“How Light Becomes Time”
On a small scale and a large one alike, solar energy is a sustainable power source that is already put to use in many ways. The solar watches from German watch brand Junghans work on this very principle, establishing the solar watch as a trend in the luxury segment as well.
From Sundial to Solar Watch
Even in ancient times, people wanted to know what hour had struck. Before the invention of the mechanical clock, sundials tracked the passing of time. While they are now considered relatively inaccurate and too dependent on the weather, the principle itself has endured: today, the power of the sun drives solar watches. Architects believe the first sundials date back more than 3,000 years, yet it was only in the tomb of Pharaoh Seti that drawings of one were found. This proves that time was already being measured 1,300 years before Christ. The construction of a sundial is quite simple: a rod is pushed into the ground. Its shadow moves steadily over the course of the day, so the time can be read off a dial. But when the sky is overcast, the weather is bad, or it is night, the sundial doesn't work.
Sun-Powered Watches from the Black Forest
Junghans solar watches likewise harness the radiance of the sun for timekeeping, and they are as precise as they are striking. These watches take in sunlight and convert it into the energy needed to run them. So that the solar watches keep working when the sun isn't shining, they store the energy in a miniature rechargeable battery. The power reserve in darkness indicates how long the solar watches can run without recharging. These tiny solar power plants – which ensure accurate timekeeping in the Milano collection and the chronographs of the 1972 collection, or work alongside the multi-frequency radio-controlled movement in the Force series – display the time precisely, need neither a power outlet nor a battery replacement, and generate their own electricity.
Powered by the Sun
In solar watches, sunlight passes through the translucent dial to reach the solar cell, where the light is converted into electric current. Stored in a micro-cell acting as a rechargeable battery, this current drives the modern movement. If such a watch is left in the dark for an extended period, it automatically shuts down after a while and resumes running as soon as light falls on the solar cell again.
The radio-controlled movement of the Junghans Force collection, for example, automatically receives the exact time, sets itself, and then shows precisely what time it is. The solar module beneath the dial converts the sun's energy into electrical energy, which is stored in the integrated rechargeable battery. With a power reserve of 21 months in darkness, the Force Mega Solar can even be stored in the dark for almost two years before the battery needs recharging.
Watches Combining Tradition and Innovation
The German company from the Black Forest combines traditional watchmaking with technical finesse in a unique way. This is reflected in every collection: while the Force unites a multi-frequency radio-controlled movement with solar technology, the Milano and 1972 Chronograph series are pure solar watches. When Munich hosted the Olympic Games in 1972, Junghans was there as official timekeeper and set new standards. With electronically networked starting blocks, monitoring systems, and light barriers, every start and every finish could be accurately recorded and documented. In elite sport, where it's not just about tenths but hundredths of a second, this was a milestone in the objective assessment of performance. For the 40th anniversary of the Munich Games, Junghans commemorated this very event with the 1972 collection.
The models, first launched in 2012, remain as popular as ever. For more than 150 years now, this heritage company has been producing watches renowned for reliability and high quality, beyond any doubt among connoisseurs. Here, tradition and innovation are skillfully combined: the broad spectrum of the Junghans manufacture ranges from classic mechanical watchmaking through quartz technology to solar watches. The range coming out of Schramberg is comprehensive. The watchmakers from the Black Forest are leaders particularly in solar watch technology, but also in radio-controlled watches. True pioneering work, in other words.
The 1972 Collection
The 1972 collection recalls the Munich Olympic Games not only in its name but also in its colors: blue, red, and orange. For athletically ambitious enthusiasts, the 1972 series is more than just a nod to the Munich Games. Sporty in design, the 1972 solar watches are genuine chronographs, offering stopwatch functions that let you time your daily jog just as well as a soccer match. The various models in the 1972 collection come with different functions: with an alarm or a date display, with a pusher lock and luminous hands – every lover of sports watches will find exactly the feature they consider important. All of the 1972 solar chronographs combine innovative technology with proven design that is also highly recognizable. The chronographs as well as the radio-controlled and solar watches in the series recall that era of creativity and new beginnings, captivating with a playful elegance that defies every cliché.
Milano Solar
The Milano Solar line from the Junghans Performance collection combines futuristic design with a distinctly masculine touch. The black dial looks both elegant and minimalist and is set in a fittingly stylish stainless steel case. The slim, elegant hands glide over the indices and display the time reliably and precisely. The core function of the Milano Solar is telling the time, which takes center stage without any frills. A date window at 6 o'clock shows the day, so everything you need can be taken in at a glance at your wrist. With their Italian charm, the Milano solar watches are timeless, combining elegant looks with sophisticated, well-executed technology.
For the Black Forest heritage company, the Milano series represents watches full of understatement with the potential to become truly timeless classics. With the Milano Solar line, the watchmaker captivates lovers of minimalist watches for whom clarity is all that matters. Subtle nuances of the Milano demand attention and often reveal their finer points only on second glance.
Junghans Force
The Force Mega Solar line combines high-quality radio-control technology with forward-looking solar technology. With its case made of high-grade ceramic, the Force represents a technological tour de force. With the Force, Junghans guarantees exact timekeeping on three continents: the multi-frequency movement is therefore especially appealing to watch lovers, frequent flyers, and business travelers who want or need to spend time in ever-changing time zones. The transmitters that ensure the Force's exact time display are located in Europe as well as in Asia and North America. Depending on where the wearer steps off the plane, the Force receives the signal from Fort Collins in Colorado, from Mount Hagane, or from Mount Otakadoya near Tokyo, and automatically sets the local time.
The Force collection has so far been available only as a men's watch and, with its 42 mm diameter, is among the larger watches. Thanks to its slim case height of 8.8 mm and its light weight, the Force models are comfortable to wear. The high-tech ceramic case guarantees scratch resistance and durability, while the elegance of these solar watches is effectively preserved.
The Watches with the Famous Star
More than 150 years of watchmaking tradition in the Black Forest: that is Junghans. Anyone who owns a watch bearing the star associates it with precision, reliability, and quality. But tradition isn't everything – with the solar watches of its various series, such as Milano, 1972, and Force, the Schramberg-based company has shaped the history of watch development, underscoring its proven manufacture philosophy of advancing precise timekeeping for the future.
