Three Bauhaus-inspired watches that are simply amazing
Clean designs are a hallmark of the German art movement of the early 20th century and these timepieces pay tribute to that
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OK, back to watches. So what’s been floating my boat this week? Well, my current obsession has been Bauhaus, the short-lived German school of design from the early 20th century that’s been highly influential in architecture, industrial design and even watches. Simply put, Bauhaus was focused on creating designs that had clean, geometric forms using mass-produced materials, with the overriding principle being that form should follow function. That’s a real surface explanation but, when it comes to watches, this meant pieces that were visually balanced, legible and minimalist.
German watchmaker Junghans is perhaps the best exponent of Bauhaus design, indeed, its Max Bill range was conceived and named after one of the most famous students of the school. The Junghans Max Bill Edition 2017 (top), a tribute to the Swiss architect and graphic designer that was launched at Baselworld this year, includes not only a watch but also a desk clock.
The watch is based on Bill’s iconic design from 1961, a 38mm steel-case piece with a clutter-free dial. I’ve often recommended this watch to people who were looking for something that could double as an everyday timepiece and a dress watch. Inside is a quartz movement and on the back is a colourful recreation of Bill’s famed “graphic series”. The quartz desk clock again is a distillation of the Bauhaus aesthetic.