Junghans has unveiled a striking new limited edition chronograph that honors the German watchmaker’s impressive history. The Telemeter USA Limited Edition is a collector’s piece that pays tribute to a celebrated Junghans chronograph from the 1950s. It combines a pair of functions rarely seen together in modern watchmaking, and its modern interpretation of vintage style looks sure to prove a hit.

To appreciate the significance of the new Junghans Telemeter, it helps to understand the legacy behind the brand. Junghans was founded in 1861 in Schramberg, a town in southern Germany’s picturesque Black Forest. It evolved rapidly from a supplier of clock parts into the biggest clock manufacturer in the world. By the early 20th century, Junghans was producing millions of clocks every year.

Max Bill for Junghans wall clock from 1954

The brand began with wall-mounted clocks and alarm clocks, then adapted to the technological advances of the 20th century — making timekeepers for airships, airplanes and then motor cars. Junghans is still well known for its clocks, but its Meister wristwatches, which have been in production since the 1930s, are just as celebrated.

In collaboration with the Swiss architect and designer Max Bill, the iconic Junghans kitchen clock was created in the 1950s. This was followed in the 1960s by the first Junghans × Max Bill collection wristwatches, which are still among the brand’s bestsellers today.

A Flash of Ingenuity: Then and Now

The new Junghans Telemeter USA Limited Edition has its roots in another notable entry from the brand’s back catalog. The original Junghans Telemeter was released in 1951 and stood out as a chronograph with a difference. Like many chronographs of the time, it featured a tachymeter — a scale for measuring speed over a set distance. But what made it unique was the second scale that gave the watch its name: the telemeter, a tool used to calculate the distance between the wearer and an event that emits both light and sound, such as a lightning strike or artillery fire.

Junghans Telemeter USA Limited Edition

When you see a flash, you start the chronograph; when you hear the boom, you stop it. The telemeter scale displays the distance in kilometers from the source of the event — whether it’s the battle lines or the eye of a storm. Combining a telemeter and tachymeter in a single watch is rare, both then and now, and this remains one of the features that makes the Junghans Telemeter a favorite among collectors.

The new Telemeter USA Limited Edition remains faithful to that legacy while offering the reassurance of modern specifications. The 40.8mm stainless steel case is coated in yellow-gold-colored PVD, referencing a rare gold variation of the original. The dark blue circular-brushed dial is complemented by luminous sword hands and Arabic numerals, a tachymeter printed around the outer ring, and the red telemeter scale on the silver ring inside. A red central chronograph hand, a 30-minute totalizer, and a small seconds indication complete a display that is both highly functional and visually striking.

The watch is powered by Caliber J880.3, a self-winding movement with a 42-hour reserve. Visible through a transparent caseback, the movement is decorated with rhodium plating, striped rotor finishing, diamond-cut detailing on the barrel, wheel train and balance bridge, and heat-blued screws.

The watch is on a dark blue leather embossed strap with saddle-stitching and a PVD gold-colored steel buckle. Vintage styling, combined with modern conveniences like anti-reflective sapphire crystal and 50 meters of water resistance, make this watch as practical as it is collectible.

The Junghans Telemeter USA Limited Edition is produced in 50 numbered pieces and priced at USD 3,180. It is exclusively available through the brand’s authorized retailers in the USA or online at junghans-shop.com.

Tech Specs: Junghans Telemeter USA Limited Edition

Movement: Self-winding Caliber J880.3; 42-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, and chronograph with telemeter and tachymeter functions
Case: 40.8mm × 12.6mm; stainless steel with yellow gold colored PVD coating; water resistant to 50m
Dial: Dark blue with circular brushing; Arabic numerals with luminescent coating
Strap: Dark blue leather with saddle-stitch seam; PVD-coated stainless steel buckle
Price: USD 3,180
Availability: Limited edition of 50 pieces