Bremont’s Terra Nova collection of field watches, launched at the Watches & Wonders fair in 2024, marked a shift in focus for the British brand. With slimmer cases and cleaner dials, the line offered a more practical, field-ready design for everyday wear. Now, Bremont elevates the collection further by debuting its first-ever Jumping Hour complication – powered by the newly developed BC634 automatic movement.

Unlike traditional hour hands, the Jumping Hour uses a rotating disc that advances once every 60 minutes. It’s a display that appears minimal on the dial but requires precise energy delivery to function smoothly. Developed in collaboration with Swiss movement maker Sellita – with whom Bremont holds a two-year exclusivity on the calibre – the BC634 offers a 56-hour power reserve and features anti-magnetic components including a Glucydur balance, Nivaflex mainspring and bi-directional winding rotor. It’s visible through a sapphire crystal caseback and protected by a soft iron inner cage for enhanced magnetic resistance, ensuring durability in rugged conditions.

Though visually simple, the complication itself has a long history in watchmaking. First appearing in the late 19th century, it gained traction in the Art Deco era for its blend of mechanical ingenuity and understated display. Bremont CEO Davide Cerrato calls it ‘quite rare and something of a connoisseur’s complication. It’s complex to realise but simple in its appearance. It also mixes digital and analogue references, which I love, and almost mirrors my own life’s journey. It’s mechanical at heart but digital in its display – born analogue but having to learn and grow with digital.’

Two models mark the launch. The first is a 38mm bronze edition, limited to 100 pieces, with a vertical three-aperture display for hours, minutes and central seconds. The dial nods to the “montre à guichet” style of early aperture-display watches, while the cushion-shaped case and short lugs draw from early 20th-century military pocket watches. Crafted from stable cupro-aluminium bronze, the case is designed to develop a uniform patina over time. It comes on a matching bronze bracelet or a quick-release tan leather strap for a utilitarian look.

The second model is rendered in 904L stainless steel and slightly larger at 40.5mm. Here, the apertures are positioned horizontally with a glossy black dial punctuated by luminous triangle markers. It’s offered on either a leather strap or a stainless-steel bracelet, both with quick-release systems for easy interchangeability.

As Bremont celebrates its 23rd anniversary in 2025, the brand resists the urge to launch an entirely new line, instead opting to evolve its Terra Nova collection – introducing a sophisticated complication into one of its most wearable and versatile designs to date.

From £3,500; bremont.com