Few German watch companies have a more recognizable aesthetic than Junghans, who owes its design ethos to the Bauhaus movement of the early 20th century, which consisted of a philosophy of function over form, yielding minimalist results. The German design school shuttered its doors in 1933, after only 14 years of operation, but its mores have continued to inform the design world even today.
For its 100th anniversary in 1961, Junghans launched its still-iconic Max Bill line, a three-hand timepiece named after the Bauhaus alum who designed it. Those who frequent the world of minimalist watches know that adding chronograph registers feels contradictory in a way. Which is why when the German watchmaker came out with the Max Bill Chronoscope in 1997, it stunned everyone and proved naysayers wrong. This week, Junghans has introduced an all-black version.
Junghans and German Watchmaking
While the German watch industry has been ticking away in earnest since A. Lange & Söhne opened its doors in 1845, it didn’t truly take off until the 1920s. But with World War II and a little something called the Berlin Wall, many of these watchmakers were stymied before they could really take off.
After the War, many German brands lived a spartan life west of the Wall, while companies west of the Wall, such as Junghans, came into their own during the ‘50s. Junghans introduced its first wristwatches in the 1920s, but it wasn’t until it started working with Max Bill in 1956 that it truly established an identity. For his eponymous models, Bill looked to wall clocks for inspiration while maintaining a design language of his own.
Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Black Basics
Unlike other blacked-out watches, which aim for a more stealthy appearance than their non-black counterparts, the Max Bill Chronoscope Black wields its dark colors to highlight the red handset. The minute, hour, and pair of chronograph hands are all red, while the second hand is only red at the tip, so as to not clutter the dial with color. It’s quite clever.
As for the hour markers and indices, Junghans employs white and gray to blend in with the background without disappearing completely. After all, you need to actually be able to read the time.
Black PVD is also given to the 40mm stainless steel case to further your tunnel vision when viewing the red hands of the watch. The distinct colorway here serves as a nod to the Bauhaus building which once stood in Dessau, Germany. While gray in color, it featured a bright red door that became its trademark trait. Much like the door on the building, the hands on this watch are its most visually functional element.
As opposed to most Max Bill models, which feature Hesalite crystal over the top of the dial, this version has a domed sapphire crystal. Powered by an ETA-base caliber J880.2 automatic movement, the bicompax chronograph is said to sport an image of this Bauhaus building on the caseback. Through the building’s windows, you can view the movement. Lastly, it’s paired with a black leather strap with a buckle attached.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 40mm
Case Thickness: 14.4mm
Case Material: Stainless steel with black PVD
Water Resistance: 50m
Movement: Caliber J880.2 automatic chronograph (ETA base)
Band: Black leather strap
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
Not limited in edition size, the Max Bill Chronoscope Black will be priced at €2,495 (~$2,774) when it drops this November. Head over to Junghans’ website to learn more.
Recap
Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Black
Junghans pays tribute to the Bauhaus design school with this all-black version of the Max Bill Chronoscope.
