By Kien Lee
The spirit of the interwar period returns to the center stage as Audemars Piguet unveils the Neo Frame Jumping Hour.
This rectangular masterpiece draws its soul from the Streamline Moderne movement, an aerodynamic branch of Art Deco that favored sleek lines and rounded angles reminiscent of the great ocean liners and trains of the 1930s. By revisiting the defining codes of a 1929 vintage treasure, the Manufacture has created a bridge between ancestral savoir faire and the high tech demands of the modern era.
The aesthetic of the timepiece is a study in minimalist luxury, featuring an 18 carat pink gold case flanked by eight vertical gadroons that taper into elegant lugs.
Unlike its predecessor which hid a fragile glass dial behind metal, this contemporary reinterpretation puts a black PVD treated sapphire crystal at the forefront. Two gold framed apertures pierce this sapphire surface to reveal the hour and minute numerals, while a bespoke bonding technique ensures that the watch remains water resistant to twenty meters without the need for a traditional metal bezel at the top and bottom.
Inside this architectural frame beats the Calibre 7122, the first selfwinding jumping hour movement ever developed entirely in house by Audemars Piguet.
This technical marvel delivers an instantaneous jumping hour alongside trailing minutes, ensuring that time transitions with the same precision as the watch’s physical design. To accommodate the rigors of modern life, the movement includes a patented shock absorbing system and discs crafted from lightweight titanium and aluminum to prevent accidental jumps during impact.
Completing the vintage allure is a black calfskin strap adorned with a newly developed textured motif that integrates seamlessly with the gold case. The sapphire caseback offers an intimate view of the movement’s internal beauty, showcasing refined finishes such as satin brushing and Côtes de Genève alongside a fluted oscillating weight that mirrors the case’s gadroons.
As the latest chapter in a lineage that began a century ago, the Neo Frame Jumping Hour proves that the most sophisticated way to look forward is to remember where we have been.
