Swiss haute horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is pleased to unveil its new Neo Frame Jumping Hour watch. Inspired by the Streamline design movement, this rectangular timepiece with vertical gadroons debuts the watchmaker’s first self-winding jumping hour movement, Calibre 7122. Blending horological mastery with vintage aesthetics, this reference presents an entirely novel construction, distinguishable by its pink gold and sapphire case and a strap adorned with a newly developed motif – embodying the spirit of innovation and creativity that has defined Audemars Piguet since its founding.
Audemars Piguet remains deeply committed to honouring its watchmaking heritage and long-standing design tradition by freely reinterpreting timepieces that have marked their evolution, and continue to tell the story of horology today.
Blending modern craftsmanship with vintage aesthetics, the Neo Frame Jumping Hour is inspired by a 1929 timepiece (pre-model 1271). This new line revives the design codes of the 1930s while harnessing the most advanced technologies in the creation of both case components and movement. Hand-finished in accordance with ancestral savoir-faire, this timepiece embodies the alliance of tradition, audacity and innovation that has been at the heart of the brand for over 150 years.
Streamline Moderne: Curves and lines
Combining elongated lines and curves, the pre-model 1271 drew direct inspiration from the Streamline Moderne movement, also known as ‘Pacquebot’ or Ocean Liner style – a late branch of Art Deco. Emerging in the United States during the interwar period, this design and architectural movement sought a return to minimalism, taking cues from the aerodynamic forms of trains and ships, symbols of speed and modernity. The result was sleek lines, curved shapes, rounded angles and the use of modern materials, sometimes paired with nautical elements.
The Streamline Moderne style inherited Art Deco’s ambition to reconcile modernity with craftsmanship, while integrating Bauhaus influences: an emphasis on materials, a technological touch and refined minimalism. These elements find a contemporary echo in the new Neo Frame Jumping Hour model.
Elegant two-tone design
With a case measuring 32.6 mm by 34 mm, this new model adopts the aesthetic codes of pre-model 1271 to offer a contemporary homage to Streamline design. Its rectangular case in 18 carat pink gold is flanked by eight gadroons
on each side, extending into elegant lines that taper into pointed lugs, evoking aerodynamic motion. This distinctive CNC-machined motif is echoed on the caseback, crown, and oscillating weight – all in 18-carat pink gold.
The timepiece features a contemporary two-tone design with a black PVD-treated sapphire crystal. Two gold-framed apertures display hour and minute numerals printed in white on a black background. The Audemars Piguet signature appears at 6 o’clock in pink gold tones.
Despite its apparent simplicity, the sapphire dial demanded considerable work and bespoke assembly processes. While the original pre-model 1271 featured metal dials (in various gold tones or platinum), this reinterpretation meets modern standards by replacing the metal dial with a sapphire crystal while ensuring water resistance. Typically, this is achieved by pressing the crystal into a bezel, but the Neo Frame Jumping Hour lacks metal framing at 12 and 6 o’clock, leaving the sapphire exposed. To ensure 20m water resistance, the dial plate is bonded to the sapphire crystal and then screwed into the case – a technique developed specifically for this model.
Calibre 7122: A first for Audemars Piguet
Merging homage to the past and innovative techniques, this model is powered by the manufacturer’s first self-winding jumping hour movement. Based on Calibre 7121, which equips the Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ models, the new Calibre 7122 was developed entirely in-house. It combines an instantaneous jumping hour with trailing minutes, delivering precision, performance, and reliability. With a robust 52-hour power reserve, Calibre 7122 features a patented shock-absorbing system that mechanically prevents hour jumps in case of impact, making the watch suitable for everyday life. To enhance shock resistance, the hour disc is crafted in titanium, while the minute disc which is displayed progressively through the aperture, is made from a copper alloy. On the back of the watch, the movement is visible through a sapphire caseback, revealing refined Haute Horlogerie finishes such as Côtes de Genève and satin brushing, along with a dedicated oscillating weight complete with further fluting.
The history of a classic design
The jumping hour revolutionises time display by replacing traditional hands with numerals that jump every 60 minutes. This system first appeared around 1650 in night clocks and was adapted in the 18th century for pocket watches to improve legibility. Initially, the jumping hour was paired with a secondary dial featuring an hour hand. From 1890 onwards, minute indication appeared on a rotating disc viewed through a second aperture.
With the rise of wristwatches during the interwar period, the jumping hour gained popularity for its modern display and practical advantage: the full dial with two apertures helped protect the fragile mineral glass of the timepiece. These wristwatches elegantly combined form and function.
Audemars Piguet played a pioneering role in introducing jumping hour wristwatches. Between 1924 and 1951, the brand sold 347 timepieces with this display complication, including 135 with dual apertures.
Jumping hour wristwatches faded at the onset of World War II but saw a revival in the 1960s and 1970s during the Space Age design era. Their true renaissance came in the early 1990s, when Audemars Piguet began combining the complication with minute repeaters – a practice the brand continued for two decades.
With the new model, which pays contemporary tribute to 1930s design, Audemars Piguet continues to honour horological tradition through technical and ergonomic innovation.
