“A functional and elegant masterpiece”
Its maker describes the Junghans Form collection as not a watch for special moments, but rather a special watch for every moment. That is a bold claim, and it piques our curiosity. This article is therefore devoted entirely to the new collection and its versions, and sets out to explore what exactly makes these watches special. Discover the new Junghans Form A in our review and in comparison with the Form C.
Design in the finest tradition of Bauhaus and classic modernism
Junghans watches are generally known for a comparatively timeless design defined by understated elegance. Even where the brand nods nostalgically to a particular bygone era – as with the Junghans Meister Driver line, with its references to the dashboard instruments of 1920s automobiles – the design always remains clean, restrained, and never ostentatious.
Watches in which shape, ornamentation, or a love of playful detail take on a life of their own at the expense of legibility are virtually absent from this manufacturer's lineup. Instead, many of the brand's watches reveal that their creators have deliberately placed themselves in the tradition of classic modernism, as seen in the Junghans Milano, and of Bauhaus styling modeled on the first Junghans Max Bill watches.
In concrete terms, as our review shows, this means that the shape and every visible element of each model must follow function. Accordingly, the Black Forest company sees its Form collection, launched in 2017, as a union of traditional watchmaking and a modern design language.
So let's take a closer look at the Form A:
Form A: three hands and three dimensions
So far, the new Junghans series comprises two different lines, designated by the letters A and C. The Form A, unveiled in March 2017, is effectively the base version. It is a classic three-hand watch with a small date window at 3 o'clock.
The A in the model name stands for “Automatic,” referring to the energy source that powers the watch.
Extremely simple and pared down to the essentials at first glance, this model reveals a number of clever design touches on closer inspection. First and foremost, the case, measuring 39.1 millimeters in diameter and 9.5 millimeters in height, comes across as quite understated and, for an automatic watch, relatively slim. The dial, by contrast, looks anything but flat: on this watch it has a three-dimensional design. The effect is achieved through a concave curvature and, above all, through the minute track, which here is formed by small embossed squares. Every four squares are followed by the numerals marking the five-minute intervals from 05 to 60. The date window is likewise designed to emphasize the dial's three-dimensionality. The stainless steel case is ergonomically shaped and, in our review, proved especially comfortable on the wrist.
Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protects the hands and dial of the Form Automatic.
Depending on the version, the hour markers are either simple baton indices or Arabic numerals. On some versions, the contrast edge of the leather strap matches the color of the numerals on the minute track. A caseback with four screws and a tinted mineral glass window offers a view of the automatic movement, which provides a power reserve of up to 38 hours. The “J logo” is engraved on the brushed rotor. To improve legibility at night and in poor lighting, the hour and minute hands are coated with an eco-friendly luminous material. The Form A is available with a choice of fine calfskin straps with pin buckles.
An understated chronograph with compelling design: the Junghans Form C in comparison
Two months after the automatic version, another model followed in May 2017: the Junghans Form C. Unlike the Automatic, however, this watch is powered not by an automatic movement but by a quartz movement. Another difference between the new model and the Automatic is the chronograph function, represented by the letter C in the model name. In terms of design, the close kinship between the Automatic and the chronograph is immediately apparent. As with the Form A, the chronograph's dial has a three-dimensional design, featuring a concave curvature and a minute track of embossed squares.
On this model, the sense of depth is further enhanced by the concave recessed subdials. Particularly worth mentioning is the upper totalizer at 12 o'clock, which records both elapsed hours and minutes. Its counterpart in the lower half of the dial is the small seconds subdial.
At 3 o'clock – just as on the Form A – there is a small date window.
Using a quartz movement instead of a self-winding mechanical caliber means that, when measured in our review, the case grows only very moderately compared with the Form A Automatic. At 40 millimeters in diameter and 10.5 millimeters in height, the case is modestly sized for a chronograph and works very well for men with particularly slim wrists or as a dress watch. To improve legibility, the flat sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective coating on one side. As on the Form A, the hour and minute hands are coated with Super-LumiNova.
Another parallel to the Automatic model in our review is the calfskin strap, available in various colors and fitted with a pin buckle. On some versions of the Junghans Form C, the color of the strap lining's contrast edge echoes the color of the numerals on the minute track, just as on some Form A versions. In 2022, Junghans celebrated its 160th anniversary. Especially sought-after is the Form A 160 Years of Junghans Edition, which impresses with its special color scheme and other stylish details.
