Jump hour / Saltarello

 highly unusual and exceptionally rare Universal Genève Jump Hour dating from 1931, housed in an elegant 18k yellow gold case.

Measuring approximately 36.5 mm in height and 21.5 mm in width, the elongated case gives the watch a distinctive architectural presence and reflects the experimental approach to design and complications found in early 20th-century Swiss watchmaking.

The defining feature is its jump-hour display, an innovative complication in which the hour changes instantaneously through a dedicated aperture, while the minutes are displayed in the traditional manner. This unconventional configuration makes the watch a remarkable example of Universal Genève’s early experimentation with alternative methods of displaying time.

The combination of its early 1930s production date, 18k gold case and unusual jump-hour mechanism makes this an exceptionally uncommon Universal Genève, particularly appealing to collectors of rare and historically significant Swiss watches.

The watch is accompanied by its original presentation box and matching buckle, completing an already remarkable and highly collectible example.

A truly distinctive piece from Universal Genève’s early history, representing the inventive and unconventional side of the manufacture.