321 - Minerva - Military Chronograph

Minerva - Military Chronograph (*) A rare vintage military wrist chronograph with a 30-minute counter Ref. 1335, Cal. Alpina, Dimensions 34 mm, circa 1940, Origin: Switzerland Case: Steel, screw-down back. Dial: Black glossy dial, luminous Arabic numerals, luminous hands. Movement: Manual-winding. Alpina was a Swiss watchmaking collective founded by Gottlieb Hauser in Biel/Bienne, Canton of Bern, in 1883 under the name Alpina “Union Horlogère S.A.” (German name: Schweizerische Uhrmacher-Genossenschaft (SUG)). This collective of retailers and manufacturers was established for the procurement and retail of high-quality wristwatches and pocket watches, as well as their parts and movements. The first Minerva wristwatch was produced in 1909, but the company achieved its greatest success in 1923 with the introduction of caliber 13-20. The movement perfectly reflects the classic and sophisticated architecture of wrist chronographs of that era, featuring the iconic “V” bridge, the column wheel design, the Breguet balance, and 17 jewels. This watch model established Minerva’s reputation as a maker of complicated movements of superior quality. This Minerva wrist chronograph captivates with its charismatic beauty and rarity. It is a marvelous example of an early military chronograph and stands out particularly because of its characteristic black dial. Equally striking is the case, which still retains its original contours and edges. Case: very good, slightly worn. Dial: very good. Movement: very good, in working order, cleaning recommended. Please note that leather straps made from endangered or protected species—such as alligator, crocodile, or lizard—are used in our catalog or on our website for illustrative purposes only. For customs-related reasons, such straps cannot be shipped outside the EU.