Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Junghans Olympic Bullhead Chronograph, 1972
- Maker / attribution
- Junghans (maker)
- Date
- 1972
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Germany
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- 40992754
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (40992754)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Junghans Olympic Bullhead Chronograph (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (stock number 40992754), this is a wristwatch by Junghans, made in Germany, dated 1972. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Analog/Shift
German watches are being talked about more and more recently, thanks to huge success from brands like A. Lange & Söhne and Nomos Glashutte. While still overlooked when it comes to the more storied Swiss producers, the Germans manufacture some of the best watches in the world. Junghans, a German company perhaps better known for their bauhaus and aviation-inspired wristwatch designs and mantle clocks, has been in business producing such instruments since 1861. In 1903, Junghans had the largest watch and clock factory in the world. This particular Junghans is a rather unique chronograph, a 'Bullhead ' so-named for its rotated movement that places the pushers for the chronograph controls on the top of the case rather than the side as traditional. Though uncommon, this is actually is a rather ergonomic place for the chronograph functions to sit. This particular Bullhead, dating to 1972, is part of the Olympics branded collection presented by the brand to commemorate their role as official timekeeper of the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. Truly a standout model, for lovers of 70s chronographs, this is a really cool German value to check out!
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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