Luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet has unveiled the Neo Frame Jumping Hour, a rectangular timepiece that revisits the Streamline Moderne design language of the late 1920s and early 1930s through a contemporary technical lens.
The watch takes direct inspiration from the rare pre-model 1271, a rectangular jumping-hour wristwatch produced in extremely limited numbers between 1929 and 1930. That historical reference was distinguished by its elongated proportions, vertical gadroons, and dual-aperture time display. Those defining elements return in the Neo Frame, carefully reinterpreted to meet modern expectations of comfort, durability, and precision.
The case measures 34 mm by 34 mm and is crafted from 18-carat pink gold, with an overall thickness of just 8.8 mm. These slim proportions emphasize the elegance of the rectangular form while ensuring the watch remains wearable on a daily basis. Eight vertical gadroons run along each side of the case and extend seamlessly into pointed lugs, visually stretching the silhouette and reinforcing its streamlined character.
This fluted motif is CNC-machined and continues across the caseback, crown, and oscillating weight. Achieving this continuity requires exact alignment between components, underscoring the technical complexity behind what appears to be a purely decorative detail.
The dial is formed from a black PVD-treated sapphire crystal, reinforcing the minimalist aesthetic while introducing a demanding construction challenge. Two gold-framed apertures display the jumping hour and trailing minutes, with crisp white numerals set against a deep black background for strong contrast. The Audemars Piguet signature appears at six o’clock in matching pink gold tones. Unlike its historical predecessor, which relied on a metal dial beneath a framed crystal, the Neo Frame exposes the sapphire directly at twelve and six o’clock.
Water resistance is rated to 20 metres. To achieve this, the sapphire crystal is bonded to the dial plate and then screwed into the case, a solution developed specifically for this model.
Driving the display is the new self-winding Calibre 7122, marking the brand’s first automatic jumping-hour movement. Developed entirely in-house and derived from Calibre 7121, it combines an instantaneous jumping hour with a trailing minute indication. The movement operates at 4 Hz and delivers a power reserve of 52 hours.
A patented shock-absorbing system prevents unintended hour jumps in the event of impact. To further improve efficiency, the hour disc is made from titanium and the minute disc from aluminium, reducing inertia and enhancing long-term reliability.
The movement is visible through a sapphire caseback and finished to Haute Horlogerie standards, featuring Côtes de Genève, satin brushing, and a dedicated pink-gold oscillating weight decorated with matching fluting.
The watch is paired with a black calfskin leather strap featuring a textured motif developed in-house. It integrates closely with the case, meeting the sapphire crystal between the lugs, and is secured with an 18-carat pink-gold Audemars Piguet clasp. And don’t forget to check the best black watches.
The Audemars Piguet Neo Frame Jumping Hour, reference 15245OR.OO.A206VE.01, is priced at €65,400.
