The allure of minimalist design has found renewed vigor in the watchmaking industry. 2025 has witnessed a notable shift towards timepieces that emphasize simplicity, functionality, and timeless elegance. This movement is not merely about aesthetic preference but reflects a deeper cultural inclination towards clarity and purpose in design.
Central to this minimalist resurgence is the enduring influence of the Bauhaus movement—a design philosophy originating from early 20th-century Germany that champions the union of form and function.
This article explains how Bauhaus design principles have permeated modern watchmaking, influencing both established and emerging brands. We will also examine specific models that follow Bauhaus aesthetics.
What is Bauhaus Design?
Bauhaus design originates from the Bauhaus school of art and design, founded in Germany in 1919 by architect Walter Gropius. The school operated until 1933, but its design principles went on to shape modern design in architecture, furniture, graphic design, and, yes, luxury watches.
Bauhaus design principles revolve around simplicity, functionality, and harmony. It strips away unnecessary ornamentation and focuses on clean lines, geometric shapes, and balanced proportions. The idea was that form follows function—a design should serve its purpose efficiently while also being aesthetically pleasing.
Key Principles of Bauhaus Design
Here are the key Bauhaus design principles:
1. Form follows function: This is the cornerstone of Bauhaus philosophy. The design should primarily serve its purpose. A watch, for instance, should clearly tell time—no clutter, no distractions. Every element exists because it needs to, not because it looks pretty.
2. Minimalism: Bauhaus embraces the “less is more” mindset. Designs are stripped of unnecessary decoration. In watches, that means clean dials, simple hour markers, slim hands, and minimal text—often just the brand name and maybe “Made in Germany.”
3. Geometric shapes: Bauhaus design leans heavily into geometry. Think simple circles, rectangles, and straight lines. You’ll see this in rounded cases, perfectly proportioned dials, and balanced spacing. The geometry helps with clarity and function.
4. Functional typography: Fonts are clear, readable, and sans serif. No fancy scripts or ornate numerals. The typeface is usually modern and consistent, reinforcing both legibility and the clean aesthetic.
5. Balance and proportion: Even if the design is minimal, it’s not boring. There’s a deliberate sense of visual harmony—spacing, sizing, and layout are carefully considered. Bauhaus loves asymmetrical balance, where things don’t have to be mirrored to feel right.
6. Blending art and technology: The Bauhaus philosophy merges craftsmanship with industrial production. This means products should be functional works of art—beautiful, but also made using modern techniques and materials.
7. Candor in materials being used: Materials are celebrated, not hidden. Leather looks like leather, metal looks like metal. There's no gold-plating for show or faux finishes. It's about authenticity.
In watches, these ideas translate to uncluttered dials, legible numerals or indices, balanced subdials, and restrained branding.
Luxury Watches that Exhibit Bauhaus Design Principles
Here are some examples of luxury watch brands or models that beautifully embody the Bauhaus design:
1. Nomos Glashütte Tangente
Nomos Glashütte is the poster child for Bauhaus-inspired watchmaking. The Tangente model, in particular, embodies the core principles of the movement: clean typography, a slim case, and perfect symmetry.
Technical Specifications:
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Case Diameter: 35mm to 41mm
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Movement: In-house manual or automatic (Alpha or DUW calibers)
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Water Resistance: 30 to 50 meters
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Power Reserve: ~43 hours
Key Features:
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Extremely thin profile for a dressy yet modern feel
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Bauhaus-inspired typography with small seconds subdial
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Sapphire crystal case back on most models
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Handmade in Glashütte, Germany
Brand New Price: Around $2,000 to $3,500
Pre-Owned Price: $1,300 to $2,800
2. Junghans Max Bill Automatic
Designed by Swiss architect Max Bill—who studied at the Bauhaus—the Junghans Max Bill line is about as authentic as it gets. The watch is minimalist, legible, and mathematically balanced, with zero superfluous decoration.
Technical Specifications:
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Case Diameter: 34mm to 38mm
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Movement: Automatic ETA 2824-2 or Sellita SW200
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Water Resistance: 30 meters
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Power Reserve: ~38 hours
Key Features:
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Domed Plexiglas crystal with SICRALAN coating (some models use sapphire)
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Slim case and legible numerals designed by Max Bill
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Exhibition case back on select models
Brand New Price: Around $1,000 to $1,400
Pre-Owned Price: $600 to $1,000
3. Stowa Antea Klassik
Stowa is a historic German brand that worked with Bauhaus designers in the 1930s. The Antea Klassik collection revives that original aesthetic with square-cut lugs, crisp dials, and clean Arabic numerals.
Technical Specifications:
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Case Diameter: 35.5mm to 41mm
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Movement: ETA 2824-2 or Sellita SW200 Bauhaus movement
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Water Resistance: 50 meters
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Power Reserve: ~38 hours
Key Features:
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Dial inspired by 1930s Bauhaus designs
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Clear, simple lines with no distractions
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Handmade in Germany
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Option to engrave caseback and rotor
Brand New Price: Around $1,100 to $1,600
Pre-Owned Price: $700 to $1,200
4. Sinn 1736 St I 4N
Sinn is known for tool watches, but the 1736 St I 4N shows its softer side. The watch features a restrained dial design with golden hands and markers.
Technical Specifications:
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Case Diameter: 36mm
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Movement: Bauhaus Movement ETA 2892-A2
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Water Resistance: 100 meters
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Power Reserve: ~42 hours
Key Features:
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Domed sapphire crystal
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Elegant Bauhaus-inspired dial
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High water resistance for a dress watch
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Anti-magnetic and pressure-resistant
Brand New Price: Around $2,100
Pre-Owned Price: $1,300 to $1,800
5. Braun BN0265 Chronograph
Braun, though more known for electronics, applies pure Bauhaus philosophy to its watches. The BN0265 chronograph is minimalist yet practical, balancing clean lines with subtle complications in an uncluttered layout.
Technical Specifications:
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Case Diameter: 40mm
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Movement: Quartz chronograph (Ronda 5030.D)
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Water Resistance: 50 meters
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Power Reserve: Battery life ~3 years
Key Features:
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Iconic Braun design with matte finish
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Functional chronograph subdials
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Subtle branding, clean hands, and dial
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Designed with simplicity and legibility first
Brand New Price: Around $450 to $600
Pre-Owned Price: $250 to $400
6. H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept
Moser strips away virtually everything from the dial—no numerals, no indices, no logo—just hands over a perfectly finished fumé dial. It’s radical minimalism, echoing Bauhaus ideas of purity and functionality. The design forces you to focus only on what matters: time.
Technical Specifications:
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Case Diameter: 40mm
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Movement: HMC 200 in-house automatic Bauhaus movement
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Water Resistance: 30 meters
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Power Reserve: ~72 hours
Key Features:
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No branding or numerals—pure visual balance
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Iconic fumé dial in various colors
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Transparent case back showing decorated movement
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Made entirely in-house in Switzerland
Brand New Price: $20,000 to $25,000
Pre-Owned Price: $13,000 to $18,000
7. Metro Neomatik by Nomos Glashütte
Another standout from Nomos, the Metro Neomatik adds a bit of playful asymmetry and modern detail to the clean Bauhaus core. It was designed by industrial designer Mark Braun.
Technical Specifications:
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Case Diameter: 35mm to 39mm
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Movement: DUW 3001 ultra-thin automatic
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Water Resistance: 30 meters
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Power Reserve: ~43 hours
Key Features:
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Off-center power reserve indicator on some models
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Wire-style lugs and domed sapphire crystal
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Super-slim automatic movement
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Colorful accents on certain versions
Brand New Price: $3,000 to $4,200
Pre-Owned Price: $2,000 to $3,500
8. Sternglas Naos Automatik
Sternglas is a young German brand that offers a more accessible take on Bauhaus. The Naos Automatik presents an ultra-clean dial with precise typography, geometric proportions, and a balanced case—all under $1,000.
Technical Specifications:
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Case Diameter: 38mm
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Movement: Miyota 821A automatic
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Water Resistance: 50 meters
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Power Reserve: ~42 hours
Key Features:
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Polished case with ultra-legible dial
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Subtle sunburst or matte finishes
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Screw-down case back with glass exhibition window
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Designed and assembled in Germany
Brand New Price: $500 to $700
Pre-Owned Price: $300 to $500
9. Mondaine Helvetica No1 Regular Automatic
Mondaine took inspiration from the iconic Helvetica typeface—another minimalist marvel of Swiss design. While not technically Bauhaus in origin, the watch shares the movement’s DNA: clean font, functional layout, no frills.
Technical Specifications:
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Case Diameter: 40mm
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Movement: Sellita SW200-1 automatic
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Water Resistance: 30 meters
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Power Reserve: ~38 hours
Key Features:
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Helvetica numerals in subtle, elegant layout
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Polished stainless steel case
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Red seconds hand nodding to Mondaine's railway heritage
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Exhibition case back
Brand New Price: $900 to $1,200
Pre-Owned Price: $500 to $800
10. Omega De Ville Trésor (Co-Axial Master Chronometer)
While Omega is usually associated with sportier or more complex watches, the De Ville Trésor stands out as a sleek, minimalist timepiece. Its refined dial and slim silhouette echo Bauhaus-style elegance—less ornament, more presence.
Technical Specifications:
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Case Diameter: 40mm
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Movement: Omega 8910/8929 Co-Axial Master Chronometer
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Water Resistance: 30 meters
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Power Reserve: ~72 hours
Key Features:
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Ultra-thin movement with antimagnetic technology
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Simple baton markers and sub-seconds layout
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Domed dial with minimal text
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Available in steel or precious metals
Brand New Price: $7,000 to $16,000
Pre-Owned Price: $4,500 to $11,000
Criticisms About The Bauhaus Aesthetic
While the Bauhaus art movement is widely celebrated for its minimalism, clarity, and functionality, it’s not immune to criticism.
1. Too minimal, lacking emotion or warmth: One of the most frequent criticisms is that Bauhaus design feels cold, sterile, or impersonal. By stripping away ornamentation and favoring rationalism and function, some argue it sacrifices warmth and emotional connection. In watches, this can mean the dial feels too bare or "clinical."
2. Over-standardization and uniformity: Because Bauhaus prioritizes function, modularity, and mass production, some critics believe it encourages a kind of visual sameness. There’s often a lack of individuality or personality in Bauhaus designs.
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Every design starts looking like a variation of the same template.
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It clashes with cultures or users who value more expressive or ornate aesthetics.
3. Not always ergonomic or user-friendly: Ironically, for a movement that championed function, some Bauhaus objects don’t always function well for every user. This especially applies when minimalist design oversimplifies interfaces or sacrifices usability for aesthetic purity. On a watch, thin hands and lack of contrast may affect legibility.
4. Misinterpreted as a style rather than a philosophy: Modern brands sometimes co-opt Bauhaus as a trend without understanding the deeper philosophy behind it. This has led to:
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Watered-down interpretations that feel empty or lazy
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Watches that look Bauhaus-inspired but don’t follow the principles of utility, accessibility, and democratized design
5. Elitism in simplicity: What began as a movement for the masses has, paradoxically, become associated with luxury. Minimalism now often signals wealth, as maintaining a minimalist lifestyle (or owning a luxury minimalist watch) can require money, time, and discipline.
Conclusion
As we've explored, the Bauhaus philosophy continues to shape the soul of modern watch design—not through loud statements or technical bravado but through quiet, precise intention. These watches prioritize clarity over clutter and purpose over pretense.
Bauhaus-inspired watches offer something more enduring. They don’t just look good. They align with a broader societal desire for simplicity, authenticity, and design that serves the user. And while the aesthetic may appear stark or even austere to some, for many, it's a refreshing alternative to excess—a return to the essentials of good design.
