Over the past 12 months, we have noticed that Jumping Hour watches are trending, with many major brands making an offer in this category. Here is our top 6 recommendations.
Now Trending: Jumping Hour watches – our top 6 recommendations
This is a phenomena which we have noticed recently, though the idea of a jumping hour watch never left the colloquial vocabulary at the high end of watchmaking. One of our favourites is this magnificent vintage piece from Vacheron Constantin – the Salterello.
But today’s list will comprise of watches released recently, most of which were released in the last 12 months, with only one exception. And without further ado, let’s go to the list.
Louis Vuitton Convergence
Released in January 2025, a new version was shown at LVMH Watch Week. This is the Convergence Guilloché. The original was released in two models, in 18K rose gold, and the other with diamonds an din platinum. For 2025, the watch remains much the same but a magnificent sunray pattern is hand guilloché on to the negative space on the dial cover. This is hand crafted at la Fabrique Des Arts on 2 machines with a dedicated pattern bar, and takes 2 days of work for each piece. The challenge is the guilloché pattern is applied to a curved surface.
Retail is at EUR 59k in rose gold. The plain version with the high polished negative space dial cover released in 2025 had a retail of EUR 37k.
Czapek Time Jumper
Release as part of the unique 10/180 year celebrations for the Czapek brand, we find the Time Jumper to be a rather interesting and unusual design. The case is a hand guilloché half hunter metal cover, with a large opening in center to reveal a jumping hour with big digits. This central display of the hour is magnified by a cyclops mounted on the cover with another opening in the form of an arc, to show the en-passant minutes. No seconds hand is shown.
Retail is at CHF 42k for the steel model and CHF 64k for the gold model. Both prices are before taxes. Limited Edition of 100 pieces each.
Cartier Tank à Guichets
Released in WWG 25, the Cartier Tank is released with a jumping hour and sweeping minute hand. Two different dial layout, one in an oblique hour aperture and the other in a classical layout. The Oblique is only in platinum and is a limited edition of 200 pieces. The regular edition has the classic layout and in platinum, yellow gold and pink gold. The dimensions are similar to the 1928 versions which are 37.6mm x 34.8mm x 6mm.
Cartier Tank à Guichets, photographs taken at WWG 25, Geneva.
Both layouts have a distinctive vintage vibe, and clever use of negative space on the on, with just two apertures to show the time. The movement inside is the same, with no other difference except for the cover. Priced at EUR 55k in platinum for the oblique, a numbered series of 200 pieces. In the regular non limited edition, pricing is EUR 50k in platinum and EUR 43k in yellow and pink gold.
Gerald Charles Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30° Anniversario 916
This is the iconic design language of the legendary Gérald Charles Genta. The Gerald Charles Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30° Anniversario 916 is a timepiece that masterfully blends two legends: the visionary Mr. Genta and the renowned Italian motorcycle maker, Ducati. Both genius in their own field. Both Italian (Gérald’s father was from Piedmonte, Italy. And Ducati is founded and headquartered in Bologna, Italy. Interestingly, the current owners of Gerlad Charles – the Ziviani family is also Italian, from Milano).
What is fascinating with the collaboration is the bold colour scheme chosen, black and red with gold accents. A strong identity, with a composite case and ceramic bezel. The imagery and aesthetic which stands out in a pale, and often boring colour ways chosen by watch maisons.
The movement is an in-house jump hour mechanism over a Vaucher base movement. The jumping hour makes its entry instantaneously at the top of each hour, accompanied by a rather prominent click as it falls into place.
Retail is USD 42.5k, 250 piece limited edition.
Chopard L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 Sincere Platinum Jubilee Edition
This is a mesmerising edition of the original L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25, which we also loved first seen in 2021. But executed for the Sincere Platinum Jubilee, it now comes in an 18k white gold case instead of 18k rose gold. As usual, all Chopard cases is ethical and made in-house in their own facility in Meyrin. The combination of the white gold case contrasts beautifully with the rich burgundy dial.
We additionally made this YouTube Video (click on picture above) with more details. Retail was SGD 76,800 (including GST). Limited edition of 10 pieces.
Niton Prima
The manufacture Niton, who specialises in jumping hour complication returns to live in 2026. The new Prima is inspired by the brand’s historically registered digital hour display from 1928, reinterpreted through a newly developed manufacture caliber.
This is a revival of a maison which was founded in 1919 by Leopoldo Celi and and Swiss designer Yvan Ketterer, with the intention to reinterpret Niton’s original technical and aesthetic philosophy through contemporary watchmaking standards. In this latest release the watches are released in two variants – one in PT950 and in 18k pink gold. Only 19 pieces are available in each variant, and each is numbered xx/19. This release is so new, we have not had time to cover it, but look forward to seeing and handling the watch soon.
The movement is a traditional jump hour with instantaneous display. And a stop at zero for the seconds hand when the crown is pulled. An additional discreet, but useful complication is that this movement incorporates a hour-striking mechanism, producing a subtle mechanical sound for each hour change. This is achieved by a hammer striking a hand-soldered copper gong integrated into the inner flank of the case. In addition, in-house caliber NHS01 is form shaped in a rounded rectangle to fit the case, and meets both the Geneva Seal and Chronometer certification ISO 3159, the first independent brand to bear both distinctions at launch.
Retail pricing is CHF 44,750 for the Pink Gold and CHF 47,750 CHF in platinum (both before tax).
Concluding thoughts
It is interesting that some maisons saw this trend for jumping hour watches as early as 2021 (Chopard), and some just released (mention is given to the Audemars Piguet Social Club 26, which is the latest to the scene). Many are throwback homage pieces. And even one brand relaunched itself with a jump hour wrist watch (Niton).
What do you think? Does jump hour watches fascinate you? Which caught your fancy?
2 Comments
No Franck Mueller referenced here?
I don’t mind if an FM Jump Hour is inserted into this list. But I have intentionally kept it as a list of only 6 watches.