Impressions of the Junghans Museum in the Black Forrest

Hello Crunchers,

Today I would like to share a few impressions from the Junghans Terassenbau Museum.

First of all, there is the building that towers majestically above the town on the slopes of the Black Forest. In general, the town of Schramberg is very industrialised and you walk in the footsteps of the past glory of the former largest watchmaking town in the world.

Image

In the museum itself, you work your way closer to the present day, terrace by terrace. At the beginning you marvel at numerous wall and grandfather clocks made of wood, metal and porcelain.

In the middle section, I waited for minutes until a cuckoo jumped out of the clock and sang its little song.

Image

Then came the war and industrialisation and the meaning and appearance of (wrist) watches was to change forever. Junghans was the largest watch manufacturer in the world at that time with more than 3,000 workers and 3,000,000 watches sold in 1903.

Before the quartz crisis, Junghans was also at the forefront of technology and was the third largest manufacturer of chronographs.

Image

Most of you will know the collaboration with the designer and Bauhaus icon Max Bill.

Image

Junghans also navigated through the quartz crisis relatively safely and entered the production of quartz watches. Junghans also produced their own crystals at the time, for which Grand Seiko, among others, is celebrated today. Furthermore, the company worked early on the use of radio and solar technology in wristwatches.

Image

Junghans was omnipresent at the 1972 Munich Olympics and revolutionised timekeeping in sport in its own way with the first colour photo finish in the 100m sprint.

Now, some are probably wondering how this story of a once strong brand could end so sadly, since Junghans is nowadays practically irrelevant and, apart from quartz movements, no longer does any "watchmaking" of its own.

Unfortunately, I haven't found an answer to this question, but I'm curious about the discussion in the comments. Have you ever been to a watch factory? Can you recommend any great watch museums? Did you know the history of Junghans? Where in time did Junghans went down the wrong path?

Reply
·

Thanks for this! I did not know a lot about Junghans (so can't comment on your follow-up questions regarding the brand), but your post was very helpful. On the topic of other watch museums: I do plan to visit the German Watch Museum in Glashütte later this year; will post if and when that has happened!

Image
·
Icarium

Thanks for this! I did not know a lot about Junghans (so can't comment on your follow-up questions regarding the brand), but your post was very helpful. On the topic of other watch museums: I do plan to visit the German Watch Museum in Glashütte later this year; will post if and when that has happened!

Image

I just left you a follow. I wouldn't want to miss your impressions of the watch museum. I never was in Glashütte so far, but it's definitely on my bucket list. 😎

Are you planning to commemorate your trip with a nice new addition to your collection?

·

Great post. Thank you very much.

The story of the downfall of Junghans is actually representive to the whole german watchmaking industry. In fact there were three waves hitting the german watch industry.

  1. The second world war. Especially bigger industrial cities like Pforzheim with his huge mass production of watches and home to many watch brands were destroyed. Many company owners and employees lost their lives. But eventually the production bounced back till the 60's. See also at my columns about Pforzheim.

  2. The quartz crisis. Especially the big mass producers were hit very heavy which lead many producers to give up and most of the employees lost their jobs.

  3. The Swatch Group. Yes. As an aftermath of the quartz crisis, Second Watch (Swatch) was born and so the Swatch Group. The German Industry was unfortunately not organized like their Swiss neighbors. Many companies were still struggeling after the quartz crisis in the 80's and 90's but still alive and vital. But before the germans could understand what happens, the Swatch Group bought everything they could grab on the german market (very cheap). Not Just brands like Glashütte Original or Union Glashütte or A. Lange und Söhne which we all know today, but also many companies we never heared of. Because after the merge of the Swatch Group they litterally shut the doors of those companies. ETA for example bought the (as I know) last movement producer Pforzheimer Uhren-Rohwerke GmbH (P.U.W.), and desolved it. The brand Circula which is still independent existing and owned by the family launched two/three years ago a Circula Heritage-Kollektion with P.U.W. movements which were found well stored (just a side note).

So the german industry were heavier hit than the swiss. Some traditional brands we know today were even relaunged after decades.

But the story of Junghans is little different. Junghans struggled very hard, but managed to survive. In the 80's and 90s there were actually on a point to be a grab and go departmend store watch. The pacages remind you more on casio or any other cheap watch.

Image
Image

It is nothing to blame. That was the state of the market at that time and it helped to survive.

Junghans also invested quite early into inovation and offered (and atill offering) solar powered and radio setted watches.

In the 2000s Junghans were purchased by some investores who understood the potential of the brand and wanted to build it into a luxury brand, but couldn't managed it well. The company owners changed few times and went even bankrupt, till the indsurtial Steim-Family merged it. The family itself is also rooted in producing watchparts since generation and was before as suplier of Junghans.

Since them Junghans runs quite well.

They also had a time when the coorporate with Grand Seiko. The caliber J830 is based on the 9S51 of Grand Seiko which were modified for their Spektrum line (see also my article about my Junghans Spektrum). But unfortunately they discontinued this automatic model few years before.

Image

Why Junghans and many other german watchmaker never managed to build up an own movement manufacturing can only be guessed. I think it is easier and cheaper to order from switzerland or japan than put a lot of investment into designing a new movement.

But one who had the balls for is Lehmann (aka Lehmann Schramberg /LS). See also...yes...again...my article about Lehmann :-) . He do not only build every part inhouse in their own manufacturing from the Movement to the Dials and Hands...but also their own Machines to build them. Lehmann started at first with it's company in an old historic building of Junghans in Schramberg. But resently they moved to a neighboring village.

I hope that Junghans will also follow someday the motivation of Lehmann and starts also to build their own movements again or coorporate with Grand Seiko again.

·
Uhrologe

Great post. Thank you very much.

The story of the downfall of Junghans is actually representive to the whole german watchmaking industry. In fact there were three waves hitting the german watch industry.

  1. The second world war. Especially bigger industrial cities like Pforzheim with his huge mass production of watches and home to many watch brands were destroyed. Many company owners and employees lost their lives. But eventually the production bounced back till the 60's. See also at my columns about Pforzheim.

  2. The quartz crisis. Especially the big mass producers were hit very heavy which lead many producers to give up and most of the employees lost their jobs.

  3. The Swatch Group. Yes. As an aftermath of the quartz crisis, Second Watch (Swatch) was born and so the Swatch Group. The German Industry was unfortunately not organized like their Swiss neighbors. Many companies were still struggeling after the quartz crisis in the 80's and 90's but still alive and vital. But before the germans could understand what happens, the Swatch Group bought everything they could grab on the german market (very cheap). Not Just brands like Glashütte Original or Union Glashütte or A. Lange und Söhne which we all know today, but also many companies we never heared of. Because after the merge of the Swatch Group they litterally shut the doors of those companies. ETA for example bought the (as I know) last movement producer Pforzheimer Uhren-Rohwerke GmbH (P.U.W.), and desolved it. The brand Circula which is still independent existing and owned by the family launched two/three years ago a Circula Heritage-Kollektion with P.U.W. movements which were found well stored (just a side note).

So the german industry were heavier hit than the swiss. Some traditional brands we know today were even relaunged after decades.

But the story of Junghans is little different. Junghans struggled very hard, but managed to survive. In the 80's and 90s there were actually on a point to be a grab and go departmend store watch. The pacages remind you more on casio or any other cheap watch.

Image
Image

It is nothing to blame. That was the state of the market at that time and it helped to survive.

Junghans also invested quite early into inovation and offered (and atill offering) solar powered and radio setted watches.

In the 2000s Junghans were purchased by some investores who understood the potential of the brand and wanted to build it into a luxury brand, but couldn't managed it well. The company owners changed few times and went even bankrupt, till the indsurtial Steim-Family merged it. The family itself is also rooted in producing watchparts since generation and was before as suplier of Junghans.

Since them Junghans runs quite well.

They also had a time when the coorporate with Grand Seiko. The caliber J830 is based on the 9S51 of Grand Seiko which were modified for their Spektrum line (see also my article about my Junghans Spektrum). But unfortunately they discontinued this automatic model few years before.

Image

Why Junghans and many other german watchmaker never managed to build up an own movement manufacturing can only be guessed. I think it is easier and cheaper to order from switzerland or japan than put a lot of investment into designing a new movement.

But one who had the balls for is Lehmann (aka Lehmann Schramberg /LS). See also...yes...again...my article about Lehmann :-) . He do not only build every part inhouse in their own manufacturing from the Movement to the Dials and Hands...but also their own Machines to build them. Lehmann started at first with it's company in an old historic building of Junghans in Schramberg. But resently they moved to a neighboring village.

I hope that Junghans will also follow someday the motivation of Lehmann and starts also to build their own movements again or coorporate with Grand Seiko again.

Thanks a lot for your insights. It was incredibly interesting and I learned a lot (yet again). Your Artickes are also awesome. 👍🏼

·

A really interesting thread. Many thanks to all who have contributed.

·

A journey of 120 years begins with a single … terrace. Great post, thanks.

·

Excellent discussion full of interesting facts, although they do not design their own movement I like almost all the models they are producing now, always classy and tasteful at reasonable prices

·

Thx for the history,also your other posts are intresting