Junghans Max Bill Edition 2017 Watches
By: Michael Penate
Not long ago, we showed the #watchfam some pretty cool quartz Bauhaus offerings from Braun. Now, we thought we’d discuss a similar offering from a brand that’s a little more focused on strictly producing wristwatches. For years, the Junghans Max Bill collection has proven itself as an enduring source of affordable options for watch lovers going for Bauhaus on a budget. Now, for 2017, the brand has introduced the Junghans Max Bill 2017 edition watches that can also be purchased with a limited edition table clock as well.
Max Bill was without a doubt one of the most important architects and graphic designers in recent history. His style, design philosophy, and charisma have inspired professionals everywhere and if you’re a watch geek, there’s a good chance you know about him (even if you aren’t a graphic artist). He was also one of the founders of the Ulm School of Design, a short-lived, but influential, design college that closed in 1968.
The Junghans Max Bill Edition 2017 models both have a nice, slim profile and run with the help of a quartz J645.33 movement. They’re 38mm wide, feature an acrylic crystal, and come fitted with a plain black leather strap. There’s no contrast stitching here, which I’m sure some folks will criticize. But, I think the all-black tone of the strap simply adds to the overall minimalist look.
The case back on the other hand is a little more lively. It features a miniaturized version of Max Bill’s Variation 1 piece, which centers around a quirky yet clever geometric design spin. I should also note, that besides the dial layouts, the watches are essentially the same. Personally, I’d go for the version with the Arabic numerals (always loved the Max Bill “4”).
While I’m sure the Junghans Max Bill Edition 2017 will probably be called out for being too “vanilla” for some, I think it’s a solid choice if you’re curious about the brand and the design. Some of Junghans’ mechanical pieces can fetch well over $1,000, so this is a logical option for buyers that want to pay less for the same kind of visuals. Let us know what you guys think in the comments! Price for the Junghans Max Bill Edition 2017 is $545 but it jumps up to $1,089 if you plan on dishing out for the limited (222 pieces) table clock set. Junghans
Photos: UHRENFABRIK JUNGHANS GMBH & CO.KG.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.
Very cool. I like the contrast between the simple dial and the colorful caseback! Junghans shoots and scores on this 2017 edition.
I like the idea behind these but you can get the automatic version of the watch, same dial, for $150 more than this version. I’ve seen used autos and the odd manual wind go for under $600 used on watchrecon.
Junghans has always kept the price gap between quartz and mechanical reasonable with these watches.
German brands like Junghans are keeping the Bauhaus design principles alive. “Simple” is more difficult to do that you might expect. This is the anti-gshock. I like the no number version. It looks plucked out of the early 20th century until you turn it over. That geometric thing is cool losing 1 side of the shape as it spirals inward.
Super agree – “simple” looks easy – any fool can see something like that and “Oh, well I can do that.” Yea maybe you can DO it but could you have thought of it from scratch? Lol – I like Junghans and def a good representative of clean dialed and dressier German pieces. That said the inclusion of something a bit out there and fun is always welcome in my book – as is the case with the caseback here.