Junghans Unveils New Black And White Models In Limited Edition Max Bill Edition Set 2020

While minimalist Bauhaus design sensibilities have inspired a wide variety of manufacturers over the years, few brands have explored the style as thoroughly or deftly as Junghans with its Max Bill series. Building on a core design from the eponymous artist and industrial designer from 1961, the series has taken the simple concept in a wide variety of directions. The new limited edition Max Bill Edition Set 2020 is one of the most striking iterations of all, taking inspiration from Bill’s “Variation 5” graphic artwork to explore the extreme contrast of black and white. This limited collector’s set contains two watches, the 34 mm Max Bill Kleine Automatic and the 40 mm Max Bill Chronoscope automatic chronograph. Both models are mechanically identical to their regular production stablemates, but receive a matte black PVD case treatment along with a special high impact matte black dial with brilliant white printed numerals and hand lume fills, with all other dial marks fading into the background in a medium gray. While the design itself is unchanged, this change in color dramatically changes the visual weight and balance of each of the dials, altering the usually light and airy Max Bill formula into something more aggressive and striking. The casebacks of both models feature a special insert with the “Variation 5” artwork itself, and Junghans offers the set with both black and dramatic white leather straps to complete the monochrome style. Only 222 of these exclusive sets will be made, and are available through Junghans authorized dealers starting in June 2020 at an MSRP of $3,375. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.

Casio Adds ’90s Throwback Style To F91W Collection With Four New Models

To anyone who grew up in the ’90s, the look of sparkly, transparent colored jelly wristbands is sure to be a familiar sight, as is the sight of the iconic square digital Casio F91W. For its latest release, Casio has combined these two retro trendsetters into a new collection of four new styles for the durable and affordable F91W series. Available in sky blue, candy pink, clear white, and smoky gray, the simple 100 meter rated square plastic case of these new models features a grainy, sparkling metallic finish coupled with a matching transparent resin strap. Outside of the new cases and straps, each variant offers color coordinated accents on the dial along with the usual suite of functions including a daily alarm, 1/100 second chronograph, LED backlight, and an annual calendar. All four models will debut online and at authorized dealers later this spring at an MSRP of $26.95. For more information, please visit Casio’s website.

Ralph Lauren Announces New Polo Player Watch Collection

There’s no denying that the Polo Ralph Lauren horseback emblem is one of the most instantly recognizable trademarks in fashion, if not the world at large. Despite this, when Ralph Lauren’s horological branch debuted its first Polo-branded collection in 2018, it opted for a graphic dial treatment featuring not the iconic polo player mark, but the cuddly and much less recognizable Polo Bear mascot. Now, two years later, the Polo Ralph Lauren watch series puts that legendary logo front and center in three new models of the newly christened Polo Player collection. All three share the same 42 mm stainless steel diver style case, with broad sporty lugs and a rotating dive bezel featuring a dial-matched color lacquered insert with “POLO” in place of the usual 12 o’clock marker. Around back, an exhibition caseback offers a view at the decorated automatic movement within. Each of the three versions is offered with a different main dial color – a lacquered olive green, a clean and simple black, and a navy blue variant. The overall design is shared between the three, with the narrow sword hands and bright red needle seconds shared with several previous Ralph Lauren models. Clean, modernist printed Arabic numerals are used at each hour, diverting the overall style away from the diver tones of the case. Of course, the real visual centerpiece of each model is the oversized polo player at the center of the dial, rendered impressively detailed with multi-layer 3D printing. Each model in the Polo Player collection is powered by Ralph Lauren’s RL200 automatic movement. In addition to perlage and Geneva stripe finishing, this powerplant offers 38 hours of power reserve and a 28,800 bph sweep. Ralph Lauren adds a touch of unique personality to each of the Polo Player models with strap selection. The green dial variant is offered with both brown leather and a colorful woven madras option, the more conservative black dial comes with black or brown leather, and the navy blue dial receives a bold printed leather NATO strap inspired by Ralph Lauren’s Polo Sport collections of the ’90s. The Polo Player collection is expected to release through authorized dealers in early summer 2020, with pricing details to be determined. Visit the brand’s website for more information.