Bremont's New 35mm Terra Nova: The Jumping Hour Just Got Smaller

Klaus Schmidt · 2026-09-01

Bremont just dropped something interesting. The Terra Nova Jumping Hour now comes in a 35mm case, a noticeably more compact silhouette than what we've seen before. And honestly? That smaller size might be the smartest move they've made with this collection yet. If you're not familiar with the Jumping Hour, here's the quick version: it's a watch that tells time differently. Instead of a traditional hour hand sweeping around the dial, you get a jumping hour display. The minutes stay on a traditional track, but the hour literally jumps to the next numeral when the time changes. It's a complication that feels both vintage and futuristic at the same time. ### Why the Smaller Case Size Matters Let's be real. Not everyone wants a massive watch on their wrist. The trend toward smaller, more wearable cases has been building for a while now, and Bremont is clearly paying attention. A 35mm case sits in that sweet spot. It works on smaller wrists without looking like a child's watch. It slides under a shirt cuff without any fuss. And it feels more like a piece you'd actually wear every day rather than something you save for special occasions. For anyone who's been eyeing the Jumping Hour but worried it might be too chunky, this changes things. ### The Design Language Stays Intact Here's what I appreciate: Bremont didn't water down the design just because they shrunk the case. The new 35mm version keeps everything that makes the Jumping Hour distinctive. - **The montre à guichet display** – that's the windowed dial showing the jumping hour, a nod to old-school watchmaking - **Geometric cushion-shaped case** – not round, not square, but something in between that catches light in interesting ways - **Low profile design** – inspired by military pocket watches and trench watches from the early 1900s There's something romantic about that military inspiration. These were tools built for soldiers who needed to read the time quickly and reliably. No fumbling with tiny hands. Just clear, instant information. ### The Movement Behind It Inside every Terra Nova Jumping Hour beats the Calibre BC634. Bremont developed this movement exclusively with Sellita, a Swiss manufacturer known for reliable, well-built movements. > "The jumping hour complication is one of those features that separates a watch enthusiast's watch from a regular timepiece. It's mechanical poetry." What does that mean for you? It means you're getting Swiss engineering without the Swiss price tag of some competitors. The jumping hour mechanism is genuinely complex to build, and getting it right requires precision. Bremont and Sellita have clearly put in the work here. ### Who Is This Watch Actually For? Let's cut through the marketing speak. This watch isn't for everyone, and that's fine. It's for the person who already has a few watches and wants something different. Someone who appreciates mechanical quirks and doesn't need everyone at the dinner table to recognize their wristwear. It's also for anyone with a smaller wrist who's tired of feeling like they're wearing a dinner plate. The 35mm size opens up the Jumping Hour to a whole new group of people who simply couldn't wear the larger versions comfortably. And if you're the type who reads watch forums at midnight and has opinions about movement finishing? Yeah, this one's probably going to end up on your list. ### The Bottom Line Bremont's decision to offer the Terra Nova Jumping Hour in 35mm shows they're listening. Smaller doesn't mean lesser. In this case, it might actually mean more wearable, more versatile, and more likely to get actual wrist time. The jumping hour complication remains one of those features that makes you do a double-take when you first see it. And now, more people can experience that moment on their own wrist.