Junghans have unveiled some incredible new pieces during this year’s Baselworld 2018 and one of our all-time favourites was this pair of Junghans Meister Chronoscope Terrassenbau watches. These new limited editions celebrate the 100th birthday of the company’s factory in Schramberg, an architectural masterpiece designed by Philipp Jakob Manz.
At the beginning of the 1900’s, Junghans had become one of the largest watch and clock manufacturers in the world and the demand for their timepieces became so great that they needed more workspace in an already cramped area of Schramberg. Built on a sloping site, the new factory was opened and from 1918 it became one of the most spectacular industrial buildings in the country. Its incredible design meant that every watchmaker could enjoy direct sunlight through the wide open windows while each floor was assigned its own unique purpose to watchmaking. The top floor was reserved for the assembly and regulation of chronometers while the terrace building was used for calibre and watch assembly and the building in front of the site was used to manufacture components.
Beautifully designed, the two new Junghans Meister Chronoscope Terrassenbau Limited Edition watches boast a stunning combination of elegant lines, modern technology and perfect proportions that reflect the same intricacy of the building they celebrate. The first Meister Chronoscope Terrassenbau watch features a breathtaking 18 carat gold case and a champagne coloured dial inspired by the stairways of the terrace building which are decorated in a similar beige and white. Meanwhile the stainless steel alternative has a crisp matte silver plated dial with a minute track that reflects the meandering design of the wall decorations in the factory and a green and grey alligator leather strap inspired by the wall tiles of the same building.
The J880.1 self winding movement has been used to equip each Junghans Meister Chronoscope Terrassenbau watch with a power reserve of 48 hours, a small second hand at 9 o clock, a central stop second, 30 minute counter at 12 o clock, 12 hour counter at 6 o clock and a day date window at 3 o clock. Unusually, each watch features a different form of glass with the gold model using hard plexiglass with scratch resistant coating while the stainless steel variant boasts the more preferred domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflection.
The cases measure to a comfortable 40.7 mm wide and 13.9mm high while the case material matches nicely to the Superluminova coated hands in either gold or steel. Turn each Junghans Meister Chronoscope Terrassenbau Limited Edition watch over and you are greeted to a charming case back engraved with a portrait of the factory.
Limited to 1,000 pieces and retailing at an impressive £2,120, the stainless steel Junghans Meister Chronoscope Terrassenbau watch is certainly going to be an easy seller. Meanwhile the more expensive solid gold Junghans Meister Chronoscope Terrassenbau watch at £7,870 is limited to only 100 pieces so we expect this to be a favourite with watch collectors. For more information on these watches and where to order your own, click here.
Specifications: Junghans Meister Chronoscope Terrassenbau Watch (027/9700.00, 027/4729.00)
- Movement: J880.1 self winding
- Power Reserve: 48 hours
- Functions: Hour, minute, small second hand at 9 o lock, central stop second, 30 minute counter at 12 o clock, 12 hour counter at 6 o clock, day and date at 3 o clock
- Case Size: 40.7mm width, 13.9mm height
- Case Material: Stainless steel or 18 carat gold
- Dial: Domed in champagne or matte silver plated, unique minute markings and Superluminova coated hands
- Glass: Convex hard plexiglass with scratch resistant coating (Gold), Sapphire crystal with antireflective coating (Steel)
- Case Back: Closed with special engraving
- Strap: Green alligator leather with grey joints.
- Buckle: Steel or 18 carat gold folding clasp
- Limited Edition: 100 pieces (Gold), 1,000 pieces (Steel)
- RRP: £7,870 (Gold), £2,210) Steel
