Audemars Piguet has introduced the Neo Frame Jumping Hour, a rectangular timepiece rooted in the Streamline Moderne aesthetic of the late 1920s and early 1930s
The new model draws direct inspiration from pre-model 1271, a rectangular jumping hour watch produced in very limited numbers in 1929 and 1930.
That original model stood out for its vertical gadroons, elongated proportions, and dual-aperture display, characteristics that are faithfully echoed here while being adapted to modern expectations of wearability and robustness.
The case measures 34 mm in length and width and is crafted from 18-carat pink gold, with a total thickness of just 8.8 mm.
Its slim proportions have been designed to enhance the elegance of the rectangular form while ensuring comfortable everyday wear.
Eight vertical gadroons flank each side of the case, extending seamlessly into pointed lugs that visually accentuate the watch’s streamlined profile.
This CNC-machined fluted motif continues across the caseback, crown, and oscillating weight, requiring exact alignment between components to preserve visual coherence.
A black PVD-treated sapphire crystal serves as the dial, reinforcing the minimalist approach while introducing a technically demanding construction.
Two gold-framed apertures display the jumping hour and trailing minutes, with white numerals printed against a black background for clear legibility.
The Audemars Piguet signature appears at 6 o’clock in pink gold tones. Unlike historical models that relied on metal dials protected by framed crystals, the Neo Frame exposes the sapphire at 12 and 6 o’clock.
To guarantee water resistance to 20 metres / 66 feet, the sapphire is bonded to the dial plate and then screwed into the case, a solution developed specifically for this watch.
Powering the display is the new selfwinding Calibre 7122, marking Audemars Piguet’s first automatic jumping hour movement. Developed entirely in-house and derived from Calibre 7121, the movement combines an instantaneous jumping hour with a trailing minute display.
Operating at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), it offers a power reserve of 52 hours.
A patented shock-absorbing system prevents accidental hour jumps in the event of impact, while the hour disc is crafted from titanium and the minute disc from aluminium to reduce inertia.
The movement is visible through a sapphire caseback and finished in accordance with Haute Horlogerie standards, featuring Côtes de Genève, satin brushing, and a dedicated pink gold oscillating weight decorated with matching fluting.
Completing the watch is a black calfskin leather strap with a textured motif developed by Audemars Piguet’s design team. The strap integrates closely with the case, meeting the sapphire crystal between the lugs, and is secured by an 18-carat pink gold AP clasp.
The Audemars Piguet Neo Frame Jumping Hour, reference 15245OR.OO.A206VE.01, is priced at €65,400. audemarspiguet.com
