The jumping seconds mechanism ranks among the classic complications in precision horology. Among other applications, pocket watches equipped with this device in the past were used to determine sidereal or solar time. Ferdinand Adolph Lange developed such a mechanism very early on, in 1867. Ten years later, the newly founded Imperial Patent Office granted him one of its first patents for his invention.

With the large seconds circle arranged in the top section, the emphasis in the RICHARD LANGE JUMPING SECONDS is on the smallest of the three units of time. Just below, the smaller minute and hour circle are located, offset to the right and left. Powered by a one-second constant-force escapement, the jumping seconds mechanism advances the blued seconds hand by exactly 60 steps per minute. Thanks to the ZERO-RESET function, the watch can be quickly and conveniently set with one-second accuracy. When the crown is pulled, the seconds hand instantaneously moves to zero and remains there.