A watch with a genuine period flavour can look impressive and has the advantage that it can never go out of style… it’s already out of style by definition. This sort of operation can produce excellent results in terms of sales, as demonstrated by watches such as the IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days edition, launched in 2015 and already virtually sold out. That model is an almost exact reproduction of a 1940s watch. The Junghans Meister Driver Handaufzug on the other hand was designed from scratch, using a classic car to provide the design cues: the Maybach DS 8 Zeppelin, dating to 1922, with its immaculate colour combination of cream and grey.
The dial recalls a speedometer, and the distinctive type fonts used for the two models help reinforce the historical charm. Numerals and hands are coated with SuperLuminova for night-time visibility. The watch is given three-dimensionality by the lightly domed dial and the concave depression for the small seconds subdial. The calfskin leather strap has the look of leather car interiors and the perforations of the lining also express the world of classic cars.
The case of the Junghans Meister Driver is in steel, very wearable by all at 37.7 mm diameter, and super-slim at 7.3 mm thickness. The watchglass is in domed Plexiglas, another interesting period feature. Owners will have to be a bit more careful than usual to avoid scratches. The watch is powered by the hand-wound ETA 7001 Peseux movement, nicely finished with rhodium plating, blued screws and machined stripes on the bridges. The balance runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hertz), and it provides 44 hours power reserve. The case’s water resistance is 3 bar, 30 metres (resistant to raindrops and splashes, no swimming or showering).
Price
The Junghans Meister Driver Handaufzug is available in two versions, 027/3607.00 (black dial, grey strap), and 027/3608.00 (cream and light grey dial, cream strap). The watch costs $1,290 and it will be available in September 2016.