Patek Philippe Jump Hour 3969R

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A whimsical timepiece introduced to celebrate Patek Philippe’s 150th anniversary in 1989, the 3969R is notable for being the brand’s first jump hour complication since the 1920s.

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This is the Patek Philippe Anniversary Jump Hour reference 3969R. Founded in 1839, Patek Philippe is a name synonymous with high horology. A company that has always been privately owned, Patek has been manufacturing watches for almost two centuries without interruption. The company is currently owned by the Stern family, whose heritage dates to when they were supplying dials to Patek in the 1920s.

While the sports models tend to steal the spotlight, the brand’s true expertise lies in its complicated timepieces. With the introduction of the world’s first split-second chronograph in the 1920s and the subsequent introductions of the first perpetual calendar, it is evident that an instrumental reason for the brand’s success and longevity lies in its ability to produce complications at a high level.

Introduced as part of a collection to celebrate the brand’s 150th anniversary, the 3969R’s way of telling time is based on the jump hour complication patented by Robert Cart in the early 1920s. Featuring an hour aperture with a single minute hand, the design was adopted by several renowned watchmakers such as Breguet, Cartier and of course, Patek Philippe. While the brand produced a small handful of jump hours based on Cart’s invention in this period, the 3969R was the first jump hour reference to be produced since then.

Marked by the distinctive tonneau shaped case and produced in two metals, the 500-piece limited edition is a combination of the whimsical complication and the brand’s elegance that pays homage to the jump hour of the 1920s. Powered by the manual-winding Cal. 215 that has been in use since 1975, the 3969R is unlike any other Patek Philippe from its time. With a single hour aperture at the 12, the dial features a minute track adorned with printed Breguet-style numerals signifying the minutes.

A study in minimalist elegance, the aesthetic of the 3969R remains more relevant than ever almost four decades after its release and it is worth noting that this is the first jump hour reference released by the Stern family since the acquisition of the brand in 1932. A significant yet understated reference, the 3969R is a perfect display of the brand’s willingness to experiment while retaining the core of its very essence.