Lucerne Digital Jump Hour review
I don't have an A Lange und Söhne Zeitwerk. I have a 1970s Lucerne Digital Jump Hour. They look fairly similar. If the Lucerne was circular, had a white dial, had white digits and a leather band they would be identical. The movement will also need to be different. But chrome-plated base metal looks exactly like white gold or platinum.
Now this joke is actually a bit unfair to the Lucerne. I bought it from my trusty jeweller, who was selling it for R400, a little under 20 USD. I had seen it since my first visit. I assume it has been there for a while longer. It came without a box or papers, which is honestly to be expected for any watch of this age that isn't worth a quadrillion dollars. It has a sunburst brown dial and comes on this amazing spring-loaded bracelet, which alone is worth more than I paid for the watch; checkmate, Zeitwerk.
The bracelet is a patented German-made Kiefer Expandro bracelet, with similar affairs seen on some vintage divers (notably Doxa and Certina.) It's amazing, except that I don't know how to make it smaller. Nor does my jeweller. I don't think it is possible. The bracelet is in okayish condition; the previous owner seems to have either polished some of the detailed ridges of the links out and/or had new, smooth ones fitted. The links that still have the detailing have it far less pronounced than original or reproduction examples. This, combined with the fact that the bracelet either fits me loosely or fits my forearm better than my wrist, makes the bracelet a win-lose for me.
Oh, and also, the watch is ugly.
It has been blessed with a thick, ovular-rectangular case and a similarly shaped crystal, leaving it looking more like a chromed Among Us crewmate than a timekeeping device. The print quality on the dial is alright for the 70s, which means it looks like it went through a photocopier a few times by today's standards. The movement ticks about as quietly as an elephant having its bowels removed by a red-hot pair of iron pliers. If the room falls quiet, and I focus intently, I can hear it ticking at arm's length, or even further away.
It was R400. The only other example (better condition, with a white dial) is listed on Chrono24 for R4800. You may think I got an excellent deal, but you're only three quarters right. Even with its scratches, I wouldn't sell it for a cent less than R3000. That is provided someone would want to buy it. You likely haven't heard of a Lucerne watch company. There is no information about it. From what I gathered, it was one of the lower end watch brands that likely folded during the quartz crisis. They used Agon Chromatic co. movements, which conveniently leaves me with a one-jewel Swiss movement; bye-bye any form of shock resistance whatsoever.
I bought a watch that doesn't fit me that has no water resistance and no shock resistance from a brand that went bankrupt half a century ago with a movement about as complex as a mound of dirt inside it. I am so smart, aren't I? Peel back the layers upon layers of satire, you'll find that the Lucerne is one of my favourite pieces. It looks different. It feels different. It gives an experience unlike anything else on the planet. It looks like it was pulled straight out of an A. E. Van Vogt or Isaac Asimov book. It's a keeper, one hundred per cent. Some say it has a face only a mother could love, well, in that case, call me mommy.
Lucerne Digital Jump Hour review
Yes
No
- Blocky, 70s design
- About as subtle as a chrome sledgehammer
- Keeps time excellently
- Bracelet is very ergonomic; removable without tools and easy to get on and off wrist
- The definition of unique
- Good value, albeit hard to find
- No shock or water resistance
- Deep scratches can't be polished out of chrome plating
- Bracelet may remove every single hair on your body
- Bracelet either unadjustable or incredibly difficult to adjust
- Acrylic crystal is a potential scratch magnet
A famous Dutch saying: “𝘕𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘣 𝘫𝘦, 𝘫𝘢 𝘬𝘶𝘯 𝘫𝘦 𝘬𝘳𝘪𝘫𝘨𝘦𝘯.”
I rate both the watch and your review 10/10.
I rate both the watch and your review 10/10.
Thank you! The Lucerne is easily the most controversial piece I own, with people thinking it's either a 0/10 or 10/10. I'm glad you see the quirky value in it!
Joins the forum and writes a great review. 💪
Usually the reviews here are "5.0 Love this Watch!" and no information is shared or gained.
I love and hate this watch in equal measure. I love the Space 1999 vibe, but not much else.
Lucerne is a bit of a trick bag as brands go. Because it is a place name it could not be trademarked in Switzerland. Many smaller Swiss companies would slap "Lucerne" on a dial to dump cheap watches on the market. There also seems to have been a U.S. assembleur in New York in the 1960's and 70's that would case Swiss movements and sell them in department stores. Something that sounded Swiss sold well (still does). There are a lot of Lucerne watches out there from pin pallets to watches with decent movements.
I concur! Great and amusing review of a highly unique watch.
It looks like it belongs on the wrist of Marvin the Paranoid Android from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, if you are familiar with that book?
Thank you! The Lucerne is easily the most controversial piece I own, with people thinking it's either a 0/10 or 10/10. I'm glad you see the quirky value in it!
It’s quirky as hell, and I love it.
This type of display is for young eyes, so you are unwittingly doing it right.
I immediately went looking for one of those expansion bands and here's a listing for one with a busted link that makes it look like possibly the way to remove a link is to extend then angle the link so the pin part clears?
here's the most relevant photo in case someone else has a better understanding
And you're totally right about the bracelet alone being worth the $20. Be glad the crystal is acrylic and not mineral glass. Good luck replacing it should the time come. Polish the plastic.
I read your review and immediately started following. Well done. 🤝 And thanks for posting an interesting watch! This is a new one to me.
This type of display is for young eyes, so you are unwittingly doing it right.
I immediately went looking for one of those expansion bands and here's a listing for one with a busted link that makes it look like possibly the way to remove a link is to extend then angle the link so the pin part clears?
here's the most relevant photo in case someone else has a better understanding
And you're totally right about the bracelet alone being worth the $20. Be glad the crystal is acrylic and not mineral glass. Good luck replacing it should the time come. Polish the plastic.
Thank you, I will definitely take a closer look at that bracelet today. You also made me rethink my thoughts on the mineral crystal, seeing as the company went bankrupt, polishing is the best I've got.
Edit: I figured it out, thank you very much!
I concur! Great and amusing review of a highly unique watch.
It looks like it belongs on the wrist of Marvin the Paranoid Android from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, if you are familiar with that book?
I am, yes. If I ever need to dress up as a character from a sci-fi book, this will be the watch I choose.
Great review and love the funky retro sci-fi look of this watch. Like most things I think this will rotate back into fashion sometime in the near future. 👍
Joins the forum and writes a great review. 💪
Usually the reviews here are "5.0 Love this Watch!" and no information is shared or gained.
I love and hate this watch in equal measure. I love the Space 1999 vibe, but not much else.
Lucerne is a bit of a trick bag as brands go. Because it is a place name it could not be trademarked in Switzerland. Many smaller Swiss companies would slap "Lucerne" on a dial to dump cheap watches on the market. There also seems to have been a U.S. assembleur in New York in the 1960's and 70's that would case Swiss movements and sell them in department stores. Something that sounded Swiss sold well (still does). There are a lot of Lucerne watches out there from pin pallets to watches with decent movements.
Thanks for the extra information. I didn't know all too much about Lucerne other than them just casing ébauches. The copyright story also makes a lot more sense, seeing as there are basically no information about them on even the most obscure archives. Very helpful, 10/10
Great review and love the funky retro sci-fi look of this watch. Like most things I think this will rotate back into fashion sometime in the near future. 👍
I think so too. Why have a square watch or a circular watch when you can combine and squish the two into a bizarre shape? I ordered a pair of Nike Air More Uptempo '96s for the same reason; they are weird and bold. I bought them just to go with the watch, to be honest.
Thank You for the review and refreshingly written article! Enjoyed it very much!
Thank You for the review and refreshingly written article! Enjoyed it very much!
I'm glad you enjoyed it! More on the way for sure!
Erratum: Thanks to the wonderful @OscarKlosoff I figured out how to remove a link from the Expandro bracelet. Although I won't change the rating for wearability (the size of the bracelet wasn't a factor in that) you can largely ignore my complaint regarding unadjustability.
We need a Fugly Watch section!
Great review of a great watch.
The Zeitwerk is just pure mechanical art, don't you agree?
We need a Fugly Watch section!
Great review of a great watch.
Thank you!
Logan’s Run…and then some. Great review!