German watchmaker Junghans has been doing a little bit of experimenting with their Max Bill collection of late, mainly adding accents of red onto the minimalistic design. The Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Bauhaus from two months ago is a prime example. For their latest release, Junghans takes a similar approach but instead focuses on their time-and-date only model and pairs the red streaked hands with an all-black case, dial and strap.
For well over a century, Bauhaus stylings have continued to inspire architecture, typography, art and of course, horology. No watch brand is more widely associated with the Bauhaus movement than Junghans who famously enlisted well-known Swiss artist and designer Max Bill to create a timepiece in 1956 that followed the elegant foundational principles of Bauhaus. The collaboration first resulted in a kitchen wall clock which wonderfully exemplified the philosophy of form follows function. Before long, a collection of Junghans Max Bill wristwatches followed and to this day, the contemporary Junghans Max Bill family remains one of the German brand’s best-sellers.
Defined by their distinct typography, reserved application of details and slender cases, Junghans Max Bill watches have been seen in a variety of colours and with several complications over the years. The most classic reference is the simple time-and-date Max Bill Automatic which appears in a new attire of black and red. It’s still a classic Max Bill, but it also feels quite unique to the collection.
In the press release for the new Junghans Max Bill Automatic Bauhaus watch, the German watchmaker compares the novelty’s new clothing to a women’s iconic “little black dress” or a man’s tuxedo. These monochromatic outfits convey a sense of seriousness and elegance, however more often than not, a splash of colour will come into play, whether it’s on a tie, piece of jewellery, or maybe a timepiece. In the same way, the Junghans Max Bill Automatic Bauhaus pairs its all-black exterior with bold red streaks on the hour and minute hands.
Other than its new colouring, the Junghans Max Bill Automatic Bauhaus watch offers much of the same spec as previous editions in the collection. The stainless steel architecture measures to 38mm wide and 10mm tall. Rather than left bare like usual, the steel is coated in a matte black PVD treatment. The crown, pin buckle and case back are also black coated, the latter retained by 4 screws and decorated with the transparent Bauhaus logo for an obstructed view of the movement within. The case delivers a 50 metre water resistant rating.
For the dial, the Junghans Max Bill Automatic Bauhaus watch also elects a matte black backdrop with the familiar Max Bill-styled printed markers and minutes ring in white. At each 15-minute mark, a luminous dot provides a small bit of glow in low lighting while the hour and minute hands in red are also set with an environmentally friendly luminous substance. A blacked-out date window is added at 3 o’clock and the seconds hand arrives with its own red tip.
Powering the time and date function is the Calibre J800.1 automatic winding movement, based upon the ETA 2824-2 workhorse. It offers a simple 38-hour power reserve, 25 jewels and runs at a frequency of 28,800vph. The Junghans Max Bill Automatic Bauhaus watch is completed by a velvety black calfskin leather strap and a black coated pin buckle.
The Junghans Max Bill Automatic Bauhaus watch is a permanent addition to the brand’s portfolio and is available to order later this month at a retail price of €1,455.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Junghans
- Model: Junghans Max Bill Automatic Bauhaus
- Price: €1,455
- Material: Black PVD coated stainless steel
- Movement: Calibre J800.1 automatic winding
- Complications: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Dial: Matte black with red hour and minute hands
- Size: 38mm wide, 10mm tall
- When the reviewer would personally wear it: I’ve never been a huge fan of all-black watches, they’re a little masculine for my taste, but with Bauhaus stylings I am considerably more tempted. I think this would look very cool with an equally all-black outfit.
- A friend we’d recommend it to first: Someone with a love of blacked-out, minimalist timepieces.
- Best characteristics of the watch: I do like the red hands on the black dial. I think it looks better than the red on white as seen on the Max Bill Chronoscope Bauhaus
- The worst characteristics of the watch: It’s a smart looking watch and is typically the case with Junghans, it offers plenty of bang for buck. I can’t complain.
