The Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope 100 Jahre Bauhaus watch brings the tasteful color palette of the Junghans Max Bill Automatic 100 Jahre Bauhaus watch to the Chronoscope line, resulting in a warm and welcome timepiece. The immediately noticeable red date window — which coordinates perfectly with the slim hour and minute hands — has been lavished with attention, as the text printed on that date wheel is also the same shade of ecru that covers the dial.

This is the latest model in the brand’s exhaustive celebrations commemorating the centenary of Bauhaus. And it has to be said that it is one of the best. Not only does the model take the core principles of Bauhaus very seriously, with the forms of every element clearly following function, but this piece also manages to brighten up proceedings with a highly legible, high-contrast date and handset.

And while the contrast between ecru and red adds to the functional justification of these colors’ inclusion, there is a more whimsical reason for red being employed. It is, in fact, a direct reference to the color of the front door of the Bauhaus school in Dessau.

Max Bill was one of the iconic figures of Bauhaus, studying and teaching at the school. Bill began designing watches for Junghans in 1961, and his legacy has been growing ever since. With just 1,000 pieces of this particularly attractive special edition available, it seems likely that some fans of Bauhaus, Bill, and the brand will be left empty-handed.

And while the caseback boasts a transparent window, it is not entirely see-through. Printed on the mineral crystal is an image of the Bauhaus school, with the movement visible through the windows of the school’s fascia.
And the strap itself is also a nod to the grey concrete of the building, while the gunmetal case provides an attractive (and focusing) contrast to the ecru dial.

The 40mm x 14mm case is made from PVD-coated stainless steel and is water-resistant to 30 meters. The watch is powered by the modified Swiss automatic caliber J880.2, which has a power reserve of 48 hours, a hacking seconds function, and a chronograph complication with 30-minute and 12-hour registers, arranged at 12 and 6 o’clock, respectively. The price for the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope 100 Jahre Bauhaus watch is $2,295. Learn more at junghans.de.