Junghans is a German watch brand that has been creating timepieces for over 150 years. Founded in 1861 by Erhard Junghans and his brother-in-law Jakob Zeller-Tobler, the brand began as a small clock factory in Schramberg, Germany. Over the years, Junghans has become known for its innovative designs and high-quality craftsmanship.
One of Junghans’ most iconic watches is the Max Bill, which was designed by the Swiss architect and artist of the same name. The Max Bill watch is characterized by its minimalist design, clean lines, and understated elegance. It has become a classic timepiece and is still in production today.
In addition to the Max Bill, Junghans has created a wide range of other watches, including chronographs, dress watches, and sports watches. The brand is known for its use of high-quality materials, such as stainless steel, sapphire crystal, and leather.
Today, Junghans continues to produce watches in Germany and has a reputation for precision and reliability. The brand has won numerous awards for its designs and has collaborated with artists and designers to create unique and innovative timepieces. Overall, Junghans is a respected and admired brand in the world of watchmaking.
1861
On 14 April 1861, Erhard Junghans and his brother-in-law founded the watch component factory 'Zeller & Junghans' in Lauterbachtal valley. Initially producing parts for large Black Forest clocks, Junghans created its first complete clocks in 1866.
1888
Junghans registers a new trademark featuring a five-pointed star with the letter 'J'. Two years later, the star is stylised into eight points and the full brand name is added.
1903
With 3,000 employees producing over three million timepieces per year, Junghans becomes the largest watch and clock factory in the world, expanding its factories and subsidiaries across Europe.
1918
Arthur Junghans completes a terrace-style factory structure to optimize daylight in workspaces, allowing high-precision manufacturing in the steep Black Forest valley.
1936
Junghans fits its own designed movements into wristwatches, introducing the J80 calibre. The legendary '16 weckermädle' alarm girls boost advertising worldwide.
1949
Junghans develops the first wristwatch chronographs with the in-house J88 calibre, becoming the image of a typical pilot watch and securing contracts with the newly-formed Bundeswehr.
1956
Junghans becomes the third largest chronometer manufacturer in the world. The J83 automatic chronometer calibre is introduced, becoming highly sought-after by collectors.
1961
Max Bill designs purist wristwatches for Junghans, establishing design classics that combine aesthetic purity with the latest technical advancements.
1971
Junghans develops the first German quartz wristwatch in a pre-production series, the Astro-Quartz, marking a new chapter in watchmaking history.
1972
At the Munich Olympic Games, Junghans serves as official timekeeper, setting new standards in electronic time measurement and accurate sports timing.
1990
Junghans engineers miniaturise radio control technology for wristwatches, launching the Junghans Mega 1, the world's first radio-controlled wristwatch.
1993
The Mega Solar Ceramic is introduced, a solar-powered radio-controlled wristwatch with integrated antenna, representing Junghans' pinnacle in accuracy and design.
2004
Junghans develops a multi-frequency radio-controlled movement, enabling watches to receive time signals from Europe, North America, and Asia for automatic adjustment.
2008
The Erhard Junghans 1 mechanical watch is launched, combining historic inspiration with modern technical processes, limited to 12 pieces worldwide.
2009
Following insolvency, Junghans regains independence under new owners Dr. Hans-Jochem Steim and Hannes Steim, setting a new course for the future.
2011
Junghans celebrates its 150th anniversary with special anniversary watches, events at the company site, and the opening of the new Junghans company museum.
2013
The Steim family expands the Schramberg site, adding an assembly line for radio-controlled movements and investing in the development of a new generation of wristwatch movements.
2015
Junghans introduces a smaller multi-frequency radio-controlled solar movement 615.84 for the ladies' timepiece range, symbolizing continued innovation.
2016
The Meister Pilot series is introduced, blending the classic 1955 Junghans pilot watch design with the modern Meister range aesthetics.
2017
The Meister Driver watch evokes the era of early motoring, combining classic car design inspiration with mechanical watch craftsmanship.
2018
Junghans celebrates the 100th birthday of the terrace building with limited-edition Meister Chronoscope Terrassenbau models and develops intelligent radio-controlled movements for new watches.
2020
The Meister S Chronoscope introduces a sporty, masculine reinterpretation of Junghans design, with sapphire crystal and 20-bar water resistance.
2021
Junghans continues innovating with attention to detail and precision, creating watches that highlight the style and personality of their wearers.
2022
Junghans revives its sports-themed watches from 1972 with the 1972 Competition and 1972 Competition Edition, combining vintage design with modern sport functionality.
