A Discerning Selection of Some of the Most Intriguing Jumping Hour Watches

Following our Buying Guide of watches that go “DING” or even produce an entire orchestra of dings to signal the time, we’re now shifting focus to a very different but equally captivating complication, the Heures Sautantes, or Jumping Hours! This departure from the typical indication of time often relies on a hand or disc to show the correct hour for the full hour before making a jump to display the next. It sounds easy, but it is rather complex to master, as it demands a certain degree of energy built up over the course of 60 minutes, which then gets released in a controlled manner to make the jump. Now that we’ve gotten the technical principle out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the coolest examples around!

d.m.h. jump hour

The Jump Hour by dingemans mechanische horloges, the one-man-brand from the Netherlands, is perhaps the simplest form of a jumping hours watch in this list, but by no means the least interesting. With a compact stainless steel case featuring Fred’s unique Dingemans crown and wire lugs, the Jump Hour is a largely hand-made watch. The New Old Stock movement, a Tenor Dorley 1376, drives a jumping hour disc, a revolving minutes disc, a central seconds hand and a date. And the best part is that each watch is unique to its owner, as they are made to order. Prices start at EUR 2,795, which is extremely reasonable for what you get!

For more information, please visit dingemansmechanischehorloges.nl.

Quick Facts – 39.6mm x 12mm – stainless steel case, brushed – wire lugs – unique Dingemans crown – sapphire crystal front & back – 30m water-resistant – blue lacquered dial, in-house – jumping hour & revolving minute discs – orange lacquered seconds hand – date disc – NOS Tenor Dorly 1376, fully serviced – automatic winding – 21,600vph – 48h power reserve – signed rotor – leather or rubber strap with pin buckle – unique pieces, made to order – starting price of EUR 2,795

otsuka lotec Model no. 7.5

Coming from the land of the rising sun, Otsuka Lotec is the work of self-taught watchmaker Jiro Katayama. The brand has made quite a stir in the community with its fascinating industrial designs. The Model No. 7.5 is one of the more outspoken watches, inspired by vintage 8mm cameras. The time indications are spread across three individual ‘eyes’: one for the jumping hours, one for the rotating minutes, and one for the running seconds. It’s powered by a Miyota 82S5 automatic movement, with an in-house module on top. It’s available in Japan only (for the moment) for JPY 325,000 incl. VAT (which roughly equates to EUR 2,160).

For more information, please visit Otsuka-Lotec.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm x 11.2mm (14.8mm to the top of oculus) – stainless steel case, brushed – off-centred crown – wire lugs – sapphire crystal front & back – separate ‘eyes’ for jumping hours, rotating minutes, running seconds – Miyota 82S5, automatic – in-house jumping hour module – 21,600vph – 40h power reserve – padded calfskin leather strap with pin buckle – available in Japan only – JPY 325,000 incl. VAT (approx. EUR 2,160)

Andersen Geneve Jumping Hours

Even though it was launched in 2021 to commemorate 40 years of independent watchmaking by Svend Andersen, the Jumping Hours watch remains a truly fascinating piece. Presented in a full platinum case, the dial is a mesmerizing work of art thanks to its BlueGold tone and hand-applied guilloché ‘Magic Lozenge’ pattern. The top window is reserved for the jumping hours display, paired with a minutes sub-dial at the bottom. An engraved BlueGold ring wraps around the movement, driven by a guilloché rotor in solid gold. This one is limited to 40 pieces and costs CHF 41,600, but there are multiple variations available.

For more information, please visit Andersen-Geneve.com.

Quick Facts – 38mm diameter x 9,22mm height – red gold or platinum case – 21k BlueGold dial decorated with “Magic Lozenge” guilloché pattern – in-house jumping hour module on top of Piguet 11.50 base calibre – handmade 18k yellow gold rotor – BlueGold framing ring with special engraving – limited to 40 pieces in platinum – CHF 41,600

Chopard L.U.C. Quattro Spirit 25

The L.U.C. Quattro Spirit 25 by Chopard reduces the magic of the jumping hour watch to its essence, with just a single gold hand for the minutes in the centre and a jumping hour disc visible through a window at 6′. The extremely refined white Grand Feu enamel dial is set into a rather elegant case of 40mm across and 10.3mm in height, machined from ethically sourced gold. The ‘Quattro‘ bit refers to the four barrels that provide the very lengthy 192 hours (8 days) of power reserve in the calibre L.U.C. 98.06 L. A limited edition of 100 pieces in white, with a non-limited alternative in white gold and black, it retails for EUR 53,900.

For more information, please visit Chopard.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm x 10.3mm – ethical 18k rose gold case – sapphire crystal front & back – 30m water-resistant – 18k rose gold base dial with white Grand Feu enamel – black Grand Feu enamel minutes track & numerals – central minutes hand with jumping hours window – calibre L.U.C. 98.06 L, micro-rotor automatic – Poinçon de Genève – 240 components – 28,800vph – four barrels for 192h power reserve – alligator leather strap with gold pin buckle – 100 pieces – EUR 53,900

ludovic ballouard upside down

I can’t deny the Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down is one of my all-time favourite watches. The jumping hour complication is just mesmerizing from both ends, with the 12 individual jumping discs on the dial and the Maltese crosses that make the discs jump in an instant on the back. All the discs are upside down, hence the name, except for the one indicating the correct hour. The movement uses 228 components to work and is wound by hand. Each one is made to order and comes in a precious metal case with a standard, limited or bespoke dial in various colours, decorations or materials (including ultra-rare Osmium!) Prices start at CHF 87,000 in platinum.

For more information, please visit Ballouard.com.

Quick Facts – 41mm x 11mm – 950 platinum case, polished – sapphire crystal front & back – platinum crown – 30m water-resistant – bespoke dials in various colours and materials (including Osmium) – jumping discs for every hour – central minute hand – calibre B01, manually wound – 228 components – 21,600vph – 40h power reserve – hand-stitched alligator leather strap – platinum pin buckle – unique pieces, made to order – base price of CHF 87,000 in platinum

Bovet Dimier Récital 15

Concluding this list of Jumping Hours watches is the wonderful Bovet Dimiet Rècital 15. Housing a fully polished grade 5 titanium case, the Dimier Récital 15 has a salmon lacquered dial with a retrograde minutes display and a window at 3′ to reveal the jumping hour indication. In the typical Bovet style, the movement is lavishly finished and uncovers yet more complexity with a patented hidden double coaxial seconds mechanism and a 5-day power reserve indication. Worn on a blue alligator leather strap fitted with a polished titanium buckle, Bovet will make just 30 pieces. The price is set at CHF 61,800.

For more information, please visit Bovet.com.

Quick Facts – 42mm x 12.6mm – grade 5 titanium case, polished – fluted crown with sapphire – sapphire crystal front & back – 30m water-resistance – lacquered salmon dial – jumping hours at 3′ – retrograde minutes indication – calibre 13DM02-AIHSMR (based on Virtuoso II), in-house – manual winding – 21,600vph – 5-day power reserve – double coaxial seconds & power reserve on back – blue alligator leather strap with titanium buckle – limited to 30 pieces – CHF 61,800