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
 ORIGINAL 1970S RETRO WATCH DAMAS JUMP HOUR  £99.00
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 VINTAGE DAMAS DIGITAL JUMP HOUR WATCH BRACELET 70S NOS £25.00
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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.
February 8th, 2009 at 9:59 am
[...] the Damas jump hour watch, the Lanco has a high quality Swiss mechanism. One that you can rely [...]