Why This Watch Matters You can tell a lot about a person by the contents of their pockets. What better content than one of the most celebrated watch designs ever? The Full Story An iconic wristwatch design by an iconic man, the Max Bill watch is Bauhaus perfection. Offered to this day, the watch is genius in its simplicity. Max Bill the man was a multihyphenate before it was cool, working across multiple disciplines to become a legendary Swiss architect, artist, painter, typeface designer, industrial designer, and graphic designer. Studying at the Bauhaus in the late 1920s, Max Bill and his designs came to be a near perfect representation of the iconic style of the Dessau, Germany based school. The famous Tate Gallery in the UK best describes the style of Bauhaus by stating its "aim was to bring art back into contact with everyday life, and architecture, performing arts, design and applied arts were therefore given as much weight as fine art." Max Bill's work for Junghans has brought art to everyday life for over 60 years. The relationship between Max Bill the man and the German watch manufacturer Junghans began in the late 1950s with a kitchen clock and built in timer. Shortly thereafter, the two got together to create a wall clock and series of desk clocks. By 1962, a range of Max Bill designed wrist watches were available from Junghans. The common themes running through these clocks are an expert level of attention to proportions and simplicity. The pocket watch we have here today dates to the mid to late 1960s and is described as a "tailcoat watch" due to its smaller case diameter and thinness. The design is clearly similar to those Max Bill executed for Junghans in this era, although we're unable to find direct confirmation of the connection like in the wristwatch catalog. The similarities are clear, however, with the most notable feature being the number font, specifically in the "4." Powered by an in-house Junghans caliber J93S1 manually winding movement, this pocket watch is as noticeably well made as it is well designed. We were really impressed by this vintage Junghans in the metal. In this really crisp condition, the watch shines as the clean design is not interrupted by any blemishes or heavier patina picked up over the years. The dial surface is very clean preserving the simple overall look. The Fine Print Maker: JunghansModel: Pocket watch Reference: N/AYear: Circa late 1960sCase No: N/AMaterial: Stainless steelDimensions: 35mm diameter; 9.5mm thicknessCrystal: PlexiglassLume: Yes, tritiumCaliber: Junghans, manually-wound, caliber J93S1Bracelet/Strap: N/ALug Width: N/ABox/Papers: No What we Love and What You Should Know This pocket watch is in excellent vintage condition. The case is overall very nice showing some light scratches and a general crispness to the edges. The bow on the top is tight and swivels back and forth as it should. The subtly pointed and notched winding crown at 12 o'clock acts as the setting mechanism for the hands is functioning correctly. The dial is overall clean with only a very light patina. The painted numerals and hash marks, even in the outermost scales, are well-preserved. The blued steel hands have retained a rich mid-tone blue, which pops beautifully against the dial and have a light patina. The luminous material on the dial and on the hands is full and has developed some patina. The lume in the hour hand has a slightly greener tint than the minute hand, and appears to be original. The dial, case, and movement are signed by Junghans.
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