Foudroyante is a watch term that refers to a type of chronograph complication with a jumping seconds hand. It is also known as a ‘flying seconds’ hand, and is used to measure elapsed time with greater accuracy than a normal sweep seconds hand. The hand moves forward in one-second increments, jumping from one second to the next, rather than the continuous sweeping motion of a normal chronograph. This complication is usually found in higher-end watches, and is a desirable addition to any timepiece.
