October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsWindows FixRecommendedWindows errors stealing your time? Find the fix fastScan stability, cleanup and performance issues.Fix NowOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
WatchRanker
Search
For vendors
Black Forest watches

Junghans History: From Straw Hats to Watchmaking Power

Junghans began with clock parts, not hats. Here’s how its Schramberg roots led to industrial scale, Max Bill design, Olympic timing and radio-controlled watches.

By WatchRanker Team 4 min read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Junghans did not begin as a hatmaker: its founder, Erhard Junghans, came from Schramberg’s straw-hat industry before establishing a watch-component business in 1861. The company grew from supplying parts for Black Forest clocks to producing clocks and watches at a scale it describes as among the world’s largest, then became known for precision timekeeping, radio-controlled watches and designs such as its Max Bill collection.

How did Junghans go from straw hats to watches?

The connection is Erhard Junghans’s career, not the first product made by the watch company. According to the company’s founder biography, Junghans trained at a local straw-hat factory and rose to become a partner and manager. In 1859, he and his brother-in-law, Jakob Zeller-Tobler, acquired a site in Schramberg. It became the base of their watch factory two years later.

On 14 April 1861, the two founded Zeller & Junghans as a factory for watch components. Its early products were parts for large Black Forest clocks, including cases, dials, hands, glass doors, hooks, hinges and pendulum discs. The company began making complete clocks in 1866. In other words, the straw-hat business was Junghans’s route into manufacturing and partnership; the watch firm itself started with clock components, not hats. The Science Museum Group’s company record provides an additional institutional identity reference.

When was Junghans founded, and how did it scale up?

Junghans traces its founding to 1861, when Erhard Junghans and Jakob Zeller-Tobler established Zeller & Junghans. Its expansion was rooted in industrial production: it moved from supplying components to making complete clocks, then added wristwatches and other timekeeping instruments.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Elebase USB to USB C Adapter for iPhone 18 Pro Max,USBC Car Charger Adapter
  • Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
  • Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
  • Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
  • Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
  • 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.

Junghans says it had become the world’s largest watch factory by 1903. Its 2024 catalog assigns a figure to that milestone: three million clocks produced annually in 1903. These are company-published historical claims, not independently audited production totals. The company’s history page gives the largest-factory claim, while the figure of three million appears in its 2024 catalog.

A later set of figures, published by Junghans on its manufacturing page and attributed there to Uhrenfabrik Junghans in 1961, describes the scale the company said it had reached for its centenary:

Rank #2
Anker USB-C Hub, 5-in-1 USB Hub for Laptops, 4K HDMI Multiport Adapter
  • 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
  • 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
  • Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
  • 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
  • What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
  • 6,000 employees and 10,000 machines.
  • 20,000 watches of all kinds made each day.
  • Exports to 100 countries.

The figures are striking, but they should be read as Junghans’s account of its own operations in that year. They do not establish the company’s present-day production, workforce or market share.

What happened at the Schramberg factory?

The factory site was both a production center and a marker of the company’s industrial ambition. Junghans completed its nine-level terrace building in 1918. The company says its first hand-wound wristwatches were produced there in 1927. The stepped structure is now home to the Junghans Terrassenbau Museum, which covers the history of Black Forest clocks as well as the factory and company.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Sale
Anker USB C Hub, 7in1 Multi-Port USB Adapter, 4K@60Hz USBC to HDMI Splitter
  • Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
  • Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
  • Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
  • Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
  • What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.

The building links two phases of the business: the early manufacture of clock parts and complete clocks, and the move into wristwatches. It remains part of the company’s public identity as well as a site for interpreting the region’s clockmaking history.

How did Junghans become known for design and precision?

In the mid-twentieth century, Junghans’s story combined new ownership, design collaboration and chronometer production. The company timeline says Diehl GmbH acquired a majority share in 1956, the same year Junghans began collaborating with designer Max Bill. Its 2024 catalog describes Junghans as the world’s third-largest chronometer manufacturer in 1956; that ranking, too, is a company-reported historical claim.

Rank #4
Sale
UGREEN USB to USB C Adapter Combo 4-Pack, 10Gbps USB C Converter Space Gray
  • Dual Converters, Infinite Potential:Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
  • Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
  • Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
  • Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
  • Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft

In 1957, Junghans unveiled the J83, its first automatic chronometer caliber, according to the company’s timeline. The Max Bill partnership added a design chapter to a history often told through production volume and technical development. Together, these milestones show that Junghans’s prominence was not only about how many timepieces it made, but also about the kinds of watches and timekeeping mechanisms it developed.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What role did Junghans play in sports timing and electronic timekeeping?

Junghans continued to pursue precision beyond mechanical chronometers. Its company timeline records the presentation of a high-precision Astro-Quartz watch in 1971 and identifies the firm as official timekeeper of the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Best Value
Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USBC to HDMI Splitter with 4K Display
  • 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
  • Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
  • Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
  • HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
  • What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.

It later entered radio-controlled timekeeping: Junghans says it produced its first serially manufactured radio-controlled table clock in 1985, followed by the Mega 1 radio-controlled wristwatch in 1990. These dates and product milestones are drawn from the company’s 2024 timeline. They mark a shift from mechanical precision alone toward clocks and watches that could synchronize with radio time signals.

Is Junghans still a major watchmaker today?

Junghans says its headquarters remain at its historic site in Schramberg and that it continues to design and manufacture watches there. It also says its products are worn in more than 100 countries. That current description is different from the dated scale claims for 1903 and 1961: no present-day production total or independent market-share figure is established by those company statements. For its own account of its location and continuing presence, see the company’s location FAQ.

For the full arc, Junghans’s historical archive advertises catalogs and records that document its past. The best-supported outline is clear: a founder shaped by Schramberg’s straw-hat trade established a parts business; the firm moved into complete clocks, expanded into wristwatches, and built a reputation through design and technical timekeeping. Its historical peak should be understood on its own terms rather than treated as a measure of the company’s current scale.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Journal

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.