Solar watches- thoughts?
I was checking out Junghans watches in an AD store, where they only had a few pieces of the brand. Didn’t buy any yet but started exploring their website and saw their mega solar watches, needless to say I was intrigued by them. Wanted to check with the group-
- Have you bought any solar powered watch? How was the experience? I am guessing they are quartz watches, so do you also have to get a battery replacement at times?
- Thoughts on Junghans as a brand in general, I liked their Max Bill and Meister collection, which was the only one available at the AD. Honestly between Nomos and Jungahs, I liked the look and feel of Junghans but I know that movements of a Nomos are considered better.
A noob to the watch enthusiast community, but absolutely enjoying myself in the world of watches!
A few pieces that I saw in the store
I liked the radio controlled Junghans in titanium. I’ve had solar powered in the past and had no issues, and constantly consider buying a solar Seiko speed timer. It’s hard to compare hand wound and other mechanical movements to a solar movement.
I have this Casio solar-powered faux diver (the model # escapes me at the moment). I've had it for about one year and it has been very reliable. Casio claims an 8-month (!) power reserve. I haven't tested it for that long but I do know it was fine after a recent 6-week stay in the watch roll. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another solar-powered piece.
I just can speak of GShocks. Never had an issue with these. Very reliable, a felt infinite time empowered, never had to think about loading the timepiece
Solar I’d consider citizen to be top of the pile
Never had any issues with my solar watches. Keeping them in indirect light during storage keeps them charged.
Junghans is indeed a well-established established German brand, and probably mostly known for the "Max Bill". They have a rich history producing clocks and watches, most of them utilitarian and reliable. (Heck, you can still get the Max Bill as a clock.)
I received one for my birthday. It’s a great watch and an interesting break from my automatics.
Had a solar G-Shock for over ten years. Still running perfectly.
Solar works well as long as you don't leave it in the dark for a year. The energy storage doesn't like that and might die ... at which point it needs replacing and it isn't as standard as a regular battery (so more difficult to find the part and replace). If you keep it charged and wear it a lot it will most likely run very well for over 10 years.
With regular battery powered quartz you change the battery every 3 to 5 years and that is it. Otherwise they are pretty much identical.
This seiko is quartz and solar powered. The instructions say that the battery should last a good while and not to replace it without experienced technician. I just make sure to wear it often and have had no issues.
I have no solar watch yet. So I can't tell you any experiences. But yes, they are actually Quartz Movements but Solar powered. Seiko offert once (I don't remember exactly anymore) 12 or 20 years guarantee on the battery. I would love to have a solar watch in my collection. Junghans is one of the very few who offers some nice pieces. In long term they would safe a lot of money by not needed to be serviced till the battery get's old. These days many brands pushing their ADs to send thewatches to them for a whole service (full priced) even if you have to change only the battery. So a 5 Minute job becomes now a 3 months service journey. With a solar powered you would be able to skip those.
Nomos vs Junghans. Even both following the leasons of clear and clean german Bauhaus-School designs, they both offer different styles. Nomos appeares in it's designs more young, modern and progressive, while Junghans is more classical and conservative. Junghans uses swiss movements while Nomos produces their own manufactured movements. Junghans watches do offer watches starting on very affordable prices while Nomos cheapest starts at around 1,500 I guess (but which is still to be seen as affordable related to their inhouse movements). But due to theur movements Junghans watches are easier to be repaired by any watchmaker if needed and more cheaper because of their wide spreaded ETA-Movements while the inhouse movements are of nomos do cost more in service.
Have quite a few solar. Never had any issues and once they get full charge they last for a loooooong time.
Low maintenance and easy grab-n-go.
My three personal favs are the Citizen Tough "Ray Mears", OG Protrek, Seiko Lowercase Fieldmaster.
I have no experience with Junghans, but based off what I see online and price point I'm guessing it will be a very nice watch.
The Protrek in the picture is from 2011/12-ish, still going strong.
I have this bad ass Astron Solar GPS Dual Time, and I love every bit of it.
I own a few Seiko Solar and G-Shock Solar watches. I make sure to expose them to light at least once a week (usually around noon when the sun is at it’s highest) to maintain charge levels. Other than that, I just wear them and rotate them like normal. I love that they’re quarts and ready to go whenever they’re needed.
You won’t need a new battery as such, they use modified ones which are recharging cells basically. My Ecodrive used to be my fathers, and aside from a couple of scares when I left it in the dark too long - including one in winter when it took weeks to bring it back to life (they prefer direct real sun, not a windowsill, not even a uv torch, and definitely not winter) — it has been running, keeping perfect time barring me resetting the hands every once in while (and date as it is a perpetual calendar, chrono, diver type affair) for the better part of twenty something years.
Which explains why Citizen are the leaders in Solar really.
I received one for my birthday. It’s a great watch and an interesting break from my automatics.
Looks amazing, thank you for sharing
Solar works well as long as you don't leave it in the dark for a year. The energy storage doesn't like that and might die ... at which point it needs replacing and it isn't as standard as a regular battery (so more difficult to find the part and replace). If you keep it charged and wear it a lot it will most likely run very well for over 10 years.
With regular battery powered quartz you change the battery every 3 to 5 years and that is it. Otherwise they are pretty much identical.
Thank you, didn’t know this
This seiko is quartz and solar powered. The instructions say that the battery should last a good while and not to replace it without experienced technician. I just make sure to wear it often and have had no issues.
Thanks man, watch is 🔥
I have no solar watch yet. So I can't tell you any experiences. But yes, they are actually Quartz Movements but Solar powered. Seiko offert once (I don't remember exactly anymore) 12 or 20 years guarantee on the battery. I would love to have a solar watch in my collection. Junghans is one of the very few who offers some nice pieces. In long term they would safe a lot of money by not needed to be serviced till the battery get's old. These days many brands pushing their ADs to send thewatches to them for a whole service (full priced) even if you have to change only the battery. So a 5 Minute job becomes now a 3 months service journey. With a solar powered you would be able to skip those.
Nomos vs Junghans. Even both following the leasons of clear and clean german Bauhaus-School designs, they both offer different styles. Nomos appeares in it's designs more young, modern and progressive, while Junghans is more classical and conservative. Junghans uses swiss movements while Nomos produces their own manufactured movements. Junghans watches do offer watches starting on very affordable prices while Nomos cheapest starts at around 1,500 I guess (but which is still to be seen as affordable related to their inhouse movements). But due to theur movements Junghans watches are easier to be repaired by any watchmaker if needed and more cheaper because of their wide spreaded ETA-Movements while the inhouse movements are of nomos do cost more in service.
Thank you, I learned so much with your comment. Totally see the Nomos being younger and modern’er’. I somehow liked Junghans history a lot more, and especially their dome shaped crystals. I see your point about services and repairs too. Would love to see your solar watch, when you get one.
Have quite a few solar. Never had any issues and once they get full charge they last for a loooooong time.
Low maintenance and easy grab-n-go.
My three personal favs are the Citizen Tough "Ray Mears", OG Protrek, Seiko Lowercase Fieldmaster.
I have no experience with Junghans, but based off what I see online and price point I'm guessing it will be a very nice watch.
The Protrek in the picture is from 2011/12-ish, still going strong.
Beautiful watches there! Thank you for sharing
I have this bad ass Astron Solar GPS Dual Time, and I love every bit of it.
Damn, the watch looks great. Has so much on it, and too through solar power!
I own a few Seiko Solar and G-Shock Solar watches. I make sure to expose them to light at least once a week (usually around noon when the sun is at it’s highest) to maintain charge levels. Other than that, I just wear them and rotate them like normal. I love that they’re quarts and ready to go whenever they’re needed.
Looks great and G-shocks are the best value for money as it is
You won’t need a new battery as such, they use modified ones which are recharging cells basically. My Ecodrive used to be my fathers, and aside from a couple of scares when I left it in the dark too long - including one in winter when it took weeks to bring it back to life (they prefer direct real sun, not a windowsill, not even a uv torch, and definitely not winter) — it has been running, keeping perfect time barring me resetting the hands every once in while (and date as it is a perpetual calendar, chrono, diver type affair) for the better part of twenty something years.
Which explains why Citizen are the leaders in Solar really.
Noted, so quartz movements but with rechargable cells. I can see they would need to specially changed on servicing and not anyone can do it. Thanks for sharing.
I have a number of solar watches, Citizen, Seiko, Bering, and Casio, and I have not had any problems at all with them. I even have a Citizen CQ Solar Cell that predates the Eco-Drive technology that is still working.
Granted, this is a solar assisted battery, but it is still working well and rarely needs a battery change.
Looks great!
Add another to the pile of people that like solar watches. Have a Seiko, GShocks and Citizens. All running without issue.
Any solar watch should be able to last a long time even with the rechargeable battery as long as you don't let it fully discharge too often. Watches take so little power and consume it consistently (i.e. no prolonged or dramatic spikes/dips in power demand) so their wear on a battery should technically be much less than most other electronics that don't operate this same way. I've heard multiple anecdotes of Citizen solar watches running 10 or 20+ years with no issues.
The Junghans Max Bill Mega Solar looks amazing to me. I'm sure lot's of people can't rationalize the price for a quartz watch. But when you look at the purpose it was built for and the fact it will need a lot less maintenance (hence lower lifetime cost) than its automatic counterpart, to me it makes sense.
Thanks for sharing. The price point was coming to my mind after seeing the comments and comparing with solar counterparts, but you make a lot of sense. The watch looks pretty good actually.
I think its a capacitor that needs replacing after more than 10 years ?! This is what I’ve read , can anyone collaborate this ? Ta
Tagging @Uhrologe and @solidyetti who may know
Thank you, I learned so much with your comment. Totally see the Nomos being younger and modern’er’. I somehow liked Junghans history a lot more, and especially their dome shaped crystals. I see your point about services and repairs too. Would love to see your solar watch, when you get one.
I'm glad I could help. 👍
Noted, so quartz movements but with rechargable cells. I can see they would need to specially changed on servicing and not anyone can do it. Thanks for sharing.
By all accounts, in many cases, as long as you get the right bit, it is in some cases a DIY job. (I wouldn’t do mine, as it is an older movement, with cell beneath loads of parts of the watch)
I have a Junghans solar and I love it, I’ve had many solar watches over the years and I have a Casio that must be about 15 years old now and still going strong. You can’t go wrong with Junghans if you like the looks.
I have two Junghans solar-powered watches, including this one in green. I’ve had no issues. Love them.