max bill by Junghans Colour of the Seasons collection

Summer is coming and Junghans has six new watches intended to match the season. Junghans has updated the max bill collection for women using bright white straps and beautiful colors including cherry blossom pink, one that is honey-colored and a cool blue dial reminiscent of the sea.

Junghans has been making minimalist timepieces since 1961 when Max Bill designed a minimalist kitchen clock for the manufacture. This year’s additions to the line add colors (previously, they were always white or black dials) with dials sized for ladies.

Available in a 32.7mm Swiss quartz movement, the max bill Damen line starts at $545 and has the honey-colored dial, cherry blossom pink, and the cool blue color. There are no numerals present; the dial has printed hour and minute markers, with lume dots at the four cardinal directions. The Damen line has a date indicator, which is thoughtfully color-matched to the dial.

The price of admission gets you a domed plexiglass crystal, stainless case, white leather band, with stainless buckle.

If 32.7mm is too small and quartz isn’t your pleasure, Junghans is pleased to offer the max bill Handaufzug (which means ‘hand winding’) available in the cool blue, cherry blossom pink, and a black dial. Here, the case grows by 1.3mm to 34mm diameter; the price also grows to a staring point of $690. In addition to the polished white leather strap on the pink dial, milanese is offered on the blue dialed watch, and a leather strap with gray felt structure is offered on the black dial. The larger watch comes with an ETA 2801-2 hand-wound movement, as the German name indicates, but surrenders the date function.

The hand-winding watch has hour numerals inside the stick marker track, and minute numerals outside of it at the periphery. This actually works very well, because the hand-length is such that the tips of the hands land just at the numerals as they go around the dial. Here too, there are lume dots at the four cardinal markers.

If you value minimalism that represents the absence of ornamentation, form and function working together in harmony, with a heritage of making this sort of watch, Junghans should be on your list.  junghans.de

Watch Overview

• Brand & Model: Max Bill Handaufzug (refs. 027/3600.44, 027/3601.00, 027/3602.00)
• Who we think it might be for: You are a free spirit who values a splash of color with an emphasis on function. These colors will pair well with the 2016 Pantone colors of the year, Rose Quartz and Serenity blue. Expect these watches to work
• Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen? Yes. This design is a reverent interpretation of the original.
• What spoke to me the most about this watch: sensibility of the numerals and tasteful colors, and the perfect proportions.

Tech Specs from Junghans