ReviewJunghans Meister Driver Automatic: The Road Not Taken

There’s just something about fast cars that gets the adrenaline pumping. Zipping through the fast lane with the windows down, the music turned up, and the wind rushing through your hair. The thrill when you put the pedal to the metal and you’re pushed back into your seat. So what happens when the love for automobiles runs through your veins? Let me take this opportunity to introduce you to Arthur Junghans.

Arthur was the son of Erhard Junghans, the man who founded the Junghans watchmaking company all the way back in 1861. He was a great friend of Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. Automobile enthusiasts may know them as the men who paved the way for the modern automobile industry. It was only a matter of consequence that Arthur purchased Daimler test cars in 1892. The beginning of the 20th century saw Junghans creating car clocks. However, that was just the beginning.

The passion for the automotive industry seemed to have crept into the very fabric of Junghans. Arthur’s son, Dr Oskar was responsible for creating a speed measuring device for the accurate logging of vehicle speed. His brother Helmut designed something called a ‘Viadicator’, which is the predecessor of indicators (or blinkers) that are used in modern cars and bikes. The affinity for all-things-vehicular has not escaped the present-day owners of the company, Dr Hans-Jochem and Hannes Steim, either. They have their own car collection, which includes a total of 130 unique vehicles, and this is a legitimate thing-to-see in Schramberg, Germany.

The Junghans Meister Driver Automatic collection embodies the spirit of early automotive racing through its design and colours

After this kind of love affair with four-wheeled juggernauts, is it any surprise that the Junghans Meister Driver Automatic is a part of their watch portfolio? Launched in February 2017, this collection is a homage to classic cars and automotive racing.

Let’s first talk about the ‘engine’ of these watches. The Junghans Meister Driver Automatic is powered by the self-winding J800.1 calibre, a reliable and robust movement that boasts a power reserve of 38 hours. This is enclosed in a 38.4mm stainless steel case with a width of only 9.9mm—ensuring that it’ll sit comfortably on a driver’s wrist. The case has been overlayed with a gold PVD coating that gives it an antiquated yet charming look. The timepiece also has a clear caseback so you can appreciate its inner workings. The hard convex Plexiglas, which has an additional scratch-resistant coating, covers the dial.

The numerals on the dial are clear and the Dauphine hands make it easy to keep time. The gold PVD coating of the case contrasts brilliantly with the green of the strap

It’s only warranted that we talk about the next most eye-catching feature of the watches, which is also racing-inspired. The two watches in this collection have calfskin leather straps in two stunning colours—classic brown and racing green. As is known to racing enthusiasts, the British racing green colour originated in 1903 during the Gordon Bennet Cup, which was held in Ireland. Even the brown colour finds its origins in automotive racing, as it represents the colour of the vintage leather caps, driving goggles and gloves that were used by drivers in the early 20th century.

It isn’t all about just colours though. It is the dial of these watches that truly represents the racing spirit. Instead of the regular Arabic numerals that go from one to 12, here we have a dial where the numerals are etched in increments of five instead, starting from five and going up to 60. If the dial reminds you of speedometers of vintage cars, that’s exactly the look the designers at Junghans were going for. The periphery of the dial is white, while the centre is grey, which enhances the visibility of the numbers. The white Dauphine hands bordered by a thin black and grey strip also make it easier to read time. The hands and hour markers also have a Super-LumiNova coating that makes your watch legible even in the darkest of nights, when you only have your car headlights to guide you on your way. The watches have a water resistance of only 30m, which means you need to steer (see what I did there?) clear of any water.

This timepiece really catches the eye, as its leather strap dons the iconic British racing green colour

₹1,21,000

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With a thickness of only 9.9mm, it is certain that this watch will sit comfortably on any driver's wrist

₹1,21,000

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The robust and durable J800.1 calibre movement is visible through the clear caseback

₹1,21,000

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The Junghans Meister Driver Automatic is a watch that melds the worlds of horology and automotive racing seamlessly. In fact, it’s easy to see why the love for one can inspire love for the other. In both cases, there is an appreciation for the delicate yet powerful intricacy of machinery and the master craftsman who put a bit of their soul in their creations. It is no wonder then that several racing legends such as Paul Newman and Lewis Hamilton are well-known watch aficionados. There’s a reason why the image of a gloved hand wearing a voguish timepiece clutching a leather-padded steering wheel is so iconic. The Junghans Meister Driver Automatic has been specifically designed to look absolutely exceptional in just such a picture.