Jumping Hour: When Time Is Not a River
Things aren’t going smoothly; the world seems to have fallen apart in places. And it has always been this way: when societies, economies, or political systems become unstable, conditions often arise that give a powerful boost to creativity.
This has also been the case for many watch designers. One result is the modern interpretation of the jumping hour in mechanical watches—also known as the “Jumping Hour”—which is a common feature at new product launches. Nevertheless, such watches remain a niche product that is as sophisticated as it is exciting. However, local designers did not have to draw on their creativity to reinvent the jumping hour as such.
Audemars Piguet – Baltic – Bremont – Chronoswiss – Cyrus – Hautlence – Maghnam – MeisterSinger
Jumping Hour – For Whom the Hour Jumps
The first known jumping-hour watches appeared as early as the 17th century. They gained greater popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in Art Deco and pocket watches. In the 1970s, they also found their way into timepieces with futuristic designs. Today, the overall design of the jumping hour mechanism is a central feature of contemporary watchmaking.
The display mechanism truly lives up to its name: instead of the hour hand moving slowly and continuously, the hour indicator “jumps” to the next hour mark on the hour.
The basic principle of the Jumping Hour
Typically, it works like this: The minutes are displayed normally (often with a hand). The hour is shown in a small window and jumps forward abruptly at the end of every hour. Inside, a spring or lever mechanism stores energy and releases it precisely at the top of the hour. This causes the hour disc to jump forward instantly. It still runs smoothly, though. Instead of a hand tracing circles across the dial, a disc with the numbers 1 through 12 usually rotates, with only one number visible at a time through the cutout in the dial. The jumping hour is therefore sometimes referred to as a kind of “mechanical digital display.”
As an alternative to this more technically challenging “True Jumping Hour,” there is the “Semi-Jump,” in which the dial begins to move slightly just before the next hour.
Audemars Piguet – Neo Frame Jumping Hour
This entirely new design features a rectangular case (34.6 x 34 mm) crafted from rose gold and sapphire crystal, as well as a bracelet with a newly developed motif. With its minimalist design, vertical fluting, and streamlined lines, the “Neo Frame Jumping Hour” echoes the characteristic features of the 1929 “1271” model. It is powered by the Manufacture’s first self-winding movement with a jumping hour, the new Caliber 7122. audemarspiguet.com
Case: Rose gold, 34.6 x 34 x 8.8 mm Water resistance: 2 bar Movement: Caliber 7122, automatic winding Power reserve: 52 hours Functions: Hours, minutes Dial: Black PVD-coated sapphire dial Strap: Black calfskin leather Special feature: New caliber MSRP: €94,900
Baltic x Space One – Seconde Majeure
In this collaborative model, the display of time is decentralized, and traditional hands are replaced by sapphire crystal discs. The jumping hour is displayed at 12 o’clock and the minutes at 6 o’clock, indicated by an arrow-shaped crosshair. A large seconds hand glides over them, lending movement to the seemingly static composition. It gives the watch its name: Seconde Majeure. baltic-watches.com
Case: Stainless steel, 38.5 x 12.3 mm Water resistance: 5 bar Movement: Soprod P024, automatic Power reserve: 42 hours Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds Dial: Nickel silver, brushed or charbonné finish Strap: Alcantara MSRP: €2,500 or €3,500
Bremont – Terra Nova 38 Jumping Hour
The British brand presents the “Terra Nova 38 Jumping Hour” in DLC black. Launched in 2024, the “Terra Nova” line reinterprets classic field watches with a cushion-shaped case and shortened lugs. “The launch of the Stealth Black DLC edition of the ‘Terra Nova Jumping Hour’ adds a new dimension to the Montres à Guichet design. Modern and unexpected, the all-black aesthetic makes a strong statement—transformative in its effect, it sharpens the design and strengthens its character,” says Bremont CEO Davide Cerrato. bremont.com
Case: Stainless steel with black DLC coating, 38 x 44 x 9.1 mm Water resistance: 3 bar Movement: BC634, automatic Power reserve: 56 hours Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds Dial: Black Strap: Stainless steel or leather with quick-release system MSRP: €5,900
Chronoswiss – Neo Digiteur Chronos
Limited to just 33 pieces, this timepiece is a striking reinterpretation of one of Chronoswiss’s most unconventional creations. Inspired by the original “Digiteur,” launched in the early 2000s by founder Gerd-Rüdiger Lang, the “Chronos” edition continues the evolution that began with the “Neo Digiteur” in 2025. This time, however, the timepiece is crafted in gold. chronoswiss.com
Case: Gold, 48 x 30 x 9 mm Water resistance: 3 bar Movement: C.85757, manual winding Power reserve: 48 hours Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds Dial: Gold Strap: Nubuck Special feature: Entirely hand-engraved in Lucerne, limited to 33 pieces MSRP: €63,000
Cyrus – Klepcy’s Vertical Tourbillon
The “Klepcys Vertical Tourbillon” from the Swiss brand Cyrus is limited to just five pieces and, with a diameter of 42.5 millimeters, is a remarkable 19.9 millimeters thick. This is due to the domed central bridge that frames the tourbillon. This spectacle is complemented by the retrograde minute display and the retrograde jumping hour on jasper arches. cyrus-watches.ch
Case: Titanium, 42.5 x 19.9 mm Water resistance: 5 bar Movement: CYR625, manual winding Power reserve: 100 hours Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds on the tourbillon cage Dial: Skeletonized, jasper Strap: Alligator leather Special feature: Vertical orientation of the tourbillon, 5-mm sphere indicating the power reserve at 12 o’clock, limited to 5 pieces MSRP: 150,000 CHF (plus VAT)
Hautlence – Retrovision ’64
For the “Retrovision ’64,” the Swiss watch brand Hautlence drew inspiration from the iconic communication devices featured in 1960s science fiction series. The watch is recognizable by its flip-up grille, which is opened to make a call or check the time. hautlence.com
Case: Titanium, 61.2 x 41.8 x 15.6 mm Movement: D50, automatic winding Power reserve: 72 hours Functions: Hours, flying minute tourbillon Dial: Nickel silver, lacquer Strap: Rubber Special feature: Limited to 3 pieces MSRP: Upon request
Maghnam – Mohareb
The independent watch brand founded by designer and engineer Sohaib Maghnam combines Arab heritage with Swiss watchmaking craftsmanship. His latest creation is called Mohareb, derived from the Arabic word for “warrior” or “gladiator,” and features a jumping hour mechanism. maghnam.com
Case: Stainless steel, 39.5 x 8.6 mm Water resistance: 1 bar Movement: MCR01-B, manual winding Power reserve: 42 hours Functions: Hours, minutes Dial: Modular design: Blades (original configuration), Halo (classic round case), Wings (oval shape) Strap: Alligator leather MSRP: 7,200 CHF (plus VAT)
MeisterSinger – Panthero Jumping Hour Guilloché Pre-Order
The tradition of subscription is one of the most fascinating chapters in the history of classical watchmaking. As early as the 18th century, exceptional timepieces were created in this way: not manufactured in advance for an undefined market, but only once their future owner had made a conscious decision to acquire them. Subscriptions—that is, orders—for the “Panthero Jumping Hour Guilloché” by MeisterSinger are open until June 21. Only then will production of each individual timepiece begin. During the manufacturing process, future owners will receive regular updates on the individual steps of production. meistersinger.com
Case: Stainless steel, 40.5 x 11.25 mm Water resistance: 5 bar Movement: MS-JH-01, automatic Power reserve: 47 hours Functions: Hours, minutes Dial: Silver-gray with blue, guilloché Strap: Leather Special feature: Orders accepted only until June 21 MSRP: €7,990
