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Showing posts with label independent watchmaker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label independent watchmaker. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Isotope OVNI Jumping Hour Watch: Limited Founders Edition Review

Discover the Isotope OVNI Jumping Hour watch, a limited Founders Edition UFO-inspired timepiece with a jumping disc module. Read our complete review and specifications.


What Makes the Isotope OVNI Special

The OVNI Jumping Hour brings science fiction to your wrist. This watch transforms the entire dial into moving art that changes how you read time.

Key Features

  • UFO-inspired saucer case design
  • Proprietary jumping disc time display
  • Limited numbered Founders Edition
  • Luminous hour numerals
  • Domed sapphire crystal
  • 10th anniversary commemorative piece

The Story Behind OVNI

Isotope named this watch after the Spanish and French term for UFO. The design captures the mystery and wonders of unidentified flying objects.

José Miranda, Isotope's founder, created the OVNI to mark his company's first decade. The watch represents ten years of pushing boundaries in independent watchmaking.

How the Jumping Disc Works

The OVNI uses Isotope's jumping disc module instead of traditional hands. The hour disc jumps to display the current time, creating a mesmerizing visual effect.

This mechanism builds on Isotope's moondisc technology from previous models like the Moonshot and Flyway.

Design Elements

Case Construction

The domed case mimics a flying saucer's profile. The shape creates depth while maintaining wearability on your wrist.

Dial Layout

Large luminous numerals mark each hour position. The jumping disc moves beneath, creating constant visual interest.

Crystal Technology

The watch features advanced sapphire crystal technology. This builds on Isotope's experience with the Flyway's hyperbolic paraboloid crystal.

Isotope's Watchmaking Journey

Previous Models

  • Rider Jumping Hour (2016) - Started the jumping hour concept
  • GMT 0º - Breakthrough GMT functionality
  • Goutte d'Eau - Water-inspired design
  • Hydrium - Liquid metal aesthetics
  • Moonshot - Introduced moondisc technology
  • Flyway - Featured advanced crystal work

Brand Evolution

Each Isotope watch challenges traditional timekeeping. The OVNI continues this tradition with its unique approach to displaying time.

Why Choose the OVNI Founders Edition

Collectibility

This limited release targets serious collectors. Each piece carries individual numbering for authenticity.

Investment Potential

Anniversary watches often appreciate in value. The OVNI marks a significant milestone in Isotope's history.

Exclusivity

Limited production ensures rarity. You join a select group of OVNI owners worldwide.

Technical Specifications

The OVNI combines artistic vision with mechanical precision. The jumping disc module requires exact timing to function properly.

Isotope developed this movement in-house. This demonstrates their commitment to independent innovation.

Who Should Buy the OVNI

Watch Enthusiasts

Collectors seeking unique timepieces will appreciate the OVNI's distinctive approach to time display.

Design Lovers

The UFO aesthetic appeals to those who value unconventional design in luxury goods.

Isotope Fans

Brand loyalists can complete their collection with this anniversary piece.

Where Science Fiction Meets Horology

The OVNI bridges imagination and reality. You wear a piece inspired by space exploration and unknown worlds.

This watch starts conversations. People notice the unusual case shape and time display immediately.

Comparing OVNI to Other Jumping Hour Watches

Most jumping hour watches use traditional case designs. The OVNI's UFO shape sets it apart from competitors.

The proprietary disc module offers smoother transitions than many alternatives. Isotope refined this technology over years of development.

Final Thoughts on the OVNI

The Isotope OVNI Jumping Hour delivers on multiple levels. You get cutting-edge timekeeping technology wrapped in otherworldly design.

This watch represents Isotope's decade of growth and innovation. The limited Founders Edition status adds collectible value to an already compelling timepiece.

Consider the OVNI if you want something truly different on your wrist. This watch transforms timekeeping into performance art while maintaining Swiss precision standards.

The Isotope OVNI Jumping Hour represents a breakthrough in independent watchmaking. This UFO-inspired timepiece features a proprietary jumping disc module and commemorates Isotope's 10th anniversary. Limited to numbered pieces, the OVNI transforms timekeeping into visual art with its saucer-shaped case and luminous display.

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Hulsman Easy Perpetual – The Timepiece

This watch reflects years of dedication, perseverance, and passion.

It carries Machiel Hulsman's signature case shape with open lugs.
It has an in-house movement made from traditional materials.
The perpetual calendar is Machiel Hulsman's proudest achievement.


After months of design and calculation, Machiel Hulsman is ready to build it with you.
  • The date hand jumps over the two prisms at 2 and 4 o’clock to keep them visible.

  • On the back, you see the day and month display, plus the leap year indicator.

  • No pushers or correctors are needed.

  • This space is used for a world’s first — prisms that show the month and day of the week on the side of the case.

Dial Features

  • Day-night indicator with aventurine skies to tell you if it’s day or night.

  • Winding indicator on the left, reminding you when to wind.

  • Over 90 hours of power reserve means you won’t wind it often.

  • The minute hand reads the outer track.

  • The open tip reads the inner minute tracks near the prisms.

Movement Details

  • 21,600 bph free-sprung balance floating 0.15 mm under a sapphire balance bridge.

  • The movement appears to hover in mid-air.

  • Visible gears with fine anglage and circular graining.

  • Mirror-polished pinions with long shafts.

  • Triangular pallet fork in blued steel for better performance.

Crown and Winding

  • Reversed stem system for stronger and more versatile winding and setting.

  • Built-in safety system to prevent accidental damage to the movement.

Finishing

  • Work by Philippe Narbel and his team on components and finishing.

  • High-end decoration with:

    • Côtes de Genève

    • Mirror-polished anglage

    • Black-polished screws

    • Black-polished bridge over the calendar discs

    • Gold chatons around rubies

    • Black-polished winding system parts

The Subscription

  • Limited to 12 pieces.

  • Watch number 0/12 will be auctioned for local charity.

  • Support goes to the athletics club, sports groups, and nature preservation projects like De Veluwe and Van Meurs Park.

How to Join

  • Project starts when 6 subscriptions are confirmed.

  • Subscribers receive updates, photos, and videos during the build.

  • Communication through WhatsApp and Signal.

  • You can visit the atelier and help make a component for your watch.

  • Choose your decoration, finishing, and design.

  • Learn watchmaking techniques during the process.

Long-Term Care

  • Comes with a detailed service manual.

  • Any skilled watchmaker will be able to service it decades from now.