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Lot Essay
Fresh to the market and prized by a private collector for the past 27 years, the present Audemars Piguet jumping hour wristwatch stands among the rarest and most captivating creations of the Maison’s early wristwatch production. The private collector acquired this timepiece from original family in 1999, and this is the first public offering of this special wristwatch.
While Audemars Piguet is celebrated for its mastery of traditional horology, the introduction of the jumping hour wristwatch in 1921 marked a bold and forward-thinking departure from convention—eschewing the familiar rotation of hands for a striking, digital-style display that must have appeared remarkably futuristic to the contemporary audiences of the time.
Confirmed by the Audemars Piguet Archives, the present watch was manufactured in 1928 and sold the following year in 1929, placing it firmly within the earliest and most experimental years of the firm’s exploration of this avant-garde complication. Today, fewer than a handful of such wristwatches are known to the market, underscoring the extreme rarity of the model and elevating its importance among discerning collectors. These watches have furthermore served as inspiration for the Maison's latest release, the 'The Neo Frame Jumping Hour' launched earlier this year.
The present timepiece is distinguished by its large 18k white gold case whose proportions feel strikingly modern even by today’s standards. The minimalist front of the watch is configured with two sunken apertures—one for the jumping hours and the other for the minutes—creating a clean, architectural aesthetic that contrasts sharply with the ornate tendencies of the period. This innovative display not only exemplifies the Maison’s technical ingenuity but also its willingness to challenge established norms of timekeeping design.
In keeping with Audemars Piguet’s finest traditions of the era, the case is fitted with a hinged caseback and houses the ultra-thin caliber 10’’’ GHSM, a venerable movement that served as the foundation for many of the brand’s complicated wristwatches, including its celebrated early calendar models. Given the age of the watch, the case is overall well-preserved retaining a crisp hallmark to the caseband and strong lines. Combining exceptional rarity, historical significance, and an undeniably modern aesthetic far ahead of its time, this early Audemars Piguet jumping hour wristwatch represents a compelling opportunity for the astute collector to acquire one of the Maison’s most daring and innovative original creations.
While Audemars Piguet is celebrated for its mastery of traditional horology, the introduction of the jumping hour wristwatch in 1921 marked a bold and forward-thinking departure from convention—eschewing the familiar rotation of hands for a striking, digital-style display that must have appeared remarkably futuristic to the contemporary audiences of the time.
Confirmed by the Audemars Piguet Archives, the present watch was manufactured in 1928 and sold the following year in 1929, placing it firmly within the earliest and most experimental years of the firm’s exploration of this avant-garde complication. Today, fewer than a handful of such wristwatches are known to the market, underscoring the extreme rarity of the model and elevating its importance among discerning collectors. These watches have furthermore served as inspiration for the Maison's latest release, the 'The Neo Frame Jumping Hour' launched earlier this year.
The present timepiece is distinguished by its large 18k white gold case whose proportions feel strikingly modern even by today’s standards. The minimalist front of the watch is configured with two sunken apertures—one for the jumping hours and the other for the minutes—creating a clean, architectural aesthetic that contrasts sharply with the ornate tendencies of the period. This innovative display not only exemplifies the Maison’s technical ingenuity but also its willingness to challenge established norms of timekeeping design.
In keeping with Audemars Piguet’s finest traditions of the era, the case is fitted with a hinged caseback and houses the ultra-thin caliber 10’’’ GHSM, a venerable movement that served as the foundation for many of the brand’s complicated wristwatches, including its celebrated early calendar models. Given the age of the watch, the case is overall well-preserved retaining a crisp hallmark to the caseband and strong lines. Combining exceptional rarity, historical significance, and an undeniably modern aesthetic far ahead of its time, this early Audemars Piguet jumping hour wristwatch represents a compelling opportunity for the astute collector to acquire one of the Maison’s most daring and innovative original creations.