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Lot 107 The property of an Art Collector
MINERVA. A FINE, LARGE AND UNUSUAKL STAINLESS STEEL PILOT’S SINGLE BUTTON CHRONOGRAPH MANUAL WINDING WRISTWATCH WITH TACHYMETER AND TELEMETER SCALE
SIGNED MINERVA, MOVEMENT NO. 1'563'149, CASE NO. 468'958, CIRCA 1940
Closed23 March 2018
Price Realised
USD 15,000
More Information
Specialist note
The present wristwatch is a fine example of an early military chronograph wristwatch, standing out by its excellent overall condition.
Founded in 1858 by Charles-Yvan Robert and Hyppolite Robert of Villeret, what would eventually become the Minerva Watch brand in 1887 was initially a "tablisseurs" of watches, an assembler of watches from parts manufactured elsewhere. It wasn't until 1902, under the leadership of C. Robert's sons, Charles-Auguste and Georges-Louis, that Minerva became a watch manufacturer with own engineering workshops.
The earliest Minerva wristwatch was made in 1909, but the watch company's greatest success came in 1923 with the introduction of the No. 20, a calibre that perfectly illustrates the classic and refined architecture of wrist chronographs of that era, with a column-wheel mechanism, a Breguet balance-spring and 17 jewels. With the launch of this watch, the company earned its reputation as a manufacturer of complicated movements of exceptional quality.
Founded in 1858 by Charles-Yvan Robert and Hyppolite Robert of Villeret, what would eventually become the Minerva Watch brand in 1887 was initially a "tablisseurs" of watches, an assembler of watches from parts manufactured elsewhere. It wasn't until 1902, under the leadership of C. Robert's sons, Charles-Auguste and Georges-Louis, that Minerva became a watch manufacturer with own engineering workshops.
The earliest Minerva wristwatch was made in 1909, but the watch company's greatest success came in 1923 with the introduction of the No. 20, a calibre that perfectly illustrates the classic and refined architecture of wrist chronographs of that era, with a column-wheel mechanism, a Breguet balance-spring and 17 jewels. With the launch of this watch, the company earned its reputation as a manufacturer of complicated movements of exceptional quality.