Audemars Piguet just announced a new rectangular-shaped timepiece, that’s based on historic models dating as far back as the 1920s.

The Neo Frame Jumping Hour features a 24.6 mm wide x 34 mm lug-to-lug 18K pink gold case, which is 8.8 mm thick and is distinguished by angular conforming lugs with gadroons on the flanks.

Uniquely, a flat rectangular-shaped sapphire crystal, with a beveled edge, covers the entire front of the watch. A black PVD coated dial is bonded directly to the  crystal. A gold-plated, square-shaped aperture at the top displays jumping hours, and a semi-circle gold-plated aperture on the bottom indicates the trailing minutes.

This simply, yet elegant jumping hour timepiece is powered by Audemar Piguet 4Hz 43-jewel automatic caliber 7122, that has a 52-hour power reserve, and which is based on the caliber 7121 found in the current Royal Oak Jumbos. This is the brand’s first in-house automatic jumping hour. The movement is decorated with Geneva stripes, a gold traversing balance bridge, a gold skeletonized rotor, and it’s all visible through a sapphire caseback.

Audemars Piguet Neo Frame Jumping Hour (Ref. 15245OR) only has a water-resistance rating of 20 meters, though this is a dress watch, so you don’t expect it to be used in sporty situations. Comes with a black calfskin textured leather strap with 18K pink gold AP clasp. Retail is $71.200

Final Thoughts

With the lack of success seen with the Code 11.59, a watch that aimed to get Audemars Piguet beyond being a one model brand, where all they really offer is the Royal Oak, this is an interesting attempt to expand the company’s breadth. At a time when jump hour complications have been in vogue, and with the iconic Cartier’s Tank and Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso already well-known, this modern version of a vintage archival model competes against rectangular timepieces at the high end, and gives Audemars Piguet some much needed variety. More versions are expected to be released in the future.

 

Photos by Audemars Piguet.