Watchmaking in Germany


Watch Q&A with... Hannes Steim – Junghans

June 2023


Watch Q&A with... Hannes Steim – Junghans

“Expanding internationally with genuine ’made in Germany’ products”

W

e recently interviewed a broad selection of managers, active in a variety of segments, to help us identify the major trends within the watch industry.

Our Q&A with Hannes Steim – Junghans.

Europa Star: What are your strategic priorities for 2023?

Hannes Steim: For the next five years, our top priorities are to continue developing our collection and expanding the brand internationally. As a financially independent company and a genuine Made in Germany manufacturer with a rich history, we are aiming to grow our presence both in Central Europe as well as in overseas markets such as the U.S. or Japan.

Hannes Steim
Hannes Steim

Which new products or lines will be your main focus this year?

Our collection is built on our three mainstays, the Meister, max bill, and FORM. The Meister line, which dates back to the 1930s, represents the heart of our history and DNA. To celebrate the 200th birthday of our founder, Erhard Junghans, we released two limited Meister fein gold editions earlier this year. We’re also committed to expanding and modernising the Meister, which is evident in our latest Meister fein Automatic models which are presented in new, bold colours. We are known for our classic design, and we’ve also had tremendous success with our pilot watches. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce our latest Meister Pilot models, cherishing our century-long legacy in aviation, which goes back to 1910.

Junghans Meister Pilot Automatic
Junghans Meister Pilot Automatic

The emergence of the secondary market represents a major new development. Are you taking any steps to build a presence in preowned?

Right now, Junghans is trying to build its own archival collection. Part of it can be seen in the Junghans Terrace Building Museum in Schramberg. We are also thinking about the possibility of selling refurbished pre-owned watches. But this takes some time.

Junghans Meister fein Automatic Erhard Edition
Junghans Meister fein Automatic Erhard Edition

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