Scale: 38 mm case Lug to lug estimated.
Junghans
max bill Automatic 38mm with sapphire crystal
027/4700.02
$1,770
Office, formal, everyday
The purest Bauhaus design you can buy, drawn by Max Bill himself in the 1960s. The domed dial, thin hands and 38mm case have barely changed, and the current reference swaps the old plexiglass for domed sapphire and lifts water resistance to 50m. It costs about 700 euros less than the Nomos Tangente, adds automatic winding and a date, and looks as right with a suit as with a T shirt. Treat it as a desk and dinner watch.
An original 1960s Bauhaus design, now with sapphire, at a mid market price.
Specifications
| Diameter | 38 mm |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 10 mm |
| Lug width | 20 mm |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Crystal | Domed sapphire, AR coated |
| Water resistance | 50 m |
| Movement | Automatic |
| Calibre | J800.1 |
| Power reserve | 38 hours |
| Strap | Black leather strap, steel pin buckle |
Pros
- Design by Max Bill, not a homage
- Domed sapphire with AR coating
- Automatic with date
- Slim 10mm case, 50m rated
Cons
- Light lume, hands and minute track only
- 38 hour reserve
- Stock leather strap feels thin
Rivals
Nomos Tangente 38, Stowa Antea 365, Hamilton Intra-Matic Auto 38mm
What owners say
WatchUSeek owners who waited years for the sapphire version say the 38mm case sits well on most wrists, the anti reflective coating works, and accuracy of a few seconds a day is common. Complaints repeat across WatchUSeek, TimeZone and WatchCrunch: the stock strap feels thin, the watch feels light, and the hands can get lost on the matt silver dial. A few owners miss the deeper dome of the old plexiglass.
Sources
- junghans.de Official
- junghans-shop.com Official
- junghans.de Official
- teddybaldassarre.com Review
- wornandwound.com Review
- teddybaldassarre.com Review
- watchuseek.com Forum
- watchuseek.com Forum
- watchuseek.com Forum
- forums.timezone.com Forum
- watchcrunch.com Forum · owner discussion of the sapphire version (search snippet)
- dialicious.com Forum