Jumping Hour Watches

Jumping hour watches are timepieces that display the hour in a non-traditional way. Instead of a traditional hour hand that slowly moves around the dial, jumping hour watches have a window or aperture that displays the current hour, which changes in a sudden jump at the top of each hour.

The jumping hour complication was first introduced in pocket watches in the early 20th century, and it became popular in wristwatches during the 1920s and 1930s. Today, jumping hour watches are still produced by several luxury watch brands and are considered a rare and unique complication.

They can have a simple or complex mechanism to display the hour. Some watches have a single aperture for the hour display, while others may have multiple windows or a digital display. The hour indication may be accompanied by a minute hand, or the minutes may be displayed on a separate subdial or a digital display.

These watches are prized for their innovative and unconventional design, and they are often considered collector's items. The complication requires a high level of technical expertise to design and manufacture, which contributes to the exclusivity and value of these timepieces.