INNOVATION


But how to bring the Christopher Ward flavour to such a classic? Into the discussion came Johannes Jahnke, a 27-year-old German with a fast-growing reputation among the watchmaking elite of Europe...


hour, resulting in much greater accuracy and reliability.


Says Jörg Bader: “In most Jumping Hour movements, the load goes on to the spring in the last 20 minutes or so. The effect is that the watch doesn’t have the same torque throughout the hour. But Johannes’ solution spreads the load over the hour interval with the result that the change or ‘jump’ is extremely precise and accurate. You could say we are rather happy with this new mechanism…” At £1150, the C9 Harrison Jumping Hour


with a genuine Louisiana alligator strap is the most expensive watch Christopher Ward has produced, the previous top price being around £800 for the C9 Harrison Chronograph. Chris Ward explains: “As this is such an


important development for the company, we have really pulled the stops out on every detail of the C9 JH. We have raised the bar even higher on our attention to detail, our decorative finishes and our components. We knew the Jumping Hour would appeal to our most sophisticated and most knowledgeable customers, but we have been overwhelmed by the very positive reactions we have been given and the many pre-orders requests we have received for the limited edition of just 200 pieces worldwide.” To emphasise the 360° rotation of the


minute arm, the design of this new classic is based on concentric circles and a highly innovative guilloche geometric pattern. The


refined and highly polished 43mm case has a 38mm dial opening beneath a high-grade sapphire crystal. The crown, which is stamped with the CW logo, is a perfectly proportioned 7mm. The dial comprises an exquisite


Many Jumping Hour watches do not keep especially good time as the surge of extra power the watch needs for the hour to change puts stress on the movement. Johannes Jahnke’s ingenious solution has been to create a movement that ensures the watch uses a consistent amount of power throughout the course of an entire hour, resulting in much greater accuracy and reliability


combination of a galvanic light silver outer ring that carries the Arabic minute numerals and minute markers, a narrow circular mirror- polished decorative frame, and a central circle of galvanic light silver with a fine sunbrushed finish on the striking guilloche geometric design. The all-important hour disc is also galvanic light silver in a matte finish; the classic Roman numerals (from I to XII) are in black relief. The hour window is logically positioned at 12 o’clock.


On the case back a beautifully engraved


italic inscription reads: Limited Edition Calibre 2824.2 Mod JJ001. Swiss made. The limited-edition serial number is presented in the form of 001/200.


In keeping with the luxurious qualities of this watch, the 20mm strap is genuine Louisiana alligator in dark brown with a chrome-finish deployment clasp. The familiar Christopher Ward logos are stamped on the underside of the straps


“Everyone at Christopher Ward is so


excited and proud at what we have achieved with the C9 Harrison Jumping Hour,” says Chris Ward. “We can’t wait to get the feedback from our customers when they receive the watch.”


Case back inscription showing the limited edition serial number and movement details.


The history of the Jumping Hour


The origins of the Jumping Hour (or Jump Hour) watch have been traced to French and Swiss pocket watches and clocks from as far back as the 1830s and 1840s. The great Swiss-based Austrian watchmaker Josef Pallweber did exemplary work with Jumping Hour pocket watch models for IWC in the 1880s and so is regarded by some as the father of the digital watch.


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Despite the modern connection with electronic displays, the strict definition of a digital watch is one "that displays time in the form of numbers, rather than by a dial and hands". So a Jumping Hour watch can be seen as a fascinating hybrid of analogue and digital. The analogue minute hand passes round the dial and gives the impetus at the climax of the rotation for the “jump” of the hour numeral, which brings in the digital element. Watch aficionados like Jumping Hour watches for several reasons: their historical curiosity; their unusual


good looks (the watch dial always looks clean); their mix of analogue and digital elements; and, in the case of the Christopher Ward C9 JH, the advanced and highly accurate modified movement.


Another supreme selling point is the Jumping Hour’s convenient simplicity and ease of use. The prominent digit in the hour window and the position of the minute hand enable you to tell the time very quickly. And isn’t that what a watch is for? Chris Ward says: “The C9 JH will be a welcome arrival as the interest in Jumping Hours is on the rise again.


Orderline 0844 875 1515


Cartier made some beautiful jump hour watches in the 1930s, and some sought- after Rolex Prince and Alpina-Gruen versions date from the same era. Some specialist collectors look out for the American models from the 1950s and 1960s such as the Benrus Dial O Rama, Hoga Chevron and Elgin Golf Ball. In 1989 Patek Philippe released its 3969 model in limited editions in rolled gold and in platinum to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the company. It is based on a Jumping Hour that Patek had produced in the 1930s. Our C9 JH is an excellent modern addition to this stellar line-up and our own Harrison collection.”


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