Junghans, a watch brand from the Black Forest, Germany, is currently holding a special exhibition at its corporate museum in Schramberg, the town where the company is based, entitled "Junghans Watches - Milestones in Watchmaking History." The exhibition showcases the company's history and innovations over the past nearly 100 years, spanning approximately 370 precious pieces, from the first full-scale wristwatch introduced in 1927 to modern radio-controlled and solar-powered models.
Text by Rüdiger Bucher
[Article published on January 14, 2025]
Junghans watch history is approaching 100 years
Junghans is a leading German watch brand. The brand is based in Schramberg, located in the Black Forest in southwestern Germany. In 2018, the Junghans-Terrassebau Museum, a company museum with its distinctive stepped Terrassebau structure, was opened. To mark the 100th anniversary of Junghans' watchmaking history, the museum is currently hosting a special exhibition, "Junghans Watches: Milestones in Watchmaking History." The watches are home to numerous records, innovations, and era-shaping designs.
The first authentic Junghaus wristwatch appeared in 1927
Junghans first produced wristwatches in the 1920s, but its first proper wristwatch, introduced in 1927, was a little later than many other brands. While small wristwatches for women already existed around the turn of the century, it wasn't until after World War I that men's pocket watches were replaced by wristwatches.
Around 1900, Junghans was selling more than 300 million watches a year, making it the world's largest watch manufacturer for a time, but its main products were alarm clocks and pocket watches. In 1927, it developed a shock-resistant wristwatch for the North American market, with the words "NOBRK" (Non-Breakable) written on the dial.
Approximately 370 items from the 1920s to the 2000s
The exhibition is divided into periods from the 1920s to the 2000s. Approximately 370 items from the collection of Junghans archivist Norbert Grünberger are on display, with each period featuring texts, photographs, and advertisements from the time, as well as prototypes and models immediately preceding mass production. Of interest to sports fans is the record of Junghans' role as official timekeeper at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Highlights of past models
The exhibits include numerous highlights, ranging from NOBRK watches to the company's 1949 column-wheel chronograph (equipped with the Caliber J88), the first electronic watch released in 1967, and modern radio-controlled and solar-powered watches. Also on display are early Meister and Max Bill watches, as well as the first radio-controlled watch, the Mega 1, designed by Hartmut Esslinger, the same man who designed the Apple II personal computer from Apple Computer. Its asymmetrical case still exudes a unique presence.
Exhibition Overview
The Junghans-Terrassenbau Museum, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg in the Federal Republic of Germany, is open every day from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00. It is located at Lauterbachstrasse 68, Schramberg (postal code 78713). Admission is 8 euros for the general public (4 euros for discounts), and guided tours require advance reservations and are a flat rate of 50 euros for a maximum of 25 people. The exhibition is scheduled to continue for the time being, with an end date yet to be determined.
