Bremont Terra Nova Jumping Hour

Bremont, the British watch manufacturer known for its robust tool watches, has introduced a significant development within its Terra Nova collection: the integration of a Jumping Hour complication. This marks a first for the brand, showcasing its continued evolution and design capability as it enters its 23rd year. The launch features two distinct models, each presenting this uncommon mechanical feature in a unique way, further diversifying the relatively young Terra Nova line.



Founded in 2002 by brothers Nick and Giles English, Bremont has carved a niche for itself by producing highly durable timepieces often associated with aviation, exploration, and military service. The company's philosophy centres on creating "Tested Beyond Endurance" watches, designed to function reliably in demanding environments, from deep oceans to high altitudes. This commitment is embodied in their mantra, ‘Take It Further,’ reflecting an inspiration drawn from pioneers and adventurers.



The foundation for Bremont's technical capabilities lies partly in its dedicated manufacturing facility, 'The Wing,' opened in 2021 in the Chiltern valley. This state-of-the-art centre underscores the brand's commitment to British watchmaking and provides the infrastructure needed for developing and assembling complex timepieces, including those featuring new complications like the Jumping Hour.



The Terra Nova collection, first launched in 2024, serves as the platform for this new complication. These watches are conceived as contemporary field watches, drawing aesthetic cues from military pocket watches used in the early 20th century. Key design elements include a distinctive geometric cushion-shaped case, a relatively low profile on the wrist, and shortened lugs, contributing to a modern yet historically informed look.



The Jumping Hour itself is a fascinating, albeit somewhat rare, mechanical complication with roots stretching back to the 19th century. It experienced a notable surge in popularity during the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 30s. Instead of a traditional hour hand sweeping around the dial, a Jumping Hour watch displays the hour digitally, typically through an aperture. The "jump" occurs precisely at the top of the hour, when the minute hand completes its 60-minute cycle, causing the hour disc to instantly advance to the next numeral.



Executing this instantaneous jump requires a sophisticated mechanism involving specific gears and springs capable of storing and releasing energy precisely on the hour. Bremont highlights that the calibre developed for these new watches achieves this jump in less than one-tenth of a second, demanding a high-torque movement to ensure crisp, reliable performance without affecting the watch's overall timekeeping accuracy.



Powering both new Terra Nova models is the Calibre BC634AH, an automatic movement developed exclusively for Bremont in partnership with the well-regarded movement manufacturer, Sellita. This partnership grants Bremont a two-year exclusivity for this specific calibre. The movement incorporates 29 jewels, a Glucydur balance wheel, an Anachron balance spring, and a Nivaflex mainspring. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) and provides a substantial 56-hour power reserve.



The first of the two new releases is the Terra Nova 38mm Jumping Hour Bronze. This model is explicitly linked to the aesthetic of early 20th-century trench watches, combining vintage military styling with the novel complication. It is presented as a limited edition of just 100 pieces, adding an element of exclusivity.



The case of the 38mm Bronze model measures a compact 38mm in diameter, with a lug-to-lug length of 44mm and a thickness of 9.1mm. It is crafted from cupro-aluminium bronze, an alloy chosen for its strength and its characteristic ability to develop a unique patina over time. Bremont specifies that this alloy tends to patinate evenly, ensuring the watch ages gracefully. The case features a vertically brushed finish on its surfaces, housed in a two-piece construction with a simple push-in crown. The lug width is 20mm.



Visually, the 38mm Bronze model adopts the classic 'montre à guichet' (window watch) display style. Instead of a traditional dial, the time is read through three distinct, linearly arranged apertures cut directly into the case or a covering plate. The hour is displayed in a window at the 12 o'clock position, while the minutes appear in a window at 6 o'clock. Brown printed numerals are used on the underlying hour and minute discs.



Occupying the central position is a third window dedicated to the running seconds. This display features a black, compass-inspired seconds hand sweeping over the Bremont 'Wayfinder' logo, subtly reinforcing the brand’s connection to navigation and adventure. Each of these three time-telling apertures is protected by an individual sapphire crystal.



Complementing the bronze case, the case back is fashioned from stainless steel but treated with a PVD bronze colouring to maintain visual consistency. Water resistance for this model is rated at 3 ATM, equivalent to 30 metres, suitable for everyday exposure but not for swimming or diving.



Bremont offers the Terra Nova 38mm Jumping Hour Bronze with two strap options. Buyers can choose either a full cupro-aluminium bronze bracelet, featuring a quick-release system and a butterfly clasp, matching the case material and finish, or a more vintage-inflected tan leather strap with box-stitching. This choice allows wearers to lean into either a full metal look or a more classic field watch aesthetic.



The overall package of the 38mm Bronze variant delivers a watch rich in character. Its smaller size aligns with current trends favouring more classically proportioned watches, while the bronze material and trench watch inspiration give it a distinct personality. The Jumping Hour display adds mechanical intrigue, making it an interesting piece for collectors drawn to unusual complications and military-inspired design.



The second new release takes a different approach: the Terra Nova 40.5mm Jumping Hour in 904L Stainless Steel. This model offers a more contemporary and perhaps versatile interpretation of the Jumping Hour within the Terra Nova framework, presented as a regular production piece rather than a limited edition.



This version features a larger 40.5mm cushion case, crafted from 904L stainless steel, a grade known for its high corrosion resistance and ability to take an excellent polish. The case combines satin-brushed and polished finishes, contributing to a more refined appearance compared to the tool-like bronze model. Its dimensions are 40.5mm in diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, and 10.15mm thick, with a 22mm lug width. It also uses a push-in crown.



Unlike the bronze model's aperture-driven display, the 40.5mm steel version features a more conventional, albeit uniquely arranged, dial. A glossy black lacquered dial serves as the backdrop. The Jumping Hour and minutes are displayed via two adjacent windows, both positioned towards the 9 o’clock side of the dial. This offset arrangement is designed to create a natural left-to-right visual flow for reading the time. An applied border frames these windows, adding a touch of depth.



Legibility is a key focus on this model. White Super-LumiNova with a green emission is applied to the hour numeral visible through its window, as well as to printed triangular markers at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions on the main dial. A detailed minute track with silver printing runs around the dial periphery. The minute window displays white printed numerals. A central seconds hand, coated entirely in white Super-LumiNova, sweeps across the dial, ensuring visibility in low-light conditions.



Protecting the dial is a single, flat sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating to minimize glare. The case back is made from decorated 904L stainless steel, though specifics of the decoration are not detailed. This model boasts a significantly higher water resistance rating of 10 ATM, or 100 metres, making it suitable for swimming and surface water sports.



For the 40.5mm stainless steel model, Bremont provides the option of either a matching 904L stainless steel bracelet, featuring the Terra Nova design with polished and brushed links, or a black gradient leather strap equipped with a quick-release mechanism. This offers flexibility between a sportier, integrated look and a slightly dressier feel.



The 40.5mm Jumping Hour presents a cleaner, more modern execution of the complication. Its use of 904L steel, the polished elements, the black gloss dial, and the emphasis on lume create a sharp, high-contrast look. The unusual dial layout provides a distinct visual identity while aiming for intuitive readability, positioning it as a versatile watch suitable for various occasions.



Bremont CEO Davide Cerrato shared his perspective on the complication, noting his long-standing appreciation for the Jumping Hour. He described it as "quite rare and something of a connoisseur’s complication," acknowledging its mechanical complexity hidden beneath a visually simple display. He also highlighted the intriguing blend of digital (the jumping numeral) and analogue (the minutes and seconds hands) references inherent in the design.



The introduction of these two Jumping Hour models clearly signals Bremont's intent to broaden its mechanical horizons and demonstrate design flexibility within the Terra Nova collection. By securing an exclusive calibre and offering two very different aesthetic interpretations – one vintage-inspired and limited, the other modern and versatile – Bremont caters to distinct tastes while showcasing its capacity for technical and stylistic innovation.



These new timepieces represent a fusion of historical inspiration, drawn from military timekeeping and the Art Deco era's fascination with novel displays, and contemporary watchmaking execution. They embody Bremont's core principles of building purposeful, robust watches while pushing into new territory with complications not previously seen in their lineup, aiming to appeal to discerning watch enthusiasts seeking mechanical ingenuity combined with functional design.



The Terra Nova 38mm Jumping Hour Bronze, limited to 100 pieces, is priced at £4,900.00 (£4,550.00 on strap). The Terra Nova 40.5mm Jumping Hour in 904L stainless steel is priced at £3,500.00 (£3,750 on bracelet). Both models are designated as new for 2025, indicating their upcoming or recent availability through Bremont's authorized retailers and potentially directly from the brand.



Terra Nova 38mm Jumping Hour Bronze



Case: 38mm diameter, 44mm length, 9.1mm depth, 20mm lug width. Satin and polished two-piece Cupro-Aluminium bronze cushion case. Push-in crown. PVD bronze-coloured stainless steel case back. 3 ATM (30 metres) water resistance. Three individual sapphire crystals over apertures.

Movement: Bremont Calibre BC634AH automatic. Jumping Hour complication. 29 Jewels. Glucydur balance wheel, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex mainspring. 28,800 bph (4Hz). 56-hour power reserve.

Dial: Closed-case 'montre à guichet' style. Hour window at 12 O'clock, Minute window at 6 O'clock, Central running small seconds window. Brown printed numerals on hour/minute discs. Compass design black running small seconds hand.

Strap: Cupro-Aluminium bronze quick release bracelet with butterfly clasp OR vintage-style tan leather strap.

Price: £4,900.00 (£4,550.00 on strap)

Reference Number: tn38-jh-bz-cc-b

Notes: Limited to 100 pieces. Inspired by early 20th-century trench watches. High-performance bronze alloy develops a rich patina.





Terra Nova 40.5mm Jumping Hour Steel



Case: 40.5mm diameter, 47mm length, 10.15mm depth, 22mm lug width. Satin and polished two-piece 904L stainless steel cushion case. Push-in crown. Decorated 904L stainless steel case back. 10 ATM (100 metres) water resistance. Flat anti-reflective sapphire crystal.

Movement: Bremont Calibre BC634AH automatic. Jumping Hour complication. 29 Jewels. Glucydur balance wheel, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex mainspring. 28,800 bph (4Hz). 56-hour power reserve.

Dial: Black lacquered dial with applied window border. Offset Hour window and Minute window at 9 O'clock. Central running seconds hand. White Super-LumiNova® (Green emission) on hour numeral, printed markers (12, 3, 6, 9), and full centre seconds hand. Silver printed minute track/hour markers. White printed minute numerals.

Strap: 904L stainless steel Terra Nova bracelet OR quick-release black gradient leather strap.

Price: £3,500.00 (£3,750 on bracelet)

Reference Number: tn40-jh-ss-bk-l-s

Notes: Refined, contemporary field watch design. Uses high-grade 904L stainless steel. Offset apertures enhance readability with a left-to-right flow. Extensive use of Super-LumiNova® for low-light visibility.