In the 1950s, Junghans launched one of the most recognizable pilot watches when it was asked by the then newly established Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) to create a chronograph. This highly legible timepiece stood out for its bezel with twelve concave notches, which are also present on the three new additions to the Meister Pilot collection.

Meister Pilot Chronoscope

Two of the three new models are Meister Pilot Chronoscopes, meaning they have a chronograph function. Junghans opted, just like the original, for just two subdials and no date function. This latter might be disappointing for some, but it contributes to the clean and symmetrical look. Don’t mistake this for a Max Bill kind of minimalism, as for that, the new Meister Pilot Chronoscopes are even quite a departure from the original model. They are much more flamboyant, more like an airforce’s demonstration squadron like the ‘Thunderbirds,’ rather than those that enter actual combat situations. This is mainly due to the elaborate strap, which suits the theme, but for those who want to take things down a notch, replacing them will result in a watch that looks less loud.
A cleaner strap will also put more emphasis on the watch itself, and there Junghans went all in on the details. With a diameter of 43.3 mm is the Meister Pilot Chronoscope quite a substantial watch, but this is toned down by the Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating on the case and bezel. For the navy blue diale...