Junkers G38 Owner Review : Pleasant, light and sober

This German watch has been on my wrist for over 15 years. I wore it regularly for almost five years before relegating it to a secondary watch. It's certainly had a long journey… This model comes from an unusual period for certain German brands that took advantage of the opportunities presented by the opening of the Eastern Bloc after the fall of the Berlin Wall and before Russia's recent political evolution. Thus, the watch's manual movement is a Russian-made Molnija 3602 caliber. It's somewhat equivalent to the Stellita 200, but Russian, beating at 18,000 rpm. It also features a titanium case with a 42mm dial. However, it feels a bit smaller on the wrist with a 49mm lug width and a 10mm thickness, excluding the mineral crystal. The watch shown here no longer has its original black leather strap, not because it's worn out, but purely for aesthetic reasons. It has all the hallmarks of a pilot's watch, with a simple, fairly large dial and a prominent crown. On the wrist, it's so light you forget you're wearing it, thanks to its low weight (titanium) and also its short, curved lugs that fit the wrist perfectly. What's most impressive about this watch is its mechanism: when I checked it a few days ago with my Timegrapher (analyzing it across 6 positions), the watch, which hasn't been serviced since I bought it (!), has a daily deviation of +/- 10 seconds. This is remarkable for a "basic" movement. In short, it's a beautiful watch, and the pre-owned market knows it: in 15 years, its price (a reasonable €250 at the start) has increased by 150%.