buffy acacia
People love to romanticize traditional analog clocks, but for centuries they’ve been looking for an easier way to read the time. Reading the hour and minute hands is not that difficult, but reading the numbers is instantaneous. The Jump Hour complication has been around since the 1800s and allows you to instantly see the time of the day before you start reading the minutes. These were the forerunners of modern digital displays, and they remain fascinating complications with a mystical, luxurious feel.
Svalbard Time Travel HX11
Svalbard specializes in cheap and cheerful designs, with a depth of design rarely seen at such low prices. The Time Travel HX11 is styled like a sports car tachometer, with a grained black dial, bold white print, and bright red orange highlights towards the end of the retrograde minute display. . Equipped with a quartz Miyota movement, there is no ticking second hand, and when the minute hand reaches the 60 position, it instantly tells the time. It is thick with a diameter of 44.2mm, a lug-to-lug width of 54mm, and a width of 13.5mm. It’s thick, but what it lacks in moderation it gains in fun elements. Price: $279
mr jones number cruncher
The Jump Hour Watches seem to take themselves either incredibly seriously or not at all, while the Mr. Jones Number Cruncher is probably the least serious of all watches. Featuring a Godzilla-like cartoon creature by artist Honorio Depiro, the monster can be seen happily roaming London and devouring time. The jump time display is between the fingers ready to jump into the jaws of death, and the minutes can be seen on the X-ray display on the abdomen. It is also powered by SeaGull’s mechanical TY2709 movement, which offers a beat rate of 21,600vph and a power reserve of 42 hours. The case diameter is 37mm, the lug-to-lug width is 46.9mm, and the thickness is 10.8mm, making it perfectly comfortable for both genders. Price: £295 (~US$375)
space one black steel jumping hour
There are plenty of brands that love tie-ups with space, but few are brave enough to release watches modeled after actual spaceships. SpaceOne has a great combination of creativity, boldness, and affordability that all microbrands should aspire to, and their signature watch is the SpaceOne Jumping Hour. Jumping hours and rotation minutes are visible within the sapphire cockpit, and the steel case features an aerodynamic and ergonomic left-hand crown. Powered by the Soprod caliber P024 with jump hour module by Theo Auflett, it offers a reliable 38-hour power reserve with a beat rate of 4Hz, while being available in a variety of materials and finishes at an affordable price. is provided. Price: €1,700 (~US$1,795)
Fears Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour Raven Black
Fears and Christopher Ward have teamed up to create the Alliance 01, a jump hour watch that celebrates the strength of British independent watchmaking. This time, Fears has adopted that concept, changed the dial, and revived it in limited production. The clean finish is thoroughly modern, while the sector dial design with central minute subdial and jump hour window at 12 o’clock captures the elegance of vintage jump hour watches. The various finishes on the dial reflect the alternating brushings and polishes applied to the watch’s case, creating visual depth despite its minimalist feel. Christopher Ward’s presence is still felt through the automatic JJ01 movement with a CW module based on the Sellita SW200. Additionally, it is available from the Time+Tide shop. Price: $8,100
A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk
First released in 2009, the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk challenged watchmaking’s perceptions of both tradition and modernity. Although fully mechanical, the display can technically be described as digital, showing jump hours on the left and jump minutes on the right. The base model Zeitwerk was reworked in 2022 with a slight facelift and an extended power reserve of up to 72 hours with a constant force escapement. Additionally, the luxurious German silver movement is visible through the sapphire case back. A taste of Glashütte watchmaking at its finest, with a truly captivating dial layout and superb finishing. Price: $101,000
Blancpain Tourbillon Wool Sortant Minute Retrograde
Blancpain is one of the oldest watch brands in the world, but you wouldn’t necessarily know that from just glancing at their catalogue. The brand doesn’t dwell too much on its heritage, preferring to showcase its diving watch lineage with the famous Fifty Fathoms. But the Blancpain Tourbillon Wool Sortant Minute Retrograde is an example of classicism winning out. The dial is almost blank, but it features a retrograde minute subdial with a jump hour window and a tourbillon with a large opening above it, the ultimate eye candy in fine watchmaking. This mille maille (thousand needles) bracelet in 18K red gold exudes true decadence in its simplicity. Price: $188,400
Time+Tide Timeless Pick: Omega De Ville Prestige Jump Hour
Honestly, I have a lot of cool jump hour clocks from the 70s and 80s that are looking for a new home. Whether it’s underserviced or manufactured by an unknown brand, you’ll have no trouble finding something that fits your budget. While Holy Trinity has some rare and desirable models, one of the most desirable Jump Hour watches is the Omega De Ville Prestige Jump Hour. Produced for a short period in 1998, the use of the tonneau case shape was highly unusual for Omega, especially during the Pierce Brosnan era when James Bond wore the Seamaster Diver 300M. The salmon dial is decorated with an ornate fan-shaped texture, and the skeletonized minute hand has an Alice in Wonderland-like distortion. It’s not impossible to find, nor is it unreasonably expensive, but it’s definitely a central curiosity in any collection. Price: ~$7,000
