Fergus Nash
Junghans has a long and impressive history in Germany’s Black Forest region, so when the snow comes down, it’s no problem. Though renowned for its traditions and Bauhaus design, Junghans hasn’t stopped developing new models and retro-futuristic styles. The Junghans 1972 series captures two different levels of vintage-inspired quirkiness, combined with the lemon yellow color that represents the company’s sponsorship of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
Nordic skiing refers to a group of sports in which the heel of the ski boot is not fixed to the ski, unlike alpine skiing, in which the entire boot is fixed. FIS, also known as the International Ski Federation, has been running the Nordic World Ski Championships for almost a century. The 2023 edition will mark the 43rd edition, this time held in Planica, Slovenia. It will also mark the third consecutive year that Junghans will be the official timing partner of the biennial event, which runs from February 21 to March 5. Reigning world champion Karl Geiger, a long-time Junghans brand ambassador, will take part in the ski jumping event.
The Junghans 1972 Chronoscope Quartz Edition FIS Lemon packs a lot of 70s vibes into its faceted cushion case, 43.3mm diameter and slender elapsed time bezel. The dial takes a lot of inspiration from 70s racing chronographs, especially the oval chronograph sub-dial and the block-shaped applied indexes. The small second hand is symmetrically placed at 6 o’clock without a sub-dial, giving ample attention to the chronograph timekeeping element. Thanks to the quartz movement, the case is only 11.3mm thick and is definitely more comfortable to wear than its diameter would suggest. Of course, the lemon yellow color is the most exciting, lighting up the wrist with retro power. It comes with a yellow leather racing strap with black details, but if you want to tone it down, you can also get a reverse black and yellow strap.
Highlighting the pocket watch quirkiness is the Junghans 1972 Competition FIS Edition Lemon, with a retro look derived from handheld stopwatches. The bullhead arrangement of the crown and pushers combined with the oval case further enhances the sci-fi associations with a sandblasted finish and very wearable dimensions. The case width of 45.5mm sounds large, but it is only 41mm long, so it fits even the slimmest wrists. The caseback is perhaps the strangest element of the watch, with a large curved section that secures the strap and drapes it around the wrist. The movement is the Junghans J880.5, an automatic chronograph based on the ETA 7750, with a 4Hz beat rate and a power reserve of 42 hours.
Pricing and availability of the Junghans 1972 FIS Nordic Ski World Championships Edition:
Each Junghans 1972 model is limited to 150 pieces and is uniquely numbered and engraved on the caseback. For more information, visit the Junghans website. Price: AU$1,250 (Chronoscope Quartz Edition) / AU$3,950 (Competition FIS Edition)
Brand Junghans Model 1972 Competition FIS Edition Lemon / 1972 Chronoscope Quartz Edition FIS Lemon Case dimensions 45.5mm x 41mm x 14.5mm / 43.3mm x 11.3mm Case material Stainless steel Water resistance 100m Crystal Sapphire Dial Yellow Strap Leather Movement J880.5 / Quartz Availability Limited to 150 pieces of each, 300 pieces total Price AU$1,250 (Chronoscope Quartz Edition) / AU$3,950 (Competition FIS Edition)
