For many years, Audemars Piguet’s iconic creations have largely revolved around the Royal Oak. Even when the brand occasionally ventures into new territories, like with the [Re]Master series, it still stems from the reinterpretation and extension of past watch models. However, in 2026, Audemars Piguet is set to unveil a bold new perspective with the official launch of an independent series called Neo Frame, injecting a fresh layer into the brand’s watchmaking language.
The Neo Frame series kicks off with the Jumping Hour, a watch that defies convention with its absence of octagonal shapes and traditional hands. Instead, it features sleek geometric lines and a window display, boasting a timepiece that breaks the mold from the inside out. This creation represents not just a new chapter for the brand’s jumping hour display, but it also houses Audemars Piguet’s very first automatic jumping hour movement, marking a significant milestone.
The design of the Neo Frame Jumping Hour draws its inspiration from the brand’s historic Ref. 1271 timepiece launched in 1929. This watch belongs to the early jumping hour creations of the brand, with only 14 pieces produced—crafted in platinum, platinum with yellow gold, platinum with green gold, and one unique platinum version. Almost all of these watches were sold before the crash of the U.S. stock market in 1929, marking the end of the roaring twenties. The sole platinum version is now housed in the Musée Atelier in Blausee, Switzerland, serving as the direct design reference for the Neo Frame Jumping Hour.
Ref. 1271 draws inspiration from the popular Streamline Moderne style of the 1930s, representing an extension of late Art Deco. At its core is Speed and Streamlined Design, with shapes influenced by the aerodynamics of trains and ships from that era, showcasing symmetrical profiles, graceful curves, and a beauty in mechanical decoration. Ref. 1271 fully embodies this language through vertical grooves, geometric proportions, and jump-hour windows.
Audemars Piguet has a rich historical foundation in the world of jumping hour watches. Between 1924 and 1951, the brand sold a total of 347 watches equipped with the jumping hour feature, 135 of which featured a dual-window design. The Ref. 1271 is one of the brand’s earliest models to incorporate separate hour and minute display windows, showcasing its innovative exploration and breakthrough in the way time was read back then.
With the outbreak of World War II, jumping hour watches gradually faded from the scene in the 1940s. It wasn’t until the design revival in the 1960s and 70s that window displays regained market attention. In the early 1990s, Audemars Piguet took it a step further by combining the jumping hour function with a minute repeater, resulting in an experimental piece of higher technical caliber. In 1997, Cartier reintroduced the Tank à Guichets, which brought jumping hour designs back into the sight of watch enthusiasts.
In recent years, brands like Cartier, Chronoswiss, Czapek, and Bremont have successively introduced jumping hour designs, breathing new life into this minimalist yet symbolically rich display mechanism. Now it’s Audemars Piguet’s turn to unveil a new creation. The Neo Frame Jumping Hour not only looks back at history, showcasing the brand’s reinterpretation of classic structures, but also embraces modern innovations in structure and movement to respond to contemporary demands for simplicity, aesthetics, and the fusion of technology.
In terms of appearance, the Neo Frame Jumping Hour features a rectangular case made of 18K rose gold, measuring 34.6 x 34 mm (excluding lugs), with a thickness of 8.8 mm and a length from lug to lug of 47.1 mm. The sides of the case are engraved with eight vertical CNC-machined grooves that extend down to the pointed lugs and flow seamlessly into the case back, crown, and automatic rotor, becoming a signature design element.
The watch face is crafted from black PVD-coated sapphire crystal glass. At 12 o’clock, there’s a rectangular window for jumping hours, while at 6 o’clock, an arched window displays the minutes, both surrounded by a matte gold frame. The numbers are printed in white on a matte black dial, creating a striking contrast that combines readability with visual appeal. Additionally, the Audemars Piguet brand logo is embossed on the glass at the 6 o’clock position.
In stark contrast to this visual purity lies an exceptionally intricate structural design. With the elimination of the top and bottom frames, the sapphire crystal glass is completely exposed. Audemars Piguet has developed a unique structure that integrates the dial base with the sapphire face, securely threading them into the case. This special treatment not only ensures a water resistance of up to 20 meters but also makes the overall structure compact and robust.
The watch is equipped with the brand’s new in-house movement, Calibre 7122, marking the brand’s very first automatic jumping hour movement. This movement is built on the technical foundation of the Calibre 7121 found in the Royal Oak Jumbo, featuring a diameter of 29.6mm and a thickness of 4mm. It consists of 293 parts and includes 43 jewel bearings, providing a power reserve of 52 hours with a beat frequency of 4Hz.
The movement’s jumping hour and dragging minute module have been specially calibrated for instantaneous hour jumping response. To save energy and enhance stability, the hour dial is made of titanium, while the minute dial is crafted from a copper alloy. This movement is also equipped with the brand’s patented anti-shock system to prevent incorrect jumping due to accidental impacts, ensuring a safer and more reliable wear.
The matching black calfskin strap features a textured pattern designed by the brand’s team, creating a seamless connection with the lugs. This visual flow extends from the dial to the overall wear structure, embodying the essence of streamlined modernist design.
The Neo Frame Jumping Hour is not just a complex timepiece; it marks the beginning of a new series. Audemars Piguet has clearly stated that the Neo Frame will continue to expand as an independent collection, running parallel to the [Re]Master. The former focuses on reinventing the design language and exploring the future, while the latter serves as a reconstruction and tribute to historic timepieces. Each has its distinct role and independent direction, with a reference price of approximately HKD 600,000.
