Hands-on with the Junghans 1972 Competition Edition Lemon Automatic Watch
Saturday - 18 February 2023
The new Junghans 1972 Competition Edition Lemon watch is limited to just 150 pieces worldwide and boasts a vibrant lemon-coloured dial in celebration of the brand’s role as the official timekeeper for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. It features bold black-filled chronograph counters and a sporty black tachymeter scale for measuring speed based on distance.
German watchmaker Junghans and its relationship with sport is not always noted when mentioning the brand but it’s a mystery as to why. Yes, the company is notable for its minimalist Max Bill timepieces and its distinct Bauhaus-inspired wristwatches which tell the time simply and straightforwardly whilst also nodding to the past. But Junghans actually celebrated its role as an official timekeeper of the Olympics over 50 years ago and recently revisited an important model from 1972 just last year. The grey and orange 1972 Competition watch was released last year as a nod to when Junghans acquired the official timekeeping role for the Summer Olympic Games of Munich. It followed the same design released by the brand back in the 70s for the public. Following in that same path, Junghans now celebrates its role as the official timekeeper for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship with a vibrant yellow limited edition watch, exclusive to just 150 pieces worldwide.
The new Junghans 1972 Competition FIS Edition Lemon watch celebrates the same elliptical case shape as the original 1972 model and features a stunning black and yellow livery. It signifies the role Junghans once again holds as the official timekeeper for the Nordic World Ski Championships in Planica Slovenia in March this year. Before this, Junghans participated in the 2019 event in Seefeld and then again in 2021 in Oberstdorf. In supporting this role as official timekeeper, Junghans had released a compressor-style GMT watch in colours of red, white and blue, yet no model quite beats the vividness and boldness of the new Junghans 1972 Competition FIS Edition Lemon watch in an automatic version. (The brand has also released a quartz version, which I covered in more detail here)
The case shape of the new Junghans 1972 Competition FIS Edition Lemon takes the form of a handheld stopwatch and features the same bullhead push-pieces on the top of the case. Measuring a wide 45.5mm width, the watch is crafted from robust stainless steel and sits at 14.5mm in depth. A screwed crown is nestled between the two push-pieces at the top of the case and the surface of the steel is sandblasted for a contemporary look. A 100-meter water resistance ensures you can take a shower with the new sporty limited edition watch strapped firmly to the wrist with its sporty vibrant yellow leather strap. You don’t have to worry about water damage occurring to the movement sitting inside the case. Built for everyday wear, the model is tough, durable and robust.
The yellow dial itself is beautifully varnished, giving way to black-filled sub counters at 12 and 6 o’clock with a respective 30-minute feature and a small seconds feature. The slightly oval sub-counters have hands that are executed in the same vibrant yellow hue, giving the watch an unmistakable sportiness. The rectangular-shaped indexes around the hour track and the central hands have all been treated with a white luminous material that is environmentally friendly, whilst a bold black tachymeter scale frames the entire dial perfectly.
Behind the caseback of the new Junghans 1972 Competition FIS Edition Lemon watch is the Calibre J880.50 – a self-winding movement based on a Sellita engine that beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. With a 48-hour power reserve, you can rely on this movement for keeping accurate time should you wish to take the timepiece off during the daytime or the evening.
The yellow leather strap that attaches this new sporty Junghans 1972 Competition FIS Edition Lemon watch to the wrist is rally-inspired and features perforations along its surface that give way to a stealthy black lining underneath. It secures with a stainless steel folding clasp to complete its look.
Technical specifications of the new Junghans 1972 Competition FIS Edition Lemon watch
- Case: 45.5mm – stainless steel – elliptical shape – sandblasted finishes – 100-meter water resistance – bullhead chronograph pushers on the top of the case – screw down crown
- Dial: Lemon and black – varnished – hands and hour markers treated with environmentally friendly luminous material – date window at 3 o’clock – black-filled chronograph counters – 30-minute sub-dial at 12 o’clock – small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock
- Movement: Self-winding – Calibre J880.50 – 48-hour power reserve – 28,800 vph - base Sellita SW500
- Strap: Yellow – leather – perforated – black lining – stainless steel folding clasp
- Reference: 27/4305.00
- Availability: Limited to just 150 pieces worldwide
- Price: £2,540
