The Bauhaus was an art school founded by Walter Gropius in Germany in 1919 with the aim of combining arts and crafts.
The school was able to produce some of the world’s greatest artists, architects, and designers who became influential during the 20th century.
Even after the school was shut down in 1933, the concept promoted by the Bauhaus in infusing art into practical and industrial use can still be seen today in many buildings, furniture, glassware, and watches.
The first known appearance of the Bauhaus concept in watches was around the 1920s.
The dials made by the manufacturer Weber & Baral have minimalistic designs with artistic infusions not seen in many watches at that time.
The Bauhaus style picked up its pace when Junghans partnered with Max Bill and released a model named after the designer.
From then, other watch manufacturers like Nomos released their own collections of Bauhaus-inspired designs which continue to sell like hotcakes.
Popular for their no-nonsense design, minimalist watches are the practical choice in today’s culture where we’re too busy to spend energy in something as simple as reading the time.
If you don’t want to add another complication to your already busy life, then Bauhaus-inspired watches will surely be to your liking.
Review of the Bauhaus Watches
Below is a list of cheap minimalist watches you can find online.
Skagen Jorn SKW6329
The Danish company Skagen is one of the most known brands that create cheap minimalist watches.
They have made a name for themselves in the watch industry much like how Ikea has in the furniture sector.
The 41mm Jorn SKW6329 has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant mineral crystal, a leather strap with a tang clasp, silver-toned hands, and a quartz movement.
Pros:
- A simple look with a legible watch face
- The strap is soft and comfortable to wear
- Slim profile makes it easy to slide under sleeve cuffs
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Slightly off positioning of the brand at the 3 o’clock position
- The strap looks and feels cheap
Braun BN0021
Talk about cheap minimalist watches and you will have Braun on top of your list.
Aside from manufacturing shavers and other appliances, Braun is trying its hands on watchmaking.
Their BN0021 is the best bang for the buck in terms of price and quality.
The 38mm BN0021 has a stainless steel case, a leather strap with pin & buckle clasp, a scratch-resistant mineral glass, a colored seconds hand, Arabic numeral hour markers, and a Japanese quartz movement.
Pros:
- Very affordable minimalist watch
- Very stylish and highly readable
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Band looks fine but it’s low quality
- Slight inaccuracy in timekeeping
Braun BN0032
Braun is known for manufacturing other things but they’re also starting to make a name for themselves in the watch community.
Dieter Rams, the main designer of the company, has influenced many known figures like Steve Jobs in creating minimalist watches that promote both aesthetics and functionality.
This all-black design from the BN0032 model features a 40mm stainless steel case, a mineral crystal, a mesh strap, Arabic numeral hour markers, a date aperture at the 6 o’clock position, a Miyota quartz movement, and the signature yellow-colored seconds hand of the brand.
Pros:
- Clean design and highly legible watch face
- Band is wide and fits comfortably on the average wrist size
- Stylish, simplistic, and affordable
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Seconds hand doesn’t align a little bit with the seconds markings on the dial
- Date aperture is too small to read easily
Skagen Super Slim SKW6052
Skagen Designs was founded by two Danish natives in 1987 with the goal of creating high-quality timepieces with reasonable prices.
They’ve always been faithful in creating the best Bauhaus watches since their establishment up until now that they’ve been acquired by the Fossil Group.
The 45mm Super Slim SKW6052 has a stainless steel case, a mineral crystal, a steel mesh band, a date aperture, a red-tipped seconds hand, and a quartz movement.
For its price, it’s one of the most affordable minimalist watches you’ll encounter.
Pros:
- Very clean design which makes it a breeze to read the time
- Exceptional look that makes it more expensive than it really is
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Dial is too large
- Date window is too small compared to the overall size of the watch
a.b.art FN41-001-17L Bauhaus
a.b.art’s watches are obviously Bauhaus-inspired and this model particularly has an eerie similarity with a Nomos Tangente watch.
Despite that, one cannot deny the good quality and functionality of watches from this brand, especially at a low price range.
The 41mm FN41 Bauhaus has a 316L stainless steel case with rose gold plating, a synthetic sapphire crystal, a leather strap, a seconds subdial at the 6 o’clock position, Arabic numeral hour markers, blue-toned hands, and a quartz movement.
Pros:
- Highly legible watch dial
- Leather strap is soft and comfy to wear
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- No date window
- It’s quite large, especially for users who have a know
FEICE Automatic Bauhaus FM201
FEICE started in 2009 in China with the purpose of introducing Chinese-branded watches to the world.
Their mission is to change the connotation that products from their country are shoddy and unreliable.
After spending years on research, they came up with watches that have minimalist designs housing affordable but reliable movements.
The FEICE FM201 is a great steal as its one of the best Bauhaus watches for its price and design.
The 38mm FEICE FM201 has a stainless steel case, a choice of leather strap or Milan steel, a scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire crystal, Arabic numeral hour markers, a seconds subdial, an exhibition case back, and a Seagull automatic movement.
Pros:
- Looks really elegant, making it perfect as a dress watch
- Good clasp on the bracelet
- Hands move smoothly
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- No date window
- Gains a few seconds every day
Ruhla 91234M
Ruhla used to make aviation watches and clocks for the Soviet Union before they halted operations.
Now that they’re back in business, they’re aiming to penetrate the entry-level market by introducing cheap minimalist watches starting with the 91234M.
The 42mm 91234M Series from Ruhla features a polished stainless steel case, a domed synthetic sapphire crystal, a stainless steel bracelet, a seconds subdial, luminescent hands and markers, and a quartz movement.
Pros:
- Accurate hand movements
- Clean watch and color contrast of the dial and the hands make it easy to read the time
- Although it looks expensive, it’s one of the most affordable minimalist watches out there
Cons:
- Date aperture is really small
- Lume has a weak brightness and longevity
- Bracelet feels flimsy
Junkers Bauhaus 60462
Junkers is popular for making cheap minimalist watches with Bauhaus-inspired design.
The 60462 looks a bit more of a pilot watch, though, because of the slight changes in the design of the hour markers and the overall dial color.
The 40mm model 60462 is an all-black version of Junker’s best Bauhaus watches.
It has a stainless steel case, a calfskin leather strap, a Hesalite crystal, a sweeping seconds hand, a date aperture at the 3 o’clock position, Arabic numeral hour markers, luminous hands and markers, and a Ronda 515 quartz movement.
Pros:
- Simple, clean, and professional-looking
- Legible watch face makes it easy to read the time and date in an instant
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Weak lume brightness
- Crystal easily gets scratched
- Strap easily wears out
Panzera Breur 44 Arctic Mesh
Panzera is an Australian watchmaking company that was established in 2009.
They specialize in producing automatic watches with classic designs which they refer to as “modern vintage”.
They have workshops located in both Australia and Switzerland.
The 44mm Breur 44 Arctic has a stainless steel case, a mesh band, a hardened mineral crystal with anti-reflective coating, a screw-down exhibition case back, a date display, luminescent hands and markers, and a Miyota 821A movement.
Pros:
- Elegant, neo-classic look
- Power reserve of up to 40 hours
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- Lume isn’t that strong
- Small date aperture
- Domed crystal can make it hard to read the time at certain angles
Braun BN0211
Braun has received a number of awards for the quality and design of their minimalist watches.
The BN0211, for one, is well-received by the community as one of the best Bauhaus watches that has an inexpensive price tag.
The 38mm BN0211 has a stainless steel case, a steel mesh bracelet with push-button deployment, baton hands and hour markers, and a quartz movement.
Pros:
- Uncluttered and legible watch face
- Good quality watch for its price
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Crown can be hard to turn
- No date aperture
Kent Wang Bauhaus Watch V4
Kent Wang is a very small company dedicated to producing quality watches with classic designs.
They’ve been in business since 2007 selling all kinds of items aside from watches, including umbrellas, dinnerware, sneakers, and polo shirts to name a few.
They’ve produced a few watches and this is just the 4th revision of their Bauhaus-inspired products.
The 38mm Bauhaus V4 features a stainless steel case, a leather strap, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an exhibition case back, a date aperture, and a Miyota 9015 movement.
You won’t see any branding or logo on the watch to emphasize more on the minimalist aspect of the product.
Pros:
- Affordable mechanical watch with reliable quality
- Very legible watch face
- Power reserve of up to 40 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Small date aperture
- Leather strap is a little stiff
Aristo 4H132 Dessau
Aristo made a bit of twist with this model by using the Bauhaus design concept on the dial and putting it on a typical watch case.
This results in a product promoting a new perspective on what a Bauhaus-inspired watch should look like.
The 35mm 4H132 Dessau features a stainless steel case, a hardened mineral crystal, a stainless steel mesh band, an exhibition case back, Arabic numeral hour markers, a date aperture, and a self-winding automatic movement.
Pros:
- Fresh take on the Bauhaus concept makes this a bit different from other minimalist watches
- Luxurious look without the expensive price
- Accurate quartz movement
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Date aperture is a bit small
- Mesh bracelet feels a bit flimsy
Zeno 3767Q
Swiss watchmaker Zeno has taken inspiration from the German Bauhaus-style design which is why they’ve created a lot of timepieces revolving around the concept.
In fact, their 3767Q model is probably the most minimalistic watch you’ll ever see on the market.
The 40mm 3767Q model from Zeno features a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a leather strap, stick hands and hour markers, and an ETA 902.002 quartz movement.
Pros:
- Accurate timekeeping mechanism
- Large dial with a very clean design allows you to read time in an instant
- Thin and lightweight
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Leather strap feels cheap
- No date window
Junkers Bauhaus 6050-5 Series
It takes only one look to know that this is a Bauhaus style watch.
If you’re looking for cheap minimalist watches, this is one of the best you can get your hands on.
The 40mm 6050-5 Series has a stainless steel case, a domed Hesalite crystal, a date aperture at the 3 o’clock position, luminescent hands and markers, and a 25-jewel ETA 2824-2 manual-winding movement.
It’s available in beige and black dial color and your choice of either a leather or a stainless steel band.
Pros:
- The sweeping seconds hand is mesmerizing
- Affordable price for its quality and aesthetics
- Lumed hands and markers
- Power reserve of up to 38 hours
- Water-resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Date aperture is a bit small
- Little lume applied
- Domed dial might not be that appealing to some users
Uniform Wares 251
Uniform Wares is a lifestyle brand that produces premium watches with contemporary look.
By foregoing all details unnecessary for telling the time, they’ve created a watch with a basic but stylish look.
The 37mm model 251 from Uniform Wares is the best example of a no-nonsense, minimalist timepiece.
It has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a screw down case back, and an ETA F03.401 movement.
You can purchase it in either a leather strap or a stainless steel mesh band.
Pros:
- Precise timekeeping function
- Plain dial design makes it easy to read the time
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- No date aperture
- Expensive for its basic features
Junghans Max Bill
The most popular collection from Junghans is created by none other than Bauhaus’ protégé, Max Bill.
Using the signature wall clock design of Junghans as the base layout, Max Bill integrated some improvements like adding lume and a date aperture to create one of the best Bauhaus watches the world has seen.
The 38mm Max Bill has a stainless steel case, a leather calfskin strap, a plastic crystal, luminescent hands and markers, a date aperture, and a calibre J800.1 automatic self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Beautiful design with a classy but subtle look
- It’s sturdy even though it’s lightweight and thin
- Watch face is very easy to read
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- Watch strap feels cheap
- Date aperture is the same color as the dial, making it a bit confusing to read
- Little lume applied on the hands
Stowa Antea Klassik 390
The first time the design of the Klassik 390 appeared was in 1937.
It was later in 2004 when they reissued this timeless timepiece which remains to be one of the most popular minimalist watches today.
The 39mm Antea Klassik 390 has a polished stainless steel case, a screwed case back, a hand-stitched leather strap, temperature-blued hands, Arabic numeral hour markers, a date aperture, and an ETA 2824-2 movement.
The dial color comes in either silver or black.
You can also choose whether to go for a manual-wind or a self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Thin and lightweight
- You can choose the movement and the dial color you prefer
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Strap quality could have been better
- Size of date window is a bit small
Nomos Tangente 38 Date
Nomos started making watches in 1990.
From their base of operations in Glashutte, Germany, they manufacture timepieces with Bauhaus-inspired designs that pay homage to classics from A.
Lange & Sohne and Stowa.
You might say that their designs aren’t entirely original but you can’t deny the elegance of the collections they produce.
The 38mm Tangente has a silver-plated stainless steel case, a leather strap, large Arabic numeral hour markers, a seconds subdial, a date aperture at the 6 o’clock position, and a calibre DUW 4101 hand-winding movement.
Pros:
- Thin and lightweight
- Large date aperture
- Power reserve of up to 42 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Strap feels cheap
- For an expensive watch, you might expect that it should house an automatic self-winding movement
Nomos Glashutte Ahoi Atlantic Date
Nomos is probably the most prominent manufacturer of the best Bauhaus watches since its foundation in 1990.
The Ahoi Atlantic Date, specifically, is one they take pride in for its good mix between design, quality, and functionality.
The 40mm Ahoi Atlantic Date has a stainless steel case, a domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on both sides, a textile strap, gold-plated hands, an exhibition case back, a seconds subdial, a date aperture, and a DUW 5101 automatic movement.
Pros:
- One of the few Bauhaus watches suitable for diving activities
- Great lume brightness
- Power reserve of up to 42 hours
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- A bit expensive relative to other Bauhaus watches
- Date window is a bit hard to discern
- Feels too much to use as an ordinary dive watch
A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Moon Phase
A.
Lange & Sohne is one of the most prestigious brands that come from Germany.
They’re known not only for their oversized date apertures but also for the minimalist and classic look of their products.
The 40mm Saxonia has a white gold case, a solid silver dial, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, rhodium-plated hands, an exhibition case back, a seconds subdial with a moonphase function, an oversized date aperture, and a calibre L086.5 movement.
Pros:
- Large font of date aperture makes it easy to read
- Subtle but elegantly designed timepiece
- Slim and comfortable to wear
- Power reserve of up to 72 hours
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Very expensive
- No lume on hands
- Hands can be hard to see under certain angles
Conclusion
Minimalist watches are very popular today because they complement the busy schedule of people who don’t want to make reading time a hassle and complicated thing to do.
The clean and legible watch face of the best Bauhaus watches present an understated but classy look.
If you want a no-nonsense accessory that enables you to get all the information you need at a single glance, then a Bauhaus watch is the best pick for your preference.
