Junghans Telemeter Edition JF: a modern take on a 1951 classic

0 0 Tuesday, 12 March 2024 Edit this post

Junghans first presented a chronograph combining telemeter and tachymeter displays in 1951. This year, the German watchmaker released a re-interpretation of that historical timepiece housed in a gold-coloured round case, the new Junghans Telemeter Edition JF.

The 1951 model was crafted from 18k gold while the new edition, limited to 150 pieces, comes in stainless steel with yellow gold-coloured PVD coating. Measuring 40.8 mm x 12.6 mm, the case is water resistant up to a pressure of 5 bar (approximately 50 metres / 165 feet).

Protected by a domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflection coating, the black dial is faithful to the design of the original with the tachymeter in silver printing and the telemeter scale in red.

While many are familiar with the tachymeter scale for measuring speed or distance, the telemeter scale is less common but has a practical use. It helps measure the distance from something audible or visible, like a lightning storm.

Here's how it works: when the wearer sees lightning, they start the chronograph, and when thunder is heard, they stop it. The telemeter scale then shows the distance between the wearer and the thunderstorm.

The sword hour and minute hands, along with the Arabic numerals, are filled with a beige luminous substance. The central chronograph seconds hand stands out in red. The running seconds and the chronograph 30-minute counters are positioned at 3 and 6 o'clock, respectively.

The 4-times screwed case back showcases the self-winding J880.3 Calibre through a mineral crystal. This chronograph movement operates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and offers a power reserve of 42 hours.

Paired with a black leather strap with a saddle stitch seam in grey and a PVD-coated steel buckle, the new Junghans Telemeter Edition JF, ref. 27/3480.02, is priced at Euro 2,490. junghans.de