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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Movement record · Germany (Schramberg)

Junghans calibre J83

Needs research

A German wristwatch calibre family made in grades from ordinary commercial work up to versions submitted for chronometer certification.

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Technical specifications

Diameter
Not recorded in a source consulted here
Height
5.0 mm to 5.8 mm depending on the series (per cited source)
Jewels
Made in several jewel counts, including chronometer-grade versions
Frequency
18,000 vibrations per hour on standard versions
Power reserve
Approximately one day
Winding
Manual winding
Setting
Crown setting
Escapement
Swiss lever
Balance
Jewelled, with Breguet overcoil on the highest grades
Complications
Sub-seconds or centre seconds depending on version

Identification features

  • Signed Junghans with the calibre number
  • Chronometer versions carry additional markings and finishing
  • The movement is identifiable by its integrated automatic winding mechanism, which was patented by the company.
  • Series production units are typically marked by screws located on the flanks of the nickel-plated base plate.

Known variants

  • Standard and chronometer-grade versions

Servicing notes

Parts circulate on the second-hand market; chronometer-grade balances should be adjusted only by a professional.

General guidance only. Antique movements should be serviced by a qualified watchmaker.

Historical significance

The calibre through which a large German factory demonstrated it could meet chronometer standards in series production.

Introduced in 1957, the Junghans J83 was a self-winding wristwatch calibre produced by the company. The movement featured an integrated automatic assembly and was available in multiple iterations, with later versions achieving greater refinement through features like swan-neck fine adjustment.

The added history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage.

Photographs

Junghans Solaruhr 2011
Junghans Solaruhr 2011 — Uhrenfabrik Junghans, CC0. Wikimedia Commons file page
Junghans Additionsstoppuhr, 1960er-Jahre (2 qu)
Junghans Additionsstoppuhr, 1960er-Jahre (2 qu) — Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 de. Wikimedia Commons file page
Junghans Borduhr
Junghans Borduhr — Wiki Peter Jan, CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia Commons file page
Junghans Armbanduhr 1950 (2)
Junghans Armbanduhr 1950 (2) — Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 de. Wikimedia Commons file page

Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.

Sources & references

  1. Junghans Vintage - Alte Uhren von Junghans | The Top Product: Junghans J83, junghans-vintage.de, retrieved 2026-11-04 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  2. Overview calibres, junghansarchiv.de, retrieved 2026-11-04 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  3. Schramberger Spezialitäten - ARMBANDUHREN – Das Magazin, armbanduhren-online.de, retrieved 2026-11-04 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  4. Junghans company history and collector references
  5. Full technical specifications for individual J83 variants were not confirmed in the sources consulted here.

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.