The Solar-Powered watch space still feels unfrequented. Only a handful of luxury names are doing them well – Seiko and TAG Heuer being two obvious examples. Then there’s Junghans, a German watchmaker with an affinity for Bauhaus-inspired design and a range of innovative solar-powered radio-controlled movements at their disposal. Their latest release, the Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar watch, combines both.
Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar - Credit Junghans
Max Bill
The Junghans Max Bill is one of the original trailblazers of the Bauhaus style watch, created originally in 1961 by Max Bill himself. A certified industrial engineer, designer, painter, and architect, Max Bill began working for the Black Forest-based watch manufacturer during the late 1950s, creating a Max Bill Küchenuhr “kitchen clock” in 1956. The unique, tear-drop-shaped, pastel-blue wall clock remains an art world icon, currently residing in the New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Shortly after the kitchen clock, Max Bill created a line of wristwatches that, as you guessed it, became a permanent staple in Junghan’s portfolio. In the six decades that have passed, Junghans has kept the design of their Max Bill watch pretty much identical to the originals, expanding only with materials, colors, and complications. For their next version, the German watchmaker combines the minimalistic design with state-of-the-art solar-powered technology.
Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar - Credit Junghans
Brilliant technology
Hidden beneath the translucent dial of the new Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar watch is their Calibre J101.85 radio-controlled connected movement. According to Junghans, the movement has been developed and manufactured in Schramberg, Germany, and is entirely powered by a curved solar cell placed beneath the central display. The movement offers a power-saving feature that allows it to stay accurate for up to three years, even in total darkness. There’s also some additional functionality since it is radio-controlled, including a perpetual calendar function, automatic adjustment for daylight saving time, and time zone synchronization. To make things even simpler, manipulating these features can be done using the crown or a smartphone.
Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar - Credit Junghans
The new Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar watch has been released in two variations: one in classic stainless steel and another in sand-colored gold PVD. The steel reference is joined by a crisp white dial with bold red numerals and matching red printing on its calendar disc, while the gold PVD model elects a white dial with more traditional black printed numerals and gold-colored hands. Both measure 38mm in diameter with a beautiful, slender height of only 9mm. There’s also domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflection coating on both sides, a 50 meter water-resistant rating, and luminous dots and hands on the dial.
The Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar watches are completed by straps that match their retrospective dial accents. The gold-plated reference is joined by a soft-grey leather strap with a gold-plated pin buckle, while the steel model is fitted with a bright red vegan apple fiber strap with a microfibre lining and a stainless steel pin buckle.
Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar - Credit Junghans
A Personal Perspective from Charlotte:
I’ve been a fan of Junghans watches for a while now – their Datum was one of the very first luxury watches I wore – but I have to admit, their solar-powered references don’t typically tempt me.
That being said, these new Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar offer a wealth of functionality made even more impressive in a case that sits at only 9mm. The color combinations here are also pretty, the soft gold PVD plated model is my personal preference, but I can see how the statement red accents of the steel model would be an interesting addition to monochromatic attire.
Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar - Credit Junghans
Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar Specifications:
- Case Dimensions: 38mm diameter, 9mm height
- Case Metal: stainless steel or sand-gold coloured PVD-coated
- Glass: domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflection coating on both sides
- Case Back: mineral crystal with sun motif printing from the inside
- Water Resistance: 5 atm or 50 metres
- Movement: Connected RC solar movement J101.85 with highly efficient energy management, smart time adjustment with the Connected function of the Junghans MEGA app, adjustment of all time zones, dark power reserve up to 3 years, perpetual calendar, radio reception in Europe, UK, Japan and USA
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, radio reception indication
- Dial: Domed white dial with transparent print, luminous dots and hands with environmentally friendly luminous substance
- Strap: Vegan apple fibre strap with microfibre lining (59/4325.02) or leather strap (59/7324.02) stainless steel or sand-gold coloured PVD-coated buckle
- Price: £1,075 (steel), £1,176 (gold-PVD)
