Audemars Piguet Neo Frame Jumping Hour

Audemars Piguet has announced the release of the Neo Frame Jumping Hour, Reference 15245OR.OO.A206VE.01, a rectangular timepiece that marks the Manufacture’s return to the specialized domain of wandering displays and digital hour indications. Unveiled in Le Brassus in February 2026, the watch represents a significant deviation from the octagonal architecture that has dominated the brand’s catalogue in recent decades, instead drawing specific historical inspiration from a rare 1929 predecessor known as "pre-model 1271." This release serves as the launch vehicle for the Calibre 7122, Audemars Piguet’s first selfwinding movement designed specifically to drive an instantaneous jumping hour mechanism. The model is priced at $71,200 and features a case constructed from 18-carat pink gold, measuring 24.6 mm by 34 mm, paired with a specialized PVD-treated sapphire dial assembly that eliminates traditional metal bezels in favor of a bonded construction method.

The aesthetic philosophy governing the Neo Frame Jumping Hour is rooted firmly in the Streamline Moderne movement, a late branch of Art Deco that emerged in the interwar period. Unlike the geometric ornamentation of early Art Deco, Streamline Moderne emphasized aerodynamic efficiency, characterized by curving forms, long horizontal lines, and a reduction of friction—visual codes borrowed from the nascent industries of aviation and high-speed rail. Audemars Piguet’s application of this design language is evident in the silhouette of the Neo Frame, which utilizes a series of stepped, vertical gadroons along the case flanks to simulate motion and airflow. This approach aligns with the Manufacture’s archival history; between 1924 and 1951, the brand produced 347 watches with jumping hour complications, experimenting with square, rectangular, and cushion shapes that obscured the traditional hand-stack in favor of apertures. The Neo Frame serves as a contemporary technical reinterpretation of those early form watches, prioritizing mechanical shock resistance and water resistance in a chassis that retains the delicate visual profile of the 1930s.

The Case and Dial

The case of the Neo Frame Jumping Hour is machined from 18-carat pink gold and measures 8.8 mm in thickness. Its architecture is defined by the lateral gadroons—eight distinct, rounded ridges running vertically along the case sides—which taper continuously into the lugs. Visual inspection of the case profile reveals that these gadroons are not merely surface engravings but structural tiers that create a "stacked" visual effect, reminiscent of the heat sinks on industrial machinery or the aerodynamic siding of Streamline-era locomotives. The finishing combines polished high points with micro-blasted recesses, a technique that enhances the depth of the gadroons while preserving the definition of the stepped edges. The crown, also crafted in pink gold, mirrors this fluted aesthetic, featuring a newly constructed gripping surface designed to improve torque transmission during manual winding.

A critical divergence from traditional case construction is found in the integration of the sapphire crystal. In standard horological manufacturing, water resistance is achieved by compressing a sapphire crystal into a metal bezel using a gasket. The Neo Frame, however, eschews a metal bezel at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions, leaving the edge of the sapphire exposed to create a seamless vertical flow. To guarantee the stated 20-meter water resistance rating without a compressing bezel, the Manufacture developed a proprietary bonding technique wherein the dial plate is chemically fused to the sapphire crystal. This unified assembly is then secured to the case via screws, ensuring a hermetic seal. The dial itself is a pane of sapphire treated with a black PVD coating, rendering it opaque and glossy. This deep black surface acts as a negative space, contrasting sharply with the two pink gold-toned, micro-blasted apertures that frame the time indications.

The time display is segregated into two distinct windows: a square aperture at the 12 o’clock position for the jumping hour, and a sector-style arc at 6 o’clock for the trailing minutes. The numerals are printed in white on black discs, maintaining high contrast and legibility. The minute track utilizes a fixed pointer within the gold frame, while the minute disc rotates beneath it. This configuration, often referred to as a "guichet" display, requires precise alignment between the printed numerals and the bevelled edges of the apertures. The decision to use a sapphire dial rather than the metal dials found on the 1929 original serves a functional purpose beyond aesthetics; it reduces the thickness of the display stack while providing the necessary rigidity for the bonded sealing system. The absence of a seconds hand or date window focuses the observer’s attention entirely on the interplay between the digital hour jump and the analogue progression of the minute disc.

The Movement

Powering the Neo Frame is the new Calibre 7122, a selfwinding mechanism developed entirely in-house by Audemars Piguet. The architecture of this movement is derived from the Calibre 7121, the thin automatic movement introduced in the Royal Oak "Jumbo" Extra-Thin references. The adaptation for the Neo Frame involves a significant modification of the motion works to accommodate the energy-intensive requirements of a jumping hour complication. In a standard drivetrain, energy is released continuously; however, a jumping hour requires the accumulation of potential energy over the course of 60 minutes, which is then released instantaneously to advance the hour disc. This intermittent load can disrupt the amplitude of the balance wheel, affecting isochronism. To mitigate this, the Calibre 7122 employs a specific energy management system that isolates the jump mechanism from the primary gear train, ensuring that the 4 Hz (28,800 vph) frequency remains stable during the switch.

A primary technical challenge in jumping hour mechanisms is the mass of the discs. To minimize inertia and ensure a crisp, instantaneous jump, the hour disc of the Calibre 7122 is machined from titanium, a material chosen for its high strength-to-weight ratio. Conversely, the minute disc, which rotates constantly and does not undergo rapid acceleration, is crafted from a copper alloy. The movement also features a patented shock-absorbing system designed to prevent the hour disc from displacing during impact. In traditional jumping hour movements, a sharp shock could theoretically jar the disc forward or backward, decoupling the displayed time from the actual timekeeping. The Calibre 7122’s system mechanically locks the hour ring in place between jumps, releasing it only when triggered by the cam at the top of the hour.

The movement is visible through the sapphire caseback, revealing a level of finishing consistent with the Manufacture’s haute horlogerie standards. The bridges feature Côtes de Genève, while the bevels are diamond-polished (anglage) to create light-reflecting edges. The oscillating weight is specific to this reference, crafted in 22-carat pink gold and decorated with the same gadroon motif found on the case flanks, ensuring aesthetic continuity between the exterior and interior components. The movement measures 29.6 mm in diameter and 4 mm in thickness, comprised of 293 parts and 43 jewels. It provides a power reserve of 52 hours, a notable achievement given the additional torque required to prime the jumping hour spring every hour.

The Strap

The Neo Frame Jumping Hour is fitted with an integrated black calfskin strap, treated to display a specific textured motif developed by the Audemars Piguet Design team. The integration of the strap is central to the Streamline Moderne aesthetic, as the leather appears to flow directly from the case without the visual interruption of standard lug gaps. The strap attachment point is concealed beneath the hooded lugs, where the leather meets the exposed sapphire edge. This flush fitment reinforces the architectural linearity of the watch.

The texture of the leather is not a standard grain but a linear embossing that complements the vertical gadroons of the case. The strap tapers slightly towards the buckle, which is an 18-carat pink gold pin buckle designed with the same fluted geometry as the case profile. The choice of calfskin over exotic leathers such as alligator aligns with the cleaner, industrial lines of the Streamline ethos, prioritizing matte texture and uniform patterns over natural organic variation.

Pricing and Availability

The Audemars Piguet Neo Frame Jumping Hour, Reference 15245OR.OO.A206VE.01, is priced at $71,200 USD. It is available through the Manufacture’s authorized network of boutiques and AP Houses. The timepiece is covered by a standard two-year international sales warranty, which can be extended to five years upon registration, applicable to all watches purchased from the authorized network since January 1, 2017.

This release signifies a continued effort by Audemars Piguet to diversify its portfolio beyond the Royal Oak and Code 11.59 collections, leveraging its historical expertise in shaped movements and non-round cases. By revisiting the "pre-model 1271" and the constraints of the 1920s jumping hour mechanisms, the Manufacture has produced a reference that addresses the fragility of vintage implementations through modern materials science—specifically the use of bonded sapphire and titanium disc components—while retaining the specific Art Deco geometry that defined the era.

Technical Specifications

Case: Rectangular 18-carat pink gold; 24.6 mm x 34 mm; 8.8 mm thickness; glareproofed sapphire caseback; water resistant to 20 m.

Movement: Selfwinding Calibre 7122; 29.6 mm diameter; 4 mm thickness; 28,800 vph (4 Hz); 52 hours power reserve; 293 parts; 43 jewels.

Dial: Black PVD-treated sapphire dial with pink gold-toned microblasted apertures; jumping hour display at 12 o'clock; wandering minutes at 6 o'clock.

Strap: Integrated black calfskin leather with textured motif; 18-carat pink gold pin buckle.

Price: $71,200

Reference Number: 15245OR.OO.A206VE.01

Notes: Features a patented shock-absorbing system for the hour disc; hour disc made of titanium; minute disc made of copper alloy; bonded sapphire/dial construction for water resistance.