n 1990, Marty McFly travelled back to the future in his De Lorean DMC-12 for the third time. The German national team won the FIFA World Cup of soccer in Rome. Two German countries became one. And in Schramberg, Junghans presented a revolution in timekeeping technology: the Mega 1. That was the first radio-controlled wristwatch in the world – and the most precise wearable timekeeper of all time.

The launch of the Junghans Mega in 1990 in Europa Star.

Nothing has changed about that to this day: until now, no wristwatch keeps time more precisely than the Junghans Mega. Not only was the technology avant-garde, the design of the Mega 1 was also cutting edge. The frog design agency headed up by German-American product designer Hartmut Esslinger was responsible for this, a man who designed numerous design icons. The anniversary of such an outstanding watch must be properly celebrated – with a string of limited-edition models that give three cheers to its classic role models.

Now Junghans travels back to the future – with a watch that already carries the future in its name. The Mega Futura was originally launched on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Junghans watch factory in 2011. It takes its unmistakable shape from its role model, at the same time interpreting it in a completely new way. The Junghans designers espoused the idea of an asymmetrical base shape with one rounded and one straight side, however the “jetty” on the left side is quite a bit more pronounced.

As a new interpretation of the Mega 1, it combines futuristic design, the precision of radio-controlled technology, and high-tech made in Germany. A focus on the essentials is also obvious in the digital time-and-date display, which consciously refrains from using zeroes, a numeral that has no relevance in the display of time information.

Three strictly limited variations of the Mega Futura are sure to delight watch fans who love both design and technology. Two of these limited watches are housed in matte-brushed stainless-steel cases and come with a choice of light grey or black displays limited to 80 pieces each. The third Mega Futura is housed in a black PVD-coated stainless steel case with a black display featuring green numerals; it is also limited to 80 pieces. All three of these watches come on a black leather strap.

These watches are powered by the multifrequency radio-controlled Caliber J604.90, which was developed and assembled in Schramberg. Alongside the time shown in a choice of 12- or 24-hour format, it can also display the calendar week, the day of the week, and the date. In principle, this watch movement contains a perpetual calendar, though that is located in the atomic clock of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (the national metrology institute of the Federal Republic of Germany).

This institute distributes its time signal using the radio transmitter DCF-77 in Mainflingen (near Frankfurt), whose range covers almost all of Europe. The radio-controlled watch synchronises its display at least once a day using this time signal. In addition to the DCF-77, the Mega Futura also receives signals from the U.S. transmitter WWVB and both of the Japanese transmitters JJY40 and JJY60.

The Mega Futura combines a retro look with modern technology and contemporary comfort. And that’s not all: two of the limited-edition Mega models will be introduced this year.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Movement:

• Multi-frequency radio-controlled movement J604.90
• Reception of time signal transmitters DCF77 (Europe), JJY40/60 (Japan), WWVB (USA), big date, day, week day, calendar week, 12/24 hours display, illumination, contrast adjustment

Case:

• stainless steel or black PVD coated
• 38.5 mm x 44.0 mm, metallised glass case back

Glass:

• sapphire crystal

Strap:

• leather strap with stainless steel or PVD coated buckle

Water resistance:

• up to 5 bar

Limitation:

• 80 pieces each model