Junghans Watches USA

Anyone who explores the history of German watchmaking inevitably runs across the Junghans name. After great success with its pocket watches, Junghans began producing its first wristwatches in 1927 in Schramberg – although initially only in small quantities. Nonetheless this new form of watchmaking was further developed and perfected. In fact, the first Junghans Meister watches, which still enjoy an exceptional reputation, were created in the mid-thirties. In 1946, plans for the first chronograph wristwatches with J88 calibers developed by Junghans were completed: a hand-wound chronograph with 19 stones, a ratchet wheel and a Breguet hairspring. Series production which began in 1949 greatly contributed to Junghans success. In 1955, the highly reliable J88 caliber was adopted by the newly founded German Armed Forces as an aviator chronograph with a twelve-sided bezel (type BW-111).

Another milestone in the history of Junghans are its wristwatches with a central second. The first, at the time still indirect central second, appeared in 1936 and were powered by the J80 caliber. Its finest variant was given the J80/2 designation and embellished with Geneva stripes, which beginning in 1936 represented a key distinguishing feature of Junghans Meister watches. Technologically, since 1951, the Meister models capitalized on the newly developed J82 chronometer movement. The 12 3/4-ligne movement with small second and unusually large screw balance were continuously improved and built into thousands of officially tested chronometers every year until their production was stopped in 1960.