When a brand celebrates an anniversary, it's always intriguing to see what they will come up with. An archive full of historical achievements and corresponding watchmaking history makes finding inspiration for a celebratory collection a bit easier. And for several brands, 2021 seems to be a joyful year, despite all the global challenges we face. The German company Junghans is celebrating 160 years of watchmaking and has created a rather attractive limited series for the occasion: Junghans Meister Signature Hand-Wound Edition 160.
Junghans is one of those brands that people easily forget about as it somewhat flies under the radar, but the idea of a sleek, minimalist design is part of the brand's DNA. Despite this, Junghans should not be overlooked in terms of watchmaking skills, as history shows that the company has excelled in many innovations and developments. Not necessarily in mechanical watch production, but Junghans strives to move forward through technological advancements time and again.
Located in the German town of Schramberg, Uhrenfabrik Junghans was founded in 1861 by Erhard Junghans and his brother-in-law Jakob Zeller-Tobeler. Initially, the company produced clock components such as wooden cases, bronze plates, glass doors, and other parts. By 1866, the first clocks were produced. In just a few decades, the company became one of the largest watch manufacturers in the world. By 1903, the company employed 3,000 people and produced 3 million watches per year at several production sites in Germany and two in Paris and Venice.
But Junghans is not limited to just engineering, as in the late 1950s, the company began a very successful collaboration with the Swiss designer of the Bauhaus era, Max Bill. The iconic style of Max Bill is still evident in many watches created by Junghans, as evidenced by the Junghans Max Bill Edition 60 collection introduced earlier this year.
In 1936, the J80 movement was introduced, the first in-house wristwatch movement developed by Junghans. This J80 movement marked the beginning of the watches labeled “Meister,” a testament to quality. The modern Meister collections are direct descendants of the spirit born in the 1930s. It adorned some of the finest movements and watches created in the 160 years of Junghans' existence. One such historical movement is the hand-wound caliber J620, which finds its use in the Junghans Meister Signature Handaufzug Edition 160 model we are exploring today.
The Meister Signature Handaufzug Edition 160 watch, crafted in a vintage watch style using a historical caliber, features an 18-carat rose gold case with a diameter of 39 mm and a height of 10.3 mm. The dimensions might be slightly larger compared to actual vintage sizes, but the proportions are almost perfect. The case construction is done in a typical Junghans style, which we also see in modern watches like the Junghans Meister Worldtimer. The domed plexiglass rests on a polished bezel. The bezel has a small edge separating it from the rim, adding a touch of flair. The strap has integrated lugs with a beveled profile that is simply pleasant to the touch. The transparent case back is held in place with 5 screws and reveals the movement. The thin crown is well secured and provides slight resistance, which is very important for a manual winding watch.
The matte dial with silver plating is minimally decorated and has a slightly domed shape, giving it a vintage look. A dotted minute track is located outside the applied gold hour markers. The time is indicated by Dauphine hour and minute hands with diamond-cut finishing and a needle-shaped seconds hand. The minute and seconds hands are slightly curved downwards at the tip to follow the dial's curve. The finishing touch of this magnificent understated dial is the vintage Junghans signature under the “12 o'clock” index and the “Made in Germany” marking at the bottom.
As mentioned, the Junghans Meister Signature Handaufzug Edition 160 watch is equipped with the historical caliber J620. Being a hand-wound movement, it fits perfectly with the watch's style. The movement is gold-plated and decorated with sunray patterns on the ratchet wheel, barrel bridge with straight grinding, wheel pair, and balance bridge with straight polishing, polished screws, and even polished bowl-shaped jewel sinks. The watch is signed with the 8-pointed Junghans star and the movement identification “620.” Its dimensions are 25.6 mm in diameter and 3.75 mm in height. The movement uses 17 jewels and operates at a leisurely frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz). Considering this movement was developed in the sixties, a 45-hour power reserve is quite acceptable by today's standards.
Overall, the Junghans Meister Signature Handaufzug Edition 160 watch is very pleasant to handle. They look great and sit comfortably on the wrist. Given Junghans' rich history, the watches have an excellent vintage look that is also reflected in the current collections. Not only by the “Meister” designation but also by certain style elements such as domed plexiglass crystals and bowl-shaped cases that Junghans uses in modern watches. In conclusion, this is a very fitting model to celebrate Junghans' 160th anniversary!
The Junghans Meister Signature Handaufzug Edition 160 watch is presented in a limited series of 160 pieces, corresponding to the brand's 160th anniversary. The watch comes on a brown leather strap with a soft lining and an engraved 18-carat gold clasp. Each model has an individual number on the back case and is sold for 8,160 euros.
For more information, visit Junghans.de.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – JUNGHANS MEISTER SIGNATURE HANDAUFZUG EDITION 160
Case: 39 mm diameter x 10.3 mm height – 18-carat rose gold case and crown – sapphire crystal on top – sapphire case back secured by 5 screws – water resistance 100 m
Dial: matte dial with silver plating – minute hand with mother-of-pearl finishing – applied gold hour markers – Dauphine hour and minute hands with diamond-cut – needle-shaped central seconds hand – historical Junghans logo
Movement: historical caliber J620, in-house development – manual winding – 25.6 mm diameter x 3.75 mm height – rose gold-plated – 17 jewels – 18,000 vibrations/hour (2.5 Hz) – matte ratchet wheel – polished barrel bridge – wheel pair and balance bridge with straight polishing – polished bowl-shaped jewel sinks – polished screws – hours, minutes, seconds – 45-hour power reserve
Strap: Brown leather strap with 18-carat gold clasp
Availability: Limited series of 160 pieces
Price: 8,160 EUROS