Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope: A Stylish Bauhaus-Inspired Watch

Since it was first released back in 1961, the lineup of Max Bill watches from the prestigious German brand Junghans has received an immensely positive response from the general public. This is primarily due to their minimalist yet distinct designs, which give the Max Bill collection a sleek, versatile appeal unmatched by most watches in the industry. One standout timepiece in the Max Bill collection is the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope. Of all the Max Bill models, this classic timekeeper is the one that remains most faithful to the original minimalist watch designs Bill developed in the 1950s.

The Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope manages to be the quintessence of Bauhaus design, while also incorporating a touch of modernism to cater to the preferences of younger patrons. For its price range, this dress watch is undeniably a top-tier piece, with its subtle, delicate appearance and underlying superb specifications. Without further ado, let us take a closer look at the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Ref. 027/4600.00 and everything it has to offer.

First Impressions

Right off the bat, you will instantly recognise the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Ref. 027/4600.00’s understated, minimalist aesthetic as being Bauhaus-inspired. Its beguiling dial is simple yet appealing, with a straightforward layout that optimises legibility. 

The build of this watch is also presented in a very vintage-influenced styling, with perfectly round edges that come up to meet the protective layer of plexiglass. With its subtle and retro vibe, this dress watch is the perfect accessory that can elevate any of your formalwear, be it a suit or a nice dress. On the whole, the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Ref. 027/4600.00 manages to be incredibly impressive despite, or perhaps because, of its focus on the bare essentials.

Anatomy of the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope

Case, Crown, and Caseback

Even at first glance, you can immediately tell that the case of the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Ref. 027/4600.00 is pure class. It comes in a 40mm perfectly round shape made of scratch-resistant stainless steel, coupled with straight, slender lugs that fit nicely around the curve of your wrist. This is also a fairly standard case diameter, allowing the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope to fit on wrists of virtually any size.

Fitted on top of the case is a fixed stainless steel bezel that rises up to meet the watch’s domed crystal, while also protecting it from any impacts or scratches. The case and bezel both bear a fine, polished finish that gives the watch a luxurious gleam. 

On the right side of the case, you can find two long, protruding push-pieces at 2 and 4 o’clock. These pushers are used to operate the watch’s chronograph functions. To utilise its stopwatch, you simply have to press the pusher at 2 o’clock to start and then push it again to stop. If you want to resume your measurement of the time, simply press the same pusher a third time. On the other hand, if you want to start over or finish your measurement, you just have to activate the push-piece at 4 o’clock, which will then reset the chronograph hands to their initial position.

In between the two push-buttons, there is a stout crown, also made of stainless steel, at 3 o’clock. This crown is unguarded but comes with deeply grooved edges that provide wearers with a better grip, so they can turn the crown more easily. Like the case and bezel, the crown and pushers of this watch are all carefully polished, so that they play with the light well too.

Flipping the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope over, the underside of this watch is secured by a solid stainless steel caseback. Aside from its polished finish, this caseback also carries a delicate engraving of the emblazoned Max Bill signature, along with details such as its reference number and brand name. The caseback is firmly screwed down. It provides the inner mechanisms of this watch with a decent amount of protection from external elements and a depth rating of 30 metres, which is quite substantial for a classy dress watch. This allows the watch to be kept safe from any accidental splashes or showers.

Dial 

Under its Max Bill series, Junghans has developed a series of Max Bill Chronoscope models, offered with a variety of different dial colourways, albeit with the same dial design. The dial of the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope is available in black, anthracite, and silver, each with elegantly-textured finishes.

The Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Ref. 027/4600.00, in particular, is presented with a soft, clean white dial. It follows a very straightforward and minimalist layout that is extremely easy to read. This dial comprises printed hour markers in the form of Arabic numerals, double-digit minute markers in five-minute intervals, subtle stick indices for the minute track, and a compact date window. As a chronograph watch, this dial has two sub-dials at 6 and 12 o’clock, for the 12-hour and 30-minute counters respectively. The stark black typeface of the dial’s indicators stands out clearly against the white backdrop, allowing for optimal legibility. 

This dial also contains slender silver-tone applique hands that have been coated with lume and sweep majestically across the dial. At the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions, you can also find small lume dots. These luminous components light up the watch face in the dark, allowing you to easily read the dial even in poor lighting conditions. 

Protecting the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope’s watch face from any scratches and impacts is a layer of solid plexiglass, which has been coated with sicralan as reinforcement. If you are not familiar with sicralan, this material was exclusively developed by the automotive industry and delivers exceptional scratch resistance and anti-reflective properties. Using sicralan on the Max Bill Chronoscope’s plexiglass significantly bolsters its durability. It also ensures that wearers have a clear view of the watch face that is not impeded by any visual distortions or light glares.

Movement

Inside the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Ref. 027/4600.00, you can find a robust Calibre J880.2. This is an automatic chronograph movement that is held together by 28 jewels and has a smooth beat frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). It also possesses a substantial 48-hour power supply, so you can easily leave this watch aside for the weekend without having to wind it. 

Although this movement is developed based on the ubiquitous ETA/Valjoux 7750 calibre, the modifications it has received are strikingly extensive for its price bracket. In fact, the Calibre J880.2 is so reliable that other renowned watch brands such as Breitling and IWC have also opted to use this calibre in their watches.

Strap 

Finishing off the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Ref. 027/4600.00’s minimalist aesthetic is a simple and supple black leather strap. It definitely matches well with the quintessential build of the watch, giving it a straightforward and subtle appeal. This strap also comes with a comfortable tan skin lining and a steel pin buckle which keeps it safely on your wrist. 

Price

The Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Ref. 027/4600.00 retails at $1,500 USD, which is quite a reasonable price tag considering its stylish minimalist aesthetic and the high-quality materials used in its build. On top of that, it also hails from a renowned German brand known for its timeless Bauhaus-inspired designs, so you can bet on the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope being a worthy investment. If you are searching for a modest, versatile dress watch, you will not go wrong with this timepiece. 

Alternatives to the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope

1. Nomos Glashutte Tangente Ref. 165.S50

The first watch on our list is the Nomos Glashutte Tangente Ref. 165.S50. With its clean, minimalistic dial and classic aesthetic, this makes for a great alternative to the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope. Its simple and versatile design also makes it an ideal timekeeper for both everyday wear and for formal occasions. Much like the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope, this Nomos Glashutte Tangente watch is also a stylish Bauhaus-inspired timepiece.

This watch is presented in a 37.5mm round stainless steel case, with the same slim, straight lugs that you can see on the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope. It is also a little smaller than the Max Bill Chronoscope, making it a perfect size for those with smaller-to-average-sized wrists. This watch also comes with a fixed bezel, which protects the watch face from scratches and impacts, and a dark grey textile strap that blends well with the silver case.

This watch also showcases a silver-white plated dial, furnished with slim black-tone stick hands, stick hour indices, a minute track, and narrow, stylised Arabic numeral markers. The hour indices and numeral markers all come in black, aside from the 12 o’clock marker, which shows off a bright red tone that adds a dash of personality to this otherwise quiet watch face. Located at 6 o’clock is a small seconds sub-dial with simple stick indices and a single stick hand.

Driving this Nomos Glashütte watch is an alpha manual-winding movement that beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz). Held together by 17 jewels, this hand-wound movement delivers a 42-hour power supply. Like the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope, it also comes with a 30-metre depth rating, which is quite typical for a dress watch. 

If you are a fan of simple yet beautiful dress watches, then you should definitely consider the Nomos Glashutte Tangente Ref. 165.S50. This watch sells at around $1,859 USD. 

2. MeisterSinger New Vintage Ref. NE908N_SV16

Next up, we have the MeisterSinger New Vintage Ref. NE908N_SV16, which is highly coveted for its elegant appearance and alluring dial. This watch comes in a slender 36mm stainless steel case, paired with slightly curved lugs and a supple grey leather strap. Fitted on top of the case are a narrow fixed bezel and a flat layer of acrylic crystal, which keeps the watch’s face safe from any external damages or impacts. 

The highlight of this Meistersinger watch is, without a doubt, its mesmerising blue dial. This dial shows off an exquisite blue-black finish that plays with the light gorgeously, almost seeming to shift and change depending on the angle from which you view it. It is also furnished with double-digit Arabic numeral markers, a minute track, MeisterSinger’s signature single watch hand, and a small circular date display at 6 o’clock. This date aperture is outlined in silver, with white text and a vibrant red background that allows it to stand out more clearly against the darker backdrop.

Underneath this attractive watch face is a first-class ETA 2824-2 movement. This is an automatic calibre that is held together by 25 jewels. It runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) and can last for up to 38 hours when fully wound. In addition, the watch also comes with a solid 30-metre depth rating.

This Meistersinger New Vintage watch is priced at just $1,079 USD, making it slightly cheaper than the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope.

3. Hamilton American Classic Ref. H38755131 

Finally, we have the Hamilton American Classic Ref. H38755131, boasting a timeless aesthetic that will simply never go out of style. This graceful and striking dress piece is a fantastic choice for those who enjoy minimalistic stainless steel watches. The sterling monochrome look of this Hamilton American Classic watch easily makes it stand out from its competitors.

This Hamilton watch is housed in a 42mm round stainless steel case and matching stainless steel bracelet. Contrasting sharply against its all-silver exterior is a sleek, jet-black dial. This dial follows a straightforward and minimalist layout, comprising just slender stick hour indices, sweeping stick hands, and a small date complication outlined in white at 6 o’clock.

A powerful ETA Calibre 2892-A2 powers this Hamilton watch. Held together by 21 jewels, this automatic movement has a beat frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) and a power supply of 42 hours. It also possesses an accuracy rate of approximately +/-5 seconds per day, which is quite impressive for a watch in this price bracket. In addition, this watch is also equipped with a water resistance capacity of 50 metres, which is more than any other watch mentioned above.

This understated dress watch can be purchased for approximately $639 USD.

Final Thoughts

As with most Junghans Max Bill watches, the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope is a beautiful mix of a simple, minimalist aesthetic and impressive functionality, making it versatile enough for virtually any occasion. Its simple and class appearance allows it to easily stand out in a crowd. If you enjoy exquisitely modern Bauhaus-influenced timepieces, then there is simply no better option than the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Ref. 027/4600.00. 

Photos are credited to eBay.com unless otherwise stated.

Featured image courtesy of (u/aho) on Reddit.

If you are searching for the best watch for everyday wear, then make sure to check out our review about the Timex Fairfield.