Glycine 'Jump Hour' 18k Two-Tone, 1930s

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

Founder Select Jumping hours mechanisms are one of my all time favorite complications, and I count several in my personal collection. While pieces such as this 1930s Glycine may have in recent memory been considered 'too small' to wear - compare it to the design-forward watches from brands such as Cartier, Piaget, and Patek Philippe that have been trending of late. Now blow the doors off with its complicated mechanism and incredible 18k white and yellow gold inlaid case! -James Lamdin We’re sure the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the brand name Glycine, their iconic Airman immediately comes to mind. We don’t blame you, it’s the same for us! Dig into their history and you'll find that Glycine has done so much more than the aviation and travel watches they are best known for. You'll discover they hold nine patents ranging from bracelet clasps and hacking mechanisms to vacuum casing and an incredible jump hour mechanism, such as the one presented here. This particular example dates to the 1930s and is housed in a two-tone rectangular case produced in solid white gold with a yellow gold inlay on the front, framing the time display. Measuring approximately 23mm x 34mm, the case is best characterized by its sharp edges and angular facets that extend from the top of the case all the way to the lugs - a stunning artifact from the pre-war period. The mechanism is their baguette shaped movement, first patented in October 1929, which integrated the jump hour, minute, and seconds discs onto a baguette surface, which offered more space than round movements. Giving the crown a few turns, the manual movement puts the discs in motion, displaying the time in three windows showcasing the hours, minutes, and running seconds. This fabulous Glycine Jump Hour offers an entirely different on-wrist experience than most contemporary collectors are familiar with. It’s all the little details that cohesively come together; its incredible two-tone gold case, the peculiar time-telling display that feels like a trip into a retro-futuristic steampunk world, its fixed bar construction, and ots accompanying steel ‘Gay Freres’ Bonklip bracelet. When the top of the hour comes, you'll find yourself taking a moment out of your day to watch the disc jump from one to the next, and we'd argue that the running seconds rotating disc is infinitely more soothing to behold than a sweeping seconds hand. In short, this is a special one.