Already available for pre-order with the first bunch of them expected to be delivered mid-March 2015, the new Chr.Ward C9 Jumping Hour MKIII features a refreshingly new design, which is not just clean and easy to read, but is also extremely refined. It looks like the guys that designed this beautiful timekeeper were in the proverbial “zone”: they did everything right.
jumping hours
DeWitt Classic Jumping Hour in Rose Gold (Ref. CLA.HSA.002/005)
Available both with a creamy white (ref. CLA.HSA.002) and an anthracite black (ref. CLA.HSA.005) dial, the new DeWitt Classic Jumping Hour brings you that familiar exterior with a couple of off-centered dials for minutes and seconds and a small jumping hour aperture. However, while most timekeepers of this kind feature a vertical sub-dials alignment, DeWitt opted for a horizontal one and then decorated the final product with their signature art-deco styling.
A. Lange & Sohne Zeitwerk Handwerkskunst Limited Edition in Platinum (Ref. 140.048)
First unveiled back in 2009, the gorgeous “digital” Zeitwerk has already survived a number of limited editions. Now, the German brand reintroduces the timekeeper as A. Lange & Sohne Zeitwerk Handwerkskunst (Ref. 140.048) adding to the mix a new dial that successfully combines rhodium-plated white gold and their signature “German silver” alloy: the centuries-old mixture of copper, nickel and zinc that allows you to make a greyish-white metal that is easy to work with and, when finished properly, looks great, too.
Bvlgari Octo Quadri-Retro Maserati Special Edition (ref. BGO45C3SLDCHQR/MAS)
Two expensive Italian brands have joined their forces to bring you this piece of high-tech beauty. Being based on the 2011 Octo Quadri-Retro Chronograph (ref. BGO45BSCLDCHQR), the new Bvlgari Octo Quadri-Retro Maserati Special Edition (ref. BGO45C3SLDCHQR/MAS) features the same functionality, but adds to the winning formula Maserati colors and the iconic Trident logo. What’s really exciting is that, compared to some other makers of luxury sports cars, Maserati didn’t even insist on plastering the timekeeper’s face and strap with its signature insignia.
Bell & Ross WW1 Jump Hours Power Reserve Automatic in Rose Gold
Believe it or not, but Bell & Ross has recently re-issued its gorgeous Jump Hours model that was first revealed at the Baselworld 2003 in Switzerland. Now available both in platinum and in more affordable (and also definitely more elegant) rose gold, the new Bell & Ross WW1 Jump Hours Power Reserve features a pretty rare layout with a single minute hand in the center of the dial and a jumping hour aperture at 12 o’clock. Playing in tune with the signature pocket watch-style rose gold case, the whole layout looks organic and, well, harmonic.
Christopher Ward C9 Harrison Jumping Hour
The somewhat out-of-the-way British watchmaking brand has recently revealed its automatic Christopher Ward C9 Harrison Jumping Hour. Featuring a unique (well, maybe not that unique, but at least original and made exclusive for them) jumping hour complication module, it is going to be the most expensive model in their whole range.
Marvin Malton M160 Rectangle Flying Hour
The new Marvin Malton M160 Rectangle Flying Hour (ref. M024.14.41.64) looks great. But why isn’t it powered by a mechanical movement? Perhaps, the answer is that someone at Marvin wants to believe that two quartz calibers are actually better than just one self-winding movement. On the other hand, a pair of quartz calibers plus a mechanical movement (yes, I’m talking about the 2010 Dussert Tri-Zone DW400 GMT) could be even better.
Bvlgari Octo Quadri-Retro Chronograph
With the 2011 Octo Quadri-Retro Chronograph (ref. BGO45BSCLDCHQR) Bulgari keeps on consolidating the legacy of Gerald Genta: an independent brand that they have recently, um, absorbed. This particular model, for example, is a face-lifted and rebadged version of the Gerald Genta Arena Chrono Quattro Retro “wristboard” model that was presented two years at Baselworld 2009 if memory serves me well.
A. Lange & Sohne Zeitwerk Striking Time in White Gold and Platinum (Ref. 145.029 / 145.025)
A. Lange & Sohne keeps on monetizing its initial (and, something tells me, rather surprising even for the company’s top management) overwhelming success with the revolutionary design (and also gorgeous in terms of exterior and interior finish) Zeitwerk “digital” hand-wound watch. Featuring the same time representation mechanism, the new Zeitwerk Striking Time was just revealed at the SIHH 2011 industry event. The new iteration of the Zeitwerk adds a mesmerizing chiming mechanism to the original jumping hours and minutes complication.
Baume & Mercier Classima Automatic Jumping Hour Limited Edition (ref. MOA10039)
The upcoming limited-edition Baume & Mercier Classima Automatic Jumping Hour (ref. MOA10039 aka 10039) is basically a more affordable version of their gorgeous William Baume Jumping Hour (ref. M0A08857) model in 18-karat rose gold that was released just a few weeks ago in an ultra-limited run of just 40 piece. This one, however, is coming in a slightly larger body, featuring a more simple (and also more elegant) decoration of its silver dial, and available in many more examples.