On Holden’s list, Probably Want At Some Point
Junghans max bill Automatic
The Junghans max bill Automatic (027/3500.02) is a dress watch from Junghans: a 38 mm stainless steel case, 10 mm thick and 40 mm lug to lug, with an automatic J800.1 movement and 5 bar water resistance.
Going by its 40 mm lug to lug, it should sit within the flat top of a wrist of about 5.4 inches (13.8 cm) or larger.
Research found it at $1,670 list in the US (checked August 2026).
Specifications
From the research, with the sources for each group of facts. Unknown means no source confirmed it.
| The watch [1][2][3][4][5] | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Junghans |
| Reference | 027/3500.02 |
| Category | Dress |
| Production | Current (introduced 2022) |
| Case and size [1][2][3][6][7][8][9] | |
| Case diameter | 38 mm |
| Lug to lug | 40 mm |
| Thickness | 10 mm |
| Lug width | 20 mm |
| Case material | Stainless steel |
| Crystal | Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating (official) |
| Water resistance | 5 bar (official, current sapphire generation, upgraded in the March 2022 line update); Exquisite Timepieces' table… |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Movement [1][6][10][7] | |
| Movement | J800.1, automatic |
| Power reserve | Up to 38 hours (official) |
| Accuracy | Unknown |
| Bracelet [1][6][7][11][9] | |
| Bracelet or strap | Black calfskin leather strap with stainless steel pin buckle |
| Clasp | Pin buckle, stainless steel |
| Price and warranty (US) [1][12][3][4][6][13] | |
| List price (US) | $1,670 (official Junghans US shop, 2026-08) |
| Street price (US) | $1,670 at Exquisite Timepieces, in stock; Stardust lists $1,600 but currently unavailable (August 2026) |
| Used price (US) | Unknown |
| Warranty | 2 years from Junghans via authorized dealers |
Will it fit?
A watch wears comfortably when its lugs stay on the flat top of the wrist. Here is the 40 mm lug to lug against the flat top estimated for common wrist sizes.
| Wrist | Flat top | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| 6 in 15.2 cm | 47 mm | Comfortable |
| 6.5 in 16.5 cm | 51 mm | Comfortable |
| 7 in 17.8 cm | 55 mm | Comfortable |
| 7.5 in 19.1 cm | 59 mm | Comfortable |
| 8 in 20.3 cm | 63 mm | Comfortable |
Check it against your own wrist An estimate, not a guarantee; how the method works is on the tool page.
What the research found
These are the research’s judgments, scored against Holden’s priorities, not his own words.
Strengths
- Genuine design provenance: designed by Max Bill (Bauhaus student, Ulm school co-founder) in 1961 and produced continuously by the original maker — the original, not an homage
- The 2022 sapphire + 5 bar update fixes the two classic max bill complaints (scratch-prone plexi, splash-only WR) while keeping the domed profile
- a genuinely thin automatic that disappears under a cuff
- Lume on minute-track dots and hands — rare functional touch for a dress-leaning watch
- Simple, ubiquitous, cheap-to-service movement architecture; low long-term ownership risk
- Available at MSRP from official US channel and authorized dealers — no gray-market games
Weaknesses
- Commodity Sellita SW200-1/ETA 2824 base at $1,670 — the price buys design and dial execution, not mechanical substance; 38 h reserve is dated
- Case finishing is deliberately plain polished steel; strap and pin buckle are basic for the price
- 5 bar is an upgrade but this is still not a swim/beach watch; retailer spec tables inconsistently show 30 m, which muddies the practical rating
- Solid caseback hides an undecorated movement
Research scores, 0 to 10
| Execution and feel in the hand | 7.2 |
|---|---|
| Design identity | 9.3 |
| Value at a realistic price | 6.2 |
| Long-term ownership | 8.2 |
| Movement and engineering | 5.8 |
| Wearability and proportions | 9.2 |
| Versatility and durability | 6.8 |
| Fit with Holden's collection | 7.8 |
Also on Holden’s list
Other dress watches on his list.
Sources
- max bill Automatic 27/3500.02 — official Junghans shop product page junghans-shop.com · read August 29, 2026
- Fusing Beauty and Utility — Junghans news announcement (sapphire + 5 bar line update) junghans.de · read August 29, 2026
- Junghans Max Bill Automatic 027/3500.02 — Exquisite Timepieces product page exquisitetimepieces.com · read August 29, 2026
- Junghans Max Bill Automatic 027/3500.00 (plexiglass predecessor) — Exquisite Timepieces exquisitetimepieces.com · read August 29, 2026
- Max Bill Automatic Watch in 27/3500.02 (number dial) — Sid Mashburn listing shopmashburn.com · read August 29, 2026
- Junghans max bill Automatic 27/3500.02 — Stardust product page (full dial/movement detail) stardust.com · read August 29, 2026
- Junghans Max Bill 38 Anthracite Dial Review — Watch Clicker (measured spec table) watchclicker.com · read August 29, 2026
- max bill by junghans — hard plexiglass with original SICRALAN coating (archive technical sheet) junghansarchiv.de · read August 29, 2026
- Hands-on with Max Bill Watches by Junghans — Worn & Wound wornandwound.com · read August 29, 2026
- Junghans Max Bill Automatic — Windup Watch Shop product page (variant matrix) windupwatchshop.com · read August 29, 2026
- Owner review: Junghans Max Bill Automatic — FIFTH WRIST (Gabriel, 2022-11-08) fifthwrist.com · owner report · read August 29, 2026
- max bill collection listing — official Junghans shop (all current references and USD prices) junghans-shop.com · read August 29, 2026
- Chrono24 — Junghans Max Bill Automatic Sapphire 27/3500.02 reference page and pre-owned listings chrono24.com · read August 29, 2026
- Junghans max bill Automatic 027/4701.02 — Black Dial, Leather Strap, Date (Legend of Time listing) legendoftime.com · read August 29, 2026
Personal research, not a source of truth. Spotted an error? Email a correction.