When you think about reading the time on a โdigital display,โ your first thought is probably a Casio with an LCD screen. But the phrase also applies to a very special mechanical variant: jump hour or guichet watches.
They donโt come with normal dials or hands to show the time. Instead, they show digits on rotating disks (hence โdigital displayโ), and are an excellent choice if youโre looking for something a little unconventional.
Throughout its century-and-a-half existence, these bad boys have enjoyed intermittent periods of popularity โ and for the first time since the 70s, theyโre back in vogue with everyone from Cartier and Louis Vuitton to Chanel and Jaeger-LeCoultre releasing interpretations of the unforgettable design.
Naturally, we wanted to take a closer look at a few of the very best jump hour watches available today, each one reviving this almost forgotten form of time-telling in its own unique way. From the genuinely affordable to the works of mechanical art, check them out below.
Jump To:
- Cartier Tank ร Guichets
- Louis Vuitton Tambour Convergence
- Fears Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour โBarleycorn Plumโ
- Chopard L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 Straw Marquetry Edition
- Amida Digitrend Open Sapphire
- Chanel Monsieur de Chanel
- Bremont Terranova Jump Hour
- A. Lange & Sรถhne Zeitwerk
- Andersen Genรจve Jumping Hours Burma Jade
Cartier Tank ร Guichets
At the start of 2025, Cartier relaunched its legendary Tank ร Guichets design โ a watch thatโs a collector favourite thanks to its radical shape and serious rarity, with less than 280 examples ever produced before 2025.
Revived within the brandโs elevated Privรฉ collection, the new Cartier Tank ร Guichets is available in platinum, yellow gold, and rose gold with two vertically arranged windows for the hours and minutes that offer a nod to the very first Cartier of this kind from 1928.
In addition to the three regular production references, Cartier also unveiled a 200-piece limited edition in platinum with the windows arranged off-centre, giving collectors the chance to own a more contemporary interpretation of the design. The cases of all four references feature vertically brushed cases that measure 37.6mm in length and 24.8mm in width, with an impressive thickness of just 6mm (made possible via the manually wound 9755 MC movement).
The two regular production models in gold are priced at $83,000, while the platinum version is $96,500. The limited edition is POA.
Louis Vuitton Tambour Convergence
Louis Vuitton might be best known for its fashion and leather goods collections, but in recent years, the French-founded luxury house has seriously stepped up its watch game. In 2011, it bought the watchmaking facility La Fabrique du Temps, and in 2025, the Louis Vuitton Tambour Convergence was released to critical acclaim.
Louis Vuitton released two different versions, one in rose gold and one in platinum set with diamonds โ both with 37mm cases that are a slender 8mm in thickness. Powered by the calibre LFT MA01.01 with 45 hours of power reserve, their high-polish case design and modest proportions represent a new era of watchmaking for Louis Vuitton.
The rose gold reference has an RRP of $61,000, while the platinum reference with diamonds is $111,000.
Fears Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour โBarleycorn Plumโ
On the more affordable end of the scale is British independent watchmaker Fears, which recently released the charming Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour โBarleycorn Plum.โ
Unlike the offerings from Cartier and Louis Vuitton, the Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour does have a central single hand for the minutes, which is crowned by a window for the hours.
The inner section of the dial is a rich shade of plum (achieved with matte lacquer), while the outer ring of the dial has been decorated with a silver-plated 3D barleycorn pattern that looks fantastic. The cushion-shaped case measures 40.5mm in diameter and houses the automatic winding JJ01 movement inside.
Chopard L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 Straw Marquetry Edition
Iโve handled literally thousands of different watches over the years, but the Chopard L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 Straw Marquetry Edition is one of the very few watches that made me stop and stare when I first held it.
Chopard produces a full collection of jump hour watches within the L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 line-up โ the green straw marquetry dial of this one, however, is truly one of the most beautiful dials Iโve ever had the pleasure of seeing up close.
Cased in 40mm of ethically sourced rose gold, the dial isnโt its only party trick โ itโs also powered by the L.U.C 98.06-L movement equipped with four barrels that translate to a very impressive eight days (192 hours) of power reserve.
If youโre hunting for a watch thatโll leave people thinking about it for months after they see it, this is one you need to consider.
Amida Digitrend Open Sapphire
During the 1970s, watch designers embraced jump hour watches thanks to their unusual way of telling the time โ a trend that resulted in more than a handful of weird and wonderful jump hour watches. In the same spirit of retrofuturism arrives the Amida Digitrend Open Sapphire, an all-new design thatโs inspired by the brandโs mechanical Digitrend that was first released in 1976.
This specific reference is special as more than two-thirds of its case is constructed using transparent sapphire grown using the Kyropoulos method, offering an uninterrupted view of the movement inside. Measuring 39.6mm wide and 39mm long, itโs one of the more interesting kinds of jump hour watch, and one that just oozes 70s charm.
Chanel Monsieur de Chanel
Much like Louis Vuitton, Chanel is unlikely to be the first name that comes to mind when you think of fine watchmaking, though the fashion house has been making extremely interesting watches for years. Among them is the Chanel Monsieur de Chanel collection, featuring a jump hour, retrograde minutes, as well as a range of case and dial materials that make it a worthy target of desire.
In total, case materials include white gold, beige gold (a less red rose gold), platinum, and ceramic, all measuring 40mm in diameter and 10mm in thickness, and flaunting exhibition casebacks that show off the movement inside. The movement in question is none other than Chanelโs first in-house CALIBRE 1 that was produced in collaboration with the celebrated independent watchmaker, Romain Gauthier.
As far as pricing, white gold has an RRP of $86,000, beige gold is $84,300, platinum (with a Grand Feu enamel dial) costs $135,000, and the sporty, ceramic reference is priced at $76,400.
Bremont Terranova Jump Hour
While Bremont is best-known for its military-focused watches, in 2025, the British-founded watchmaker took a surprising sidestep with the debut of the Bremont Terranova Jump Hour collection; my favourite of which is the Terra Nova 40.5 Jumping Hour.
Cased in 40.5mm of stainless steel, it takes a slightly different approach with its design, featuring both hours and minutes windows tucked away at nine oโclock and a comparatively large central seconds hand.
This design leaves an ocean of negative space across the black lacquered dial, encouraging owners to read the dial as intended โ from left to right and without distraction. Powered by the BC634AH movement with 56 hours of power reserve, itโs a fresh look for Bremont and one that works a treat.
A. Lange & Sรถhne Zeitwerk
After making its debut in 2009, the A. Lange & Sรถhne Zeitwerk is one of the most celebrated jump hour designs on the market today, thanks to the structured geometry of its dial and impeccable German craftsmanship of its movement.
The dial is designed to be read from left to right, with a seconds subdial at six oโclock and a power reserve indicator at 12 oโclock, but as is the case with all A. Lange & Sรถhne watches, the movement is where the real magic happens.
If you flip it over, youโll discover a miniature city of cogs and gears, incredibly well-finished German silver bridges, and a hand-engraved balance cock thatโs become a signature of movements from the brand. Measuring 41.9mm in diameter and 12.2mm in thickness, itโs not a small watch (both in rose gold and platinum).
The Zeitwerk remains a grail for many collectors around the world. Price: POA
Andersen Genรจve Jumping Hours Burma Jade
Today, there arenโt many independent watchmakers creating finer jump hour watches than Andersen Genรจve. Unfortunately for anyone wanting to own one, most of the watches in the Jumping Hours collection are limited editions and likely have a long production wait time, further underscoring the incredible level of craft and attention to detail that goes into every piece.
My favourite reference from the brand is a 12-piece limited edition produced in collaboration with British luxury retailer Asprey, which features a remarkable Burmese jade dial, a 38mm platinum case (9.22mm thick), and is powered by a meticulously finished Frรฉdรฉric Piguet 11.50 calibre with a jump hour module.
The best jump hour watches lend themselves towards minimalism, but Andersen Genรจveโs expression offers a masterclass in the subject.
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