A Study in Sophistication: Audemars Piguet Presents the Neo Frame Jumping Hour

Audemars Piguet has expanded its exploration of historical time displays with the introduction of the Neo Frame Jumping Hour, a rectangular wristwatch that reinterprets a little-known 1929 model through modern materials, manufacturing techniques, and a newly developed movement. Drawing on the manufacture’s early role in the development of jumping hour wristwatches, the new reference combines a historically informed design language with present-day technical standards and ergonomics.

Inspired by the Streamline Moderne aesthetic of the interwar period, the Neo Frame Jumping Hour takes its cues from the ref. 1271, produced in very small numbers at the end of the 1920s. This design movement, also referred to as Pacquebot or Ocean Liner style, translated the aerodynamic forms of trains and ships into architecture and industrial design. Audemars Piguet adapts these principles to the wrist, emphasizing elongated proportions, curved lines, and a restrained visual vocabulary that prioritizes clarity and structure. The rectangular case measures 32.6mm by 34mm and is crafted from  pink gold, with a total thickness of 8.8mm. Eight vertical gadroons run along each side of the case, extending into tapered, pointed lugs that accentuate the streamlined silhouette. The same fluted motif is echoed on the pink gold crown and the sapphire caseback, which is framed in pink gold and secured with precise alignment to the lugs. 

A black PVD-treated sapphire crystal replaces the traditional metal dial used on the historical model. Two gold-toned, micro-blasted apertures display the jumping hours and trailing minutes, with white numerals printed on black discs. Because the design leaves the sapphire exposed at 12 and 6 o’clock, Audemars Piguet developed a bespoke construction in which the sapphire crystal is bonded to the dial plate and screwed into the case, ensuring water resistance without the need for a conventional bezel. The Audemars Piguet signature appears at 6 o’clock in pink gold tones.

The Neo Frame Jumping Hour is powered by Caliber 7122, Audemars Piguet’s first self-winding movement with a jumping hour display. Developed entirely in-house and based on Caliber 7121, the movement measures 29.6mm in diameter and a mere 4mm in thickness. It comprises 293 components, operates at a frequency of 4 Hz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour, and delivers a minimum power reserve of 52 hours. It incorporates a patented system that mechanically prevents unintended hour jumps in the event of impact. Visible through the sapphire case back, the Caliber 7122 is finished in accordance with Haute Horlogerie standards, featuring Côtes de Genève, satin-brushed surfaces, and an 18-carat pink gold oscillating weight decorated with fluting that mirrors the case design.

The watch is delivered on a black calfskin leather strap with a textured motif developed by Audemars Piguet’s design team. It integrates closely with the case and is secured by  pink gold AP folding clasp. Pricing is marked at $71,200.

To learn more, visit Audemars Piguet, here.