Junghans and Flight – A Journey Through Time

Press Release

Early 20th Century

Since the early 20th century, Junghans has been manufacturing mechanical timepieces that served as essential instruments for determining flight duration in airships and airplanes, long before GPS tracking existed. These timepieces were indispensable for determining position, speed, and distance. From this era, an original airship clock has been preserved, serving as the oldest testament to the use of Junghans timepieces in aeronautics. It was utilised in the cockpit of the Zeppelin L55, which reached an altitude of over 7,600 metres in 1917 while evading British reconnaissance planes, a new record.

Technological advancements not only allowed for previously unimaginable altitude to be reached but also enabled longer distances to be covered. In the 1930s, to keep passengers informed of the current local time during journeys spanning multiple time zones, Junghans developed a special clock system for airships. Thanks to electronic synchronisation, only the main clock in the control gondola needed to be adjusted, while all auxiliary clocks installed in cabins and dining areas would automatically synchronise.

In the 1930s, Junghans supplied onboard clocks for numerous aircrafts, including the Messerschmidt Me 110. Testifying to the changing perception of space and time is a 24-hour onboard clock with a second time zone, which Junghans produced in the 1950s as one of the few companies in the aviation industry.

1950s: First Wristwatch for Pilots

When at the same time the newly established Bundeswehr was seeking a service watch for its pilots, Junghans was awarded the contract for its pilot chronograph. The timepiece was powered by the J88 intermediate wheel chronograph, developed and tested for all centrifugal forces in Schramberg.

2000s to the Present

To this day, the watchmaker continues to demonstrate its exceptional technological and design competences in pilot watches. Whether it’s the highly functional Junghans Aviator radio-controlled wristwatch, the precise and robust Aerious Chronoscope series with its reserved mechanical movement, or the historically inspired Meister Pilot, Junghans consistently showcases its expertise. With the new Meister Pilot Chronoscope and Meister Pilot Automatic models, Junghans looks back on a century of enthusiasm for aviation. These models combine design elements from the 1950s pilot chronograph with modern features and an emotionally captivating colour scheme.