Audemars Piguet continues its dialogue between past and present with the introduction of the Neo Frame Jumping Hour, a striking rectangular timepiece that pays tribute to early 20th-century design while debuting the Manufacture’s first selfwinding jumping hour movement, Calibre 7122. Blending vintage aesthetics with modern engineering, the new model reflects the creative audacity and technical excellence that have defined the Le Brassus watchmaker for more than 150 years.

Inspired by a rare 1929 jumping hour wristwatch, known as pre-model 1271, the Neo Frame Jumping Hour draws from the Streamline Moderne movement — a late branch of Art Deco characterised by elongated lines, curved forms and a sense of aerodynamic motion. Emerging during the interwar period, Streamline Moderne sought to marry craftsmanship with modernity, borrowing visual cues from trains, ships and ocean liners. These influences are reinterpreted here through a contemporary lens, resulting in a design that feels both nostalgic and resolutely modern.

Retrospective Vibes

The rectangular case, measuring 32.6 mm by 34 mm, is crafted in 18-carat pink gold and defined by eight vertical gadroons on each side that taper elegantly into pointed lugs. This motif continues across the caseback, crown and oscillating weight, demanding exceptional precision to ensure visual harmony throughout. A black PVD-treated sapphire crystal replaces the traditional metal dial, creating a refined two-tone aesthetic. Two gold-framed apertures reveal the jumping hours and trailing minutes, displayed in white numerals against a black background, while the Audemars Piguet signature sits discreetly at six o’clock.

Despite its apparent simplicity, the sapphire dial required the development of bespoke construction techniques to ensure water resistance, achieved by bonding the sapphire to the dial plate and securing it within the case. The watch is completed with a black calfskin strap featuring a newly developed textured motif, seamlessly integrated with the case to reinforce its vintage inspiration.

Ticking Beneath

Powering the timepiece is Calibre 7122, Audemars Piguet’s first selfwinding jumping hour movement. Developed entirely in-house and based on the Calibre 7121, it combines an instantaneous jumping hour with trailing minutes, a 52-hour power reserve and a patented shock-absorbing system to enhance durability for daily wear. Visible through the sapphire caseback, the movement is finished with refined Haute Horlogerie details, including Côtes de Genève, satin brushing and a fluted oscillating weight.

With the Neo Frame Jumping Hour, Audemars Piguet not only revives a historic complication but reaffirms its commitment to innovation rooted in tradition — a contemporary tribute to the elegance, ingenuity and experimentation of 1930s watchmaking.