A jumping hour watch for less than 2500$… Seriously is it possible ? Apparently yes and it comes from Isotope Watch.
If you’re not familiar with the brand you have to know that it is run by North London based entrepreneur Jose Mendes Miranda. It was created in November 2015 but the idea came in mind 5 years ago. It’s not the first attempt of Jose because well before Isotope it had already created 2 brands which unfortunately did not have the success that he hoped.
The interesting part of the story is that he learned how to create a movement from scratch… and when you know how complicated it is to assemble and disassemble a movement and to create a new one, we can just congratulate him.
Today he is proud to present an amazing watch inspired by Streamline Moderne style and which pays tribute to the creator of the jumping hour concept, Mister Josef Pallweber.
For the record, back in 1883, the Austrian Engineer Josef Pallweber invented a watch complication popularly referred to as the Pallweber “Jump-Hour” movement.
His invention had the simple idea of making easier to read the hour in pocket watches. He replaced the hands with a “digital” display of hours and minutes and every 60-minute cycle, the hour digit would suddenly “jump” to the next hour.
In 1885, the Swiss firm known as “The International Watch Company” of Schaffhausen, or “IWC”, patented the revolutionary Josef Pallweber mechanical pocket watch movement, which displayed the hours and minutes with Arabic numeral dials.
Between 1885-1887, the Pallweber “Jump-Hour” pocket watches were exclusively manufactured by IWC. Since then, several solutions were invented and explored by various watch designers and consequently, different watch brands.
The name « Rider » of the first Isotope’s creation agglomerates various concepts but above all expresses the will to time travel, reinterpreting the Streamline Moderne philosophy and adding timeless elements into its contemporary and classic design.
Now let’s have a closer look to the piece itself and start with the heart of it.
The movement that powers this timepiece is the Swiss Made ETA 2824-2, an automatic calibre well known for its reliability, accuracy and low-maintenance costs. This robust and extremely well designed movement is used by some of the top Swiss brands as well.
The 100% Swiss Made jumping hour module was designed and assembled in Biel (Switzerland) and has been specifically adapted to Isotope’s design. The hour positioned at 6 o’clock is very rare in Jumping-Hour watches and so is the central second hand.
As you can see the number positioned at 6 o’clock represents the hour. As an example, at 5.59, when the minute and second hands reach the last second before 6, the 6 “jumps” replacing the 5 in the hour window. This bespoke module, with window hour positioned at 6 o’clock, adopts an ingenious solution and the module uses a systematic amount of power throughout an entire hour, delivering excellent results in accuracy and reliability.
The Rotor, visible from the case back window, can be either decorated with the ISOTOPE Logo or with a bespoke design/message as per the customers requirements, making each model even more priceless, exclusive and personal.
In terms of design we can image that the inspiration came from racing and modern art but for me the thing that has catched my eyes directly is that this piece looks like, from a way or another, to the Junghans Max Bill Kitchen Clock designed in 1956. Seriously, look closely and you’ll see that in the Rider Watch the Jumping hour replaces the timer of Max Bill Kichen Clock. And even the black part of the dial make me think of the design of this clock.
The dials show white or black painted indexes and Arabic numerals, depending on the dial colour. You’ll have the choice between 6 different colors (You can see them all on their website). Personally I don’t know which one I prefer but the blue and the vintage pastel green are really cool. On The dial we find the large window positioned at 6 o’clock displays the hour, and the minute and seconds are displayed by two central hands.
The 46,8 x 13,7 stainless steel 316L case is fitted with domed AR sapphire crystal front glass and has a water resistance of 100 meters.
All variants of this watch will be supplied with a bespoke leather strap, either in black or dark brown Calfskin leather, depending on the ideal colour combination with the dial. Nice thing is that they use a quick release allowing you to change when you want without the use of a tool.
Jumping-Hour watches are often.. No, my mistake, they are always really expensive; so that’s really a good news to find for the first time an affordable complicated piece with such a quality.
With this complication, the London based brand (but Swiss Made) shows to all watch enthusiasts that it is possible to make an amazing yet affordable watch.
The company is fully dedicated to bring to life Swiss Made horological complications and we heard that in the next five years Isotope will have a full range of high quality timepieces, always with exclusive technical solutions and original, yet classic design. Interesting no?