every number below was checked against the brand or a named outlet on November 4, 2026.

Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 38mm: gold obsidian and black onyx

This is the headline. Audemars Piguet added two new references to the Code 11.59 Selfwinding 38mm, and both swap the usual stamped ripple dial for natural stone (Monochrome, SJX).

Ref. 77410BA.OO.A604CR.01, 18k yellow gold with gold obsidian. Obsidian is volcanic glass, and this variety carries tiny mineral inclusions that throw off golden flecks. AP adds a sunburst finish over the stone, and SJX notes the gold speckled theme carries onto the dial flange and the black alligator strap. US$57,500 before tax per SJX, or CHF 45,500 including tax per Monochrome.
Ref. 77410OR.OO.A001CR.01, 18k pink gold with black onyx. A mirror polished onyx dial with hour markers made from 13 baguette cut diamonds, doubled at 12 o’clock, totaling about 0.37 carats per Monochrome. US$68,500 before tax per SJX, or CHF 54,100 including tax per Monochrome.

The case is the same 38mm Code 11.59 you already know: 9.6mm thick, double curved sapphire up front, sapphire caseback, 30 meters of water resistance. The interesting change is underneath. Both run the automatic calibre 5909, which SJX describes as the dateless version of the calibre 5900 made by Vaucher to AP’s specifications, beating at 4Hz with a 60 hour power reserve. No date window means nothing interrupts the stone, and honestly that is the right call on a dial like this. Both are regular production, not limited, and SJX lists them at AP Houses and boutiques.

Here’s my take. The Code 11.59 spent years being the watch people loved to dunk on, and the 38mm case is what finally won a lot of them over. Pairing that size with stone is smart, because the open dial layout gives the material room to breathe. SJX rightly points out the onyx and baguette formula mirrors the malachite and sodalite 41mm models AP released earlier this year, and asks whether the stone trend is starting to run its course. Fair question. But if you’ve wanted a Code 11.59 that reads as jewelry and not as a statement piece, the onyx is the one I’d put on my wrist.

Before you walk into a boutique, see what the Code 11.59 really trades for. Look at sold Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 listings on eBay so you know the actual numbers, not just asking prices.

Shopping AP? See current AP Code 11.59 listings on eBay or current AP Royal Oak listings.

Farer Stratton II Moonphase: the moon got a serious upgrade

Now let’s come back down to earth, sort of. Farer, the British brand known for loud colors and bronze capped crowns, has relaunched its Stratton Moonphase as the Stratton II. Gear Patrol reports the first Stratton sold out and ranks among Farer’s best sellers ever (Gear Patrol), and Fratello’s write up this morning shows why the sequel is getting attention (Fratello).

The star is the moon itself. Farer worked with Swiss specialist AJS Production, which uses precision lasers to micro etch layers of paint and Super LumiNova into a photorealistic gold moon less than 6mm across, and yes, it still glows (Farer). It sits on a black Eisenkiesel dial. Eisenkiesel is a quartz whose German name means “iron pebble,” and its golden brown iron veins make every dial a one off. Fun fact from Gear Patrol: Rolex was the first brand to put Eisenkiesel on a watch dial, on a Day Date in 2021. Getting that same stone for about two grand is a flex.

Specs straight from Farer’s product page: a 316L steel case (finished in gold tone PVD, per Fratello and Gear Patrol), 38.5mm wide, 11.5mm thick, 43.8mm lug to lug, 20mm lugs, and 50 meters of water resistance. Inside is the hand wound Sellita SW288-1 M a in Elaboré grade with about 45 hours of reserve, blued screws and a Farer patterned bridge on show through the sapphire caseback. The markers are Lumicast, a blend of ceramic and Super LumiNova. A quick heads up: Fratello and Worn & Wound list the case at 39mm and 11.8mm thick, but I went with Farer’s own numbers.

Price is $2,175, £1,895 or €2,225, which Fratello notes is just $100 more than the original. Farer says the first batch is 100 units, shipping December 21, with more batches planned for 2027.

My verdict: this is one of the best ways to get a real stone dial and a moonphase without paying luxury money. If the original sold out and you missed it, check sold Farer Stratton Moonphase listings on eBay to see what first generation pieces fetch.

Into Farer? See current Farer Moonphase listings on eBay or current All Farer listings.

IFL Watches x Laphont Bloc: three hand painted dials for $399

Last one, and it’s pure fun. Art dial brand IFL Watches teamed up with Laphont on three Bloc limited editions, each with a hand painted dial built around things that float away when you’re a kid (Fratello).

Skybound: a navy dial with a white rabbit holding five bright kites.
Cloudling: a teddy bear drifting under a bunch of balloons on a glossy Tiffany blue dial.
Bouquella: a little girl lifted into a black night sky by colorful bouquets.

All three use the silver Bloc Large, a tank style steel case 27.5mm wide, 35mm long and just 7.6mm thick under sapphire, powered by a Miyota 2025 quartz movement Fratello lists at a three year battery life and plus or minus 20 seconds a month. Each comes on a croc embossed leather strap. Fratello reports 999 pieces of each design at US$399, €399 or £349, on sale since November 2 through IFL’s own site, and since every dial is painted by hand, no two are exactly alike.

That Cloudling is the one that got me. A Tiffany blue dial for $399 with a story on it? That’s a gift that wins the holidays.

Love art dials? See current IFL Watches listings on eBay or current Laphont listings.

What to read next

Earlier this week AP also dropped three Supersonnerie minute repeaters, and I broke them down in this roundup with the Casio CMK-100 and the Omega X-33 news. If you’re curious what owning a luxury watch costs after the purchase, read Rolex’s first official service price list. And for another strong buy under $1,000, my Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 buyer’s guide is worth a read.

Quick takeaways

AP Code 11.59 Selfwinding 38mm, refs. 77410BA (yellow gold, gold obsidian) and 77410OR (pink gold, onyx with baguettes): 9.6mm thick, calibre 5909, no date, US$57,500 and US$68,500 before tax.
Farer Stratton II Moonphase: 38.5mm gold tone PVD steel, Eisenkiesel dial, laser etched AJS moon, Sellita SW288-1, $2,175, first 100 ship December 21.
IFL Watches x Laphont Bloc: three hand painted designs, 999 each, $399, on sale now at IFL.

Sources: Monochrome on the Code 11.59 stone dials · SJX on the Code 11.59 stone dials · Farer Stratton II product page · Fratello on the Stratton II · Gear Patrol on the Stratton II · Fratello on IFL x Laphont. Accessed November 4, 2026.