Junghans J54 with enamel dial

Unexpectedly is unfortunately not often.

This watch was a real coincidence hit. Fortunately, a photo of the movement was also shown at the time of sale without that the watch would never have been identifiable as a Junghans watch - the movement was a Junghans J54. The original version came from the Schwenninger branch of Junghans and was still marked with the butterfly or completely without. It was not until the closure of the Schwenningen company (20.06.1931) that the small watch production was completely relocated to Schramberg, but earlier Schwenningen had already reduced their production.

Die-Deutsche-Uhrmacherzeitung-1931-Nr.-27-Seite-399-101.jpg

Die Deutsche Uhrmacherzeitung 1931 No 27 p 399

It can therefore be assumed that the movements without a butterfly but with the embossed caliber number 54 were made around 1931 or even earlier. Probably a short time parallel movements from Schwenningen and Schramberg were sold and Junghans used the "cheap brand" with the butterfly also parallel to the more expensive watches that were marked with the Junghans star.

Examples of watches made in Schwenningen with caliber 12'''

Junghans-J54-Kaliber-12-Schmetterling-01.jpg

Junghans Kaliber 12''' Schwenninger Schmetterling; Front

Junghans-J54-Kaliber-12-Schmetterling-02.jpg

Junghans Kaliber 12''' Schwenninger Schmetterling; movement

Junghans-J54-Kaliber-12-Schmetterling-03.jpg

Junghans Kaliber 12''' Schwenninger Schmetterling; back

The above watch with caliber 12''' shows the Schwenninger butterfly on the dial and on the board.

Junghans-J54-Schmotte-01.jpg

Junghans Kaliber 12''' Schwenninger Schmetterling; Front; collection B. Schmotte

Junghans-J54-Schmotte-03.jpg

Junghans Kaliber 12''' Schwenninger Schmetterling; movement; collection B. Schmotte

Junghans-J54-Schmotte-02.jpg

Junghans Kaliber 12''' Schwenninger Schmetterling; back; collection B. Schmotte

The above watch with the caliber 12''' shows no mark (collection B. Schmotte).

The watches made in the Schwenninger company have no nickel-plated surface, the caliber J54 produced in Schramberg already had. The Schramberg boards of most watches have a stepped, outer polished area and an inner area with a strip finish. As a rule, the Junghans-star has also entered the dial here and the number of the caliber (54) is stamped on the movement.

The caliber Junghans J54 has a pin lever escapement and so far two versions are known - both with a small second

... and finally the watch that is at stake!

The watch now found has many surprises. The dial is the first enameled dial that I have ever found on a Junghans wrist watch.

Junghans-J54-E-05.jpg

Junghans J54; enamel dial; Front

Junghans-J54-E-03.jpg

Junghans J54; enamel dial; movement

Junghans-J54-E-04.jpg

Junghans J54; enamel dial; back

On the hands meanwhile are only remnants of luminescent visible and on the dial is no more luminescent mass. Here I can only assume that on the enamel luminous dots should have been applied.

Junghans-J54-E-08.jpg

Junghans J54; dial

Junghans-J54-E-07.jpg

Junghans J54; dial

Junghans-J54-E-02.jpg

Junghans J54; dial

The screws holding the dial have already peeled off the enamel and it has been glued provisionally around both screws to secure the enamel.

Surprise: No pivot balance and no jewels

Junghans-J54-E-10.jpg

Junghans J54; anchor

Junghans-J54-E-09.jpg

Junghans J54; broken balance

Junghans-J54-E-101.jpg

Junghans J54; new balance pin

Die-Taschen-und-Armbanduhr-Heft-1-p-31-Art-der-Unruh-Zapfen-Unruhzapfen.jpg

Type of balance pins: Die Taschen- und Armbanduhr Heft 1 p 31

There is the simpler version of the Junghans J54 with pivot balance and without jewel bearings and the better equipped variant Junghans J54a with pin balance and seven jewels.

With the now discovered watch, a lot is different: no small second. The watch has no pivot balance, but a balance pin, but no jewel bearings were installed. The one end was unfortunately broken, but in the fund is already a suitable spare part ready.

Junghans J54 - impressions

Junghans-J54-E-01.jpg

Junghans J54; enamel dial

Junghans-J54-E-06.jpg

Junghans J54; enamel dial

Junghans-J54-E-12.jpg

Junghans J54; enamel dial

Junghans-J54-E-13.jpg

Junghans J54; enamel dial

This watch is for me a real surprise - no balance with pivot staff, in spite of the pin balnce no jewels, but metal bearings, no small second and then also an enamel dial! Junghans always amazes me ...