JunghansPremium
German maker founded by Erhard Junghans in Schramberg in 1861; the Max Bill line (1961) follows Bauhaus designer Max Bill's drawings and became a dress-watch reference.
Founded in 1861 in the German town of Schramberg, Junghans is an independent maker that puts Bauhaus restraint within reach. Known for its Max Bill and Meister lines, it builds on dependable ETA-based calibers.
Junghans was founded on April 15, 1861 by Erhard Junghans together with his brother-in-law Jakob Zeller-Tobler in Schramberg, in the southwest of Germany. The firm started by making clock components, moved quickly into complete watches, and by 1903 was the largest watch factory in the world. By 1956 it ranked as the third-largest chronometer maker, right behind Rolex and Omega. That industrial heritage still shapes the brand's identity today: measured, functional, German design with no interest in flash.
The heart of the catalog is Max Bill. The Bauhaus-trained designer Max Bill (1908-1994) created the famous Junghans kitchen clock in 1956 and a series of wristwatches in 1961. The current Max Bill Automatic, a 38mm steel piece under a gently domed plexiglass crystal, runs the ETA 2824-based caliber J800.1, and typically retails between $1,045 and $1,450. The hand-wound 34mm version uses the ETA 2801-based J805.1 and starts around $560. If you want more on the wrist, the 40mm Max Bill Chronoscope uses the Valjoux 7750-based caliber J880.2 and sells new for roughly $2,150 to $2,840. The Meister line speaks a more classical language: the Meister Fein Automatic sits near $2,000, while the Valjoux-based Meister Chronoscope, with caliber J880.1, lands around $2,400.
From a buyer's point of view, Junghans is a value play. These are not investment pieces; they are modest on the secondary market and usually change hands below retail, so buy one to wear and live with rather than to flip. When shopping used, look closely at the plexiglass crystal. Junghans coats it with a scratch-resistant SICRALAN layer that holds up well, but once it is marked the coating does not buff out cleanly, so deep scratches are best fixed with a crystal swap. Because the calibers are ETA-based, almost any competent watchmaker can service them, which keeps maintenance costs reasonable and parts easy to source.
As an independent brand, Junghans was bought out of its 2008 bankruptcy by Schramberg industrialist Hans-Jochem Steim, and it still builds watches in Germany under family ownership. Its positioning is clear: it bets on Bauhaus discipline and honest engineering rather than luxury spectacle. For anyone after a first Junghans, the plain-dial 38mm Max Bill Automatic is almost always the right place to start.
Junghans watches
How big are Junghans watches?
70% of Junghans men's watches are 40 mm or smaller
- Junghans70%
- Hamilton62%
- Timex51%
- Sekonda46%
- Casio40%
- Orient29%
- Ravel29%
- Bulova26%
- Rado26%
- Longines25%
- Oupinke22%
- Citizen20%
- Invicta13%
- Stuhrling Original9%
- Guess7%
- Tommy Hilfiger5%
- Diesel0%
A typical men's watch from this brand is 38 mm (33 models). The chart shows brands with at least 20 men's models.
Measure your wrist and see what fitsFrequently asked questions
Which Junghans should I buy first?
For most buyers the right entry point is the 38mm Max Bill Automatic. It carries the ETA 2824-based caliber J800.1, its plain Bauhaus dial pairs with almost anything, and it typically retails between $1,045 and $1,450. It is an ideal everyday wearer.
Do Junghans watches hold their value?
No, these are not investment watches. On the secondary market they usually change hands below retail. Buy a Junghans to wear and enjoy rather than to flip for profit. The value-for-money case is strongest when you buy new, not as a store of value.
What is the difference between Max Bill and Meister?
Max Bill is pure, minimal Bauhaus design, modest at 38mm under a plexiglass crystal. Meister speaks a more classical, more polished language. Models like the Meister Chronoscope use the Valjoux 7750-based caliber J880.1, making them more technical and more expensive than the Max Bill line.
Are Junghans watches expensive to service?
No. Because the calibers are ETA and Valjoux-based, almost any competent watchmaker can service them and parts are easy to source. That keeps maintenance costs clearly lower than luxury manufacture brands. A full overhaul every several years is generally all you need.
What should I check when buying a used Junghans?
Inspect the plexiglass crystal first. The SICRALAN coating resists scratches but does not buff out once marked, so deep scratches need a crystal swap. Check the dial for cleanliness, confirm the case is original and not over-polished, and on automatics confirm the rotor winds smoothly.