Heritage Meets Innovation: Audemars Piguet's Neo Frame Jumping Hour Melds Historic Design with Contemporary Watchmaking

Audemars Piguet, the esteemed Swiss watch manufacturer, has breathed new life into time-tested designs with their recently announced Neo Frame Jumping Hour. This rectangular-shaped timepiece draws inspiration from the brand’s rich history, harkening back as far as the 1920s. The 24.6 mm by 34 mm case, set in 18K pink gold, brings an air of classic elegance, while the addition of angular lugs with flanking gadroons provide a distinct, contemporary edge.

Deserving of the spotlight, the mechanisms inside the watch are tastefully displayed through a sapphire caseback. Exquisite Geneva stripes, a gold traversing balance bridge, and a gold skeletonized rotor provide meaningful decoration to the timepiece. A textured black calfskin leather strap fitting with an 18K pink gold AP clasp completes the exterior detailing.

This watch, however, is not just a masterclass in aesthetics and mechanics. It is a distinct shift in Audemars Piguet’s strategy. Following the struggle of the Code 11.59, a model designed to diversify the brand’s predominantly Royal Oak collection, the Neo Frame Jumping Hour emerges as an ambitious alternative. With a retail price of $71,200, it hangs its hat at the upper echelons of the industry, contending with iconic models like Cartier’s Tank and Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso. More importantly, it represents a bold step, giving Audemars Piguet the variety it sought through a fresh, yet familiar, approach.