British watch brand Isotope is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year with the launch of a timepiece that is out of this world in more ways than one. It’s the OVNI Jumping Hour Founders Edition, OVNI is an acronym you might be unfamiliar with because it’s French, standing for objet volant non identifé, which in English translates to the very familiar phrase unidentified flying object, or UFO.
The name comes from the fact the case is flying saucer shaped, measuring 40mm in diameter in 904L stainless steel with smooth, round sides. It’s not quite a full Disco Volante case though because it features external lugs instead of having them hidden. The crown is also prominently positioned at 12 o’clock. Though the bold shape, which has a thickness of 13.6mm, does have a sci-fi quality to it with its curves, which is the entire point.
However, while the shape is the first feature that stands out on the OVNI Jumping Hour Founders Edition, the dial is much more interesting because, of course, it features a jumping hour disc display. Isotope’s founder Jose is a huge fan of the Gerald Genta Jump Hour so it was somewhat inevitable the brand would have a crack at the style eventually, though they’ve gone about it in a unique way.
Typically, a jumping hour display has a single, static aperture through which you can view the hour as a numeral that jumps to the next numeral at the change of the hour. Here though, the numerals are static and the aperture is on an aluminium disc that rotates in a jumping motion around the dial to reveal the time. The typography of each numeral is highly stylised to build on the sci-fi vibe.
In the centre of the jumping disc is a central column that reaches up through the middle of the sapphire glass, making the glass a doughnut shape rather than a continuous dome. Orbiting the central column is the minute hand, coated with Super-LumiNova for low light legibility. While there’s no dedicated minute track, there are at least 12 large markers for some graduation to help read the time.
It’s powered by the La Joux-Perret G101 Soigné automatic movement with Isotope’s proprietary jumping hour disc module. Its 68-hour power reserve is very respectable given the power intensity required to jump and entire dial forward every hour. It also maintains an accuracy of +/-7 seconds per day.
The OVNI Jumping Hour Founders Edition is limited to 150 pieces, available for pre-order between August 25 – September 13 at a price of £1,500 (£1,800 including VAT). If you miss out on this limited edition, there’s no need to worry as the OVNI Jumping Hour will be released in full later on. Although future editions of the OVNI Jumping Hour will then have prices starting from £2,400, making the Founders Edition not only a great celebration of Isotope’s 10th anniversary, but a fantastic value timepiece as well.
Price and Specs:
More details at Isotope.
