Jump Hour Watch

There are some great new jump hour watches around, but you can never beat an authentic vintage jump hour watch. There's something about them that takes them to the next level. When it comes to buying them, there's not better place to look than eBay. So here's a quick selection of those that are available right now.

On eBay UK

Vintage Jump Hour Wind Up 1972 74 Digital Watch    £10.29

vintage RETRO TIME RECORDER JUMP HOUR DIGITAL WATCH NOS    £165.00

vintage 1970s GIGANDET JUMP HOUR DIGITAL WATCH NOS MINT    £125.00

VINTAGE MICKEY MOUSE JUMP HOUR WATCH NOS IN BOX    £22.00

UMF Ruhla Anker vintage jump hour watch retro No Res    £11.50

vintage RETRO MENTOR JUMP HOUR DIGITAL WATCH NOS 1970S    £300.00

On eBay US

Vintage Elgin Jump Hour Watch NICE 1950s Jumping 50s    US $399.00

Vintage Jump Hour Wind Up 1972 74 Digital Watch    US $15.50

RARE VINTAGE TISSOT DIGITAL JUMP HOUR AUTOMATIC WATCH    US $44.00

When it comes to retro watches, the main brands to look out for are Lanco and Damas. Both unbeatable in terms of quality and styling.

Damas jump hour watches are probably the most sought after around. Originally produced in the late 70s and early 80s, these watches have that retro-space-age styling to them. Despite that retro styling, they do not look at all dated, but look timeless (except they do have the time!) and have a very masculine design.

On eBay UK

VINTAGE DAMAS DIGITAL JUMP HOUR WATCH BRACELET 70S NOS    £25.00

On eBay US

The font and colours used do not mark them as specifically 70s (as opposed to a make such as the Lanco jump hour watch). Rather, they use classic, timeless colours such as black and deep, rich red. There are, of course, some more recognisably 70s shades in the palette - their brown watch leaps to mind. The typeface is a forceful, clean sans serif with a stylised 'M' logo. Plenty of straight lines used in both the font and the styling of the watch.

The display is on the left hand side with minute and second digits (both with indents). And a much needed red line to aid time keeping (not that time keeping is the primary function of jump hours).

The mechanism of these watches is a high quality Swiss automatic movement. These mechanisms, so long as they are cared for, will not let you down. It's not for nothing that the Swiss are so associated with time keeping. So even in watches from the 70s, the mechanism will most likely function as well as it does for any watch produced this century.

There are two types of strap arrangement that I have seen. The steel strap variety has a very broad face to the watch with large steel plates at the top and bottom of the display. The other type has a larger, non-metallic strap which leaves only the very narrow display.

Rarer Damas Jump Hour Watches

As well as the design described above, Damas did make a different design. This one came in more lurid colours (dayglo green and orange) and featured an elongated diamond shaped face with the digits displayed underneath the 'Damas' name. It is also less masculine in its form. This design isn't as timeless as the more common Damas design, but it does have a very kitsch, retro appeal.

In my personal opinion, the Damas jump hour watch is the most stylish jump hour, and watch full stop, there is. It's a complete design classic and anyone collection jump hours should have one in their collection.

If you're looking for a retro 70s watch, you can't go wrong with a Lanco jump hour. Everything about them screams 70s: the colours, the curve of the lines, the fonts.

For Sale on eBay UK

For Sale on eBay US

The most common Lanco face is a rounded rectangle design. The digits are displayed centrally with three horizontal lines across the face. To the left of the digits is the Lanco name and logo (a traditional watch face with the hands in the shape of an 'L') and the words 'SWISS MADE'. The most common colours are green, blue and red (all, of course, in the most 70s shades of these colours).

The less common Lanco model has a more oval shape to it. They share a very similar styling to the other design but with a slight realignment of features: there is only one, bold line through the centre, the name and logo are above and the 'SWISS MADE' legend is below. This design does have a slightly more modern feel to it. So, if you're going for the retro look, the more common design is for you.

Like the Damas jump hour watch, the Lanco has a high quality Swiss mechanism. One that you can rely on.

If you're looking for a retro 70s watch, there's no doubt that Lanco is the way to go. The styling of them is incredible and there's no beating their kitsch appeal.

Buy Lanco watches here.