INTRODUCING: The Junghans Meister fein Automatic Edition Erhard
Fergus Nash- Junghans’ founder Erhard Jungans was born on January 1st, 200 years ago.
- The German watchmmaker was at one point the largest clock manufacturer in the world.
- This watch marries their classical and Bauhaus styles.
Junghans is a name that seems to live in a watch fan’s collective consciousness, even if you haven’t seen many of their watches before. If you’ve spent any time in antique stores, there’s a decent chance that you’ve spotted the Junghans name on a vintage clock, given that their Schramberg factory was the biggest clock factory in the world during the early 20th century. These days, they’re best known for their bauhaus style wristwatches from famed designer Max Bill, but that doesn’t stop them from embracing their traditional roots too. The new Junghans Meister fein Automatic Edition Erhard is a celebration of their founder’s 200th birthday, as well a showcase of their classical skills.
Erhard Junghans founded his company in 1861 in the exact same site where it still operates today, and although he unfortunately passed away in 1870 at the age of 47, his son Arthur returned from the United States in 1873 to realise the brand’s potential using American business methods. That’s not to say that Erhard was without business nous, however, as he had worked his way up through a local hat factory to become its managing director. Erhard didn’t live to see the inception of the wristwatch, but this new release aims to capture some of the spirit that those late 19th century clocks embodied.
The Junghans Meister fein Automatic Edition Erhard has an extremely slender case made from either 18k yellow or white gold. In traditional fashion for a dress watch it fulfils its purpose of framing the dial and attaching the curved leather strap, but aside from that it hardly exists. The diameter is 39.5mm, which looks surprisingly large because of the open white face, but the lugs which just barely peek out from the case make sure that it wears nicely on smaller wrists. The dial is similarly simplistic, with outstretched Roman numerals contacting the dial’s perimeter and forming neat, symmetrical hour markers.
Despite the minimalism, the dial still offers detail for those who wish to look for it. The whole dial is slightly domed, giving it a lot more depth than what you can see in these flat-facing pictures. The Junghans logo is in script form as it was in 1910, and the thin baton hands complete the air of elegance. A date display at 3 o’clock has a seamless frame, doing its best to blend in. The reverse side of the watch is more outwardly impressive to look at, featuring a signed sapphire display caseback. The customised rotor has been engraved with a portrait of Erhard Junghans, and the calibre J800.1 is nicely decorated with machining and blued screws. The J800.1 has a Sellita SW200-1 base, with a 4Hz beat rate and 38 hour power reserve.
The Junghans Meister fein Automatic Edition Erhard pricing and availability:
The Junghans Meister fein Automatic Edition Erhard is limited to 400 pieces worldwide, with 200 in white gold and 200 in yellow gold. Price: €8,450
| Brand | Junghans |
| Model | Meister fein Automatic Edition Erhard |
| Case Dimensions | 39.5mm x 11mm |
| Case Material | 18k yellow or white gold |
| Water Resistance | 30m |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | White |
| Lug Width | 21mm |
| Strap | Leather |
| Movement | J800.1 (Sellita SW200) |
| Power Reserve | 38 hours |
| Availability | Limited to 200 pieces per case colour |
| Price | €8,450 |