Before we even get into the details of this special edition, it is important to realise that there is hardly any other German watch brand that enjoys such a high level of recognition among watch enthusiasts and non-watch enthusiasts alike as Junghans from the Black Forest. I would argue that, at least among people who have had some kind of contact with watches, everyone is familiar with Junghans. I would also argue that the Hamburg-based luxury watch and jewellery retailer Wempe has made a decisive contribution to this. After all, Wempe has been selling Junghans products in its by today 29 branches worldwide for exactly 100 years and has since placed countless timepieces on the wrists of its customers. It is therefore a wonderful anniversary to celebrate the long-standing partnership with a special model as part of the Wempe Signature Collection: the new Meister Chronoscope Signature Collection is not only strictly limited, but also hosts several exclusive features that are appearing in the Junghans Meister line for the first time. We had the opportunity to go hands-on with the watch whilst strolling through Hamburg, the city where Wempe’s success story once began.
It was probably not decisive for the partnership between Junghans and Wempe when Herbert Wempe travelled to Schramberg in 1925 to start doing business with Junghans, but the two companies do have one important thing in common. After the death of his father Gerhard Diedrich Wempe, Herbert Wempe took over responsibility for the company at the age of just 31. Gerhard Diedrich Wempe established the watch and jewellery trade in Germany with his vision of attracting customers with attractive displays and elaborate decorations in his shop windows. Of course, this was not possible without a high-quality product range and first-class customer service, which Wempe continues to offer in all its branches worldwide to this day. Herbert Wempe took over the concept, expanded it and built Wempe into one of the largest jewellers in the world, which is now run by his granddaughter Kim-Eva Wempe in the fourth generation.
Herbert and Kim-Eva Wempe
750 kilometres south of Hamburg and around 50 years earlier, Erhard and Arthur Junghans also took over responsibility for the clockmaking business at a young age following the death of their father Erhard (Senior). Erhard was 27 and Arthur just 24 when they took over the management of the company in 1876. The company had previously been founded in 1861 by Erhard Junghans and his brother-in-law Jakob Zeller-Tobler under the name ‘Zeller & Junghans’ and initially focused on manufacturing components for large Black Forest clocks. The first timepieces were produced in 1866. A particular focus was placed on alarm clocks after Arthur Junghans recognised the emerging demand for alarm devices during a trip to the USA at a time of growing industrialisation. Junghans thus launched the first alarm clocks in Germany in 1881 and adapted the technology transfer prevalent in America through machines in order to soon be competitive on the world market.
Founder Erhard Junghans and his sons Erhard and Arthur
After Erhard Junghans left the company in 1897, his brother Arthur continued to drive expansion forward. In 1903, Junghans was even the largest watch manufacturer in the world, with 3,000 employees and 9,000 timepieces produced every day! Manufacturing facilities were established in Schramberg, Rottenburg, Schwenningen and even in Venice and Paris. In the 1930s, the focus was on calibre design and production for the company’s own wristwatches, with the best movements bearing the designation J80/2, which are still particularly sought after by collectors of the brand today. In 1949, the first in-house manufactured chronograph with the J88 calibre, ratchet wheel and Breguet balance spring was launched. By 1951, Junghans had grown to become the largest chronometer manufacturer in Germany – and by 1956, it was even the third largest in the world.
Junghans Bundeswehr Chronograph (1955) with calibre J88
During Junghans’ heyday in the 1930s, a new watch line was also created. In 1936, the first Junghans Meister was introduced, a classic, timeless men’s watch characterised by its rounded watch glass and gently curved lugs. The name of the line was based on the quality of the movements used – only the most sophisticated and best movements from the Junghans watch factory were to be used in them. In the 1970s, the last Meister watches were produced due to the emerging quartz crisis. It was not until 2011 that the Meister celebrated a revival on the company’s 150th anniversary, which also saw the introduction of limited edition special models of the Meister Chronoscope. A chronoscope is ultimately nothing more than a chronograph and is composed of the words ‘chronos’ for ‘time’ and ‘scope’ for ‘to observe’. Omega also likes to use this term for its Speedmaster chronograph models.
Junghans Meister from 1952
As part of the Wempe Signature Collection, which has been launching limited-edition timepieces in collaboration with renowned watchmakers since 2022, Wempe and Junghans are now celebrating their 100-year partnership with a very special edition of the Meister Chronoscope featuring a light blue iridescent dial and a midnight blue alligator leather strap – both of which are new additions to the Junghans Meister line.
So, as we stroll through Hamburg to take a few snapshots of the watch, we are repeatedly eyed with curiosity. Yes, the watch polarises without being obtrusive. Of course, blue is always a relatively safe bet as a colour that appeals to many people. But the light blue chosen here, which shows a wide variety of facets under the thick domed sapphire crystal thanks to the enormous reflection, is particularly attractive. Wempe and Junghans refer to a light blue effect coating on the silver-plated dial, which is refined with a circular grind.
What’s more, the chronograph’s totalisers and pushers give it a sporty look, while the minimalist dial design and slim case lend it an elegant touch. Although the functions are clearly in the foreground, everything is tidy and easy to read. This is also thanks to details such as the calendar disc for the date and day of the week, which are in the same colour as the dial. This makes the watch so versatile for everyday wear, as you can see from our photos. It goes just as well with a suit (with or without a tie) as it does with a sporty-chic suede blouson jacket. The 40.7-millimetre stainless steel case is ideal for a medium-sized wrist, although the watch appears larger at first glance when not worn on the wrist, as the dial takes up quite a lot of space due to the narrow case. However, when worn on the wrist, the impression is put into perspective by the actual moderate size of the case.
For the Meister Chronoscope Signature Collection, Wempe and Junghans have come up with a few special features that are available for the first time and exclusively in this special edition. Not only is the light blue dial new to the Meister line, but it is also being worn on a midnight blue alligator leather strap for the first time. Until now, the standard version of the Meister Chronoscope has only been available with stainless steel, calfskin or even horse leather straps. The word ‘Chronoscope’ is not found under the date display as usual, but ‘Wempe’ instead. Only 100 pieces will be produced and laser-engraved with ‘1 of 100’.
Since 2008, Junghans has once again been manufacturing its own movements in Schramberg, such as the hand-wound J325 movement from the Erhard Junghans 1. However, the majority of mechanical watches are powered by reliable and modified ETA or Sellita movements in order to offer the widest possible audience the best possible value for money – €2,590 in the case of the new limited edition. The Meister Chronoscope Signature Collection is powered by the J880.1 automatic movement (based on SW500) with a power reserve of 48 hours. The rotor is finished with a striped pattern and engraved logo, while the barrel features a diamond cut, which the wearer can admire through the open mineral glass case back. Customers therefore receive a high-quality watch made in Germany, reliable Swiss mechanics and a piece of watchmaking history at a very reasonable price. And on top of that, one of only 100 watches worldwide.
At the end of our photo tour through Hamburg’s Stadthöfe, a passer-by even approaches us and asks where the watch can be purchased. ‘From 7 May at Wempe,’ I reply. ‘I’ll get one,’ he says, and even before the official launch, it is clear that the watch will most likely be a success.
