Niobium titanium — the replica code 11.59 26600NB uses one of the rarest case materials in modern watchmaking for the Code 11.59 tourbillon. Niobium titanium is an alloy originally developed for superconductor applications, and AP is one of the few manufacturers to machine it into watch cases. The dark blue-grey surface, Cal. 2948 flying tourbillon, and the double-curved crystal create the most technically exotic Code 11.59 in the catalog.
Niobium Titanium in Watchmaking
The alloy starts as a superconductor-grade material and requires specialized machining that most watch manufacturers cannot perform. The finished surface has a natural blue-grey hue that is not applied or coated — it is inherent to the alloy composition. Under different lighting, the case shifts between deep blue and neutral grey, creating a chameleon effect that no other case material produces.
The material is lighter than standard titanium, highly corrosion-resistant, and hypoallergenic. On a 41mm case housing a tourbillon, the weight savings are meaningful for daily wearability. The flying tourbillon at six o’clock rotates beneath the double-curved crystal, combining the optical effects of the curved glass with the mechanical spectacle of the exposed regulating mechanism.
Peak Code 11.59
The rose gold 26600OR tourbillon is the traditional material choice. The ceramic 26600CR is the modern one. This replica code 11.59 26600NB in niobium titanium is the experimental one — a material most collectors have never encountered on any watch.
Cal. 2948 operates identically across all case materials: flying tourbillon, peripheral rotor, 65-hour reserve. The Kevlar strap matches the technical intent of the case. Browse the complete Code 11.59 range or check our warranty page.
| Reference | 26600NB.OO.D346KB.01 |
| Case | 41mm · Niobium titanium |
| Bezel | Octagonal case middle · Round bezel |
| Dial | Openworked · Flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock |
| Crystal | Double-curved sapphire · AR coating |
| Caliber | 2948 · Flying tourbillon · 65h reserve |
| Strap | Kevlar · AP pin buckle |
| Buckle | Titanium · AP folding clasp |
| Water | 30m / 3 ATM |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, tourbillon (running seconds) |
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