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Lot Essay
The present watch is a fine examples of an early military chronograph made by Minerva, standing out by its very good 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 calibre 20, a movement that perfectly illustrates the classic and refined architecture of wrist chronographs of that era, with the iconic “V”-shaped bridge, 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. Minerva was bought by the luxury goods group Richemont in 2006.
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 calibre 20, a movement that perfectly illustrates the classic and refined architecture of wrist chronographs of that era, with the iconic “V”-shaped bridge, 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. Minerva was bought by the luxury goods group Richemont in 2006.