Montblanc

Got a new suede olive green strap for the Minerva TZ❤️

Thanks to Nico for the suggestion of a suede/flat strap a few months ago. 🙏🏻

For those interested, this one is from 1999. Neo vintage. The Minerva manufacture would be sold the following year.

Made under the ownership of Frey family, this was a collaboration with TimeZone. 50 pieces in white dial and 50 in black dial. Pythagore cal 49 manual wind. Started by Richard Paige, TimeZone was one of the first online forums for collectors.

The owners of Minerva were old school. 8 people in total at the factory. They were close to their collectors. Handwritten notes from the father or grandfather Frey were seen often. The Frey’s would hand-finish each watch.

This is the only time that a Pythagore would be offered in a 36 mm case. One may notice that the watch wears larger because the dial is quite large.

Hope you enjoy the pics and short blurb on this historic brand and this equally significant timepiece. 25 years old now.

Minerva lives on today but pieces with “Minerva” on the dial will never be made again …

For those that collect watches entirely for looks, all that I wrote above is meaningless. For those that collect for looks, heritage AND provenance, these Minerva’s hold a snippet of history within their hands and their little beating hearts. ❤️

🤝

Watch by Montblanc, Pythagore

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Well Said Marc, a lot of History and Emotion in this reference

By: SALMANPK : December 2nd, 2024-13:05

Thanks bro 🙌

By: this_hobby_of_hours : December 2nd, 2024-14:24

Perhaps what we have today in a whole generation or collectors that just don’t care about heritage or provenance. Until one day it becomes “popular” to know the provenance and to own the said pieces, I don’t see the current Instagram addicted collector ca...

The look of the watch and the history are very cool!

By: M4 : December 2nd, 2024-13:32

Glad to share and I hope

By: this_hobby_of_hours : December 2nd, 2024-14:31

that it opens the recesses of some collector’s minds. Perhaps to understand that much of what they think they know, has been perhaps been influenced by the various institutions that want to think that way. 🤝

This adds to an already very attractive watch, well done Marc

By: Larrykelley11 : December 2nd, 2024-14:18

Thanks Larry 🤝

By: this_hobby_of_hours : December 2nd, 2024-14:28

And when it comes to size, OMG. The number of times I have heard some collectors say oh, “I only wear 40 mm and above”. 🤦🏻‍♂️ ooooh, macho 😄 I have an 18 cm wrist. And yet I think this 36 mm case Minerva looks fine. Why? It’s all about the dial size. This...

The smaller 34mm versions wear perfectly well, too 😊👍🏻

By: KMII : December 3rd, 2024-00:08

Perfecto! Another nice one would be a sand / beige one.

By: amanico : December 2nd, 2024-14:27

Naughty … but you know I’m gonna go

By: this_hobby_of_hours : December 2nd, 2024-14:33

look for a sandy/beige one right after I hit submit on this comment. 🤣

Hehehe, go!

By: amanico : December 2nd, 2024-14:33

That strap really adds to an already gorgeous watch.

By: Thomas_3 : December 2nd, 2024-14:57

Nice choice.

Thanks Thomas 🤝

By: this_hobby_of_hours : December 2nd, 2024-15:05

25 year old watch … new strap = hawt 💯

😃👌

By: AuHavrePro : December 2nd, 2024-17:33

🤝🙌

By: this_hobby_of_hours : December 3rd, 2024-10:19

Awesome write -up per usual Marc !

By: Aquaracer1 : December 2nd, 2024-21:18

Very nice choice on the strap as well, enjoy my friend !

Thanks Jesse 🤝

By: this_hobby_of_hours : December 3rd, 2024-10:17

A lovely reference from a charming old school brand…

By: KMII : December 3rd, 2024-00:09

Alas, as you stated, sadly no more 🤷🏻‍♂️

A brand we both love ❤️

By: this_hobby_of_hours : December 3rd, 2024-10:18

I’m surprised we don’t see the TZ LE come up for sale more often. I guess they sit with collectors who don’t see a compelling reason to let them go. 🤝

Indeed - I believe in the meantime they are all in stable homes 😊

By: KMII : December 3rd, 2024-15:38

Great watch but even better after knowing the details! Thanks for sharing that beauty!

By: InDebtButOnTime : December 3rd, 2024-04:08

The heritage maketh the watch

By: this_hobby_of_hours : December 3rd, 2024-10:16

Glad you enjoyed the post 🤝

Nice one, and a very cool strap combo Marc

By: Derreck : December 4th, 2024-17:07

especially with gold colored hands.

Thanks Derreck 🤝

By: this_hobby_of_hours : December 7th, 2024-06:11

Before I forget, my wife and I are heading to Istanbul for a holiday end of March 2025. My second trip to Turkey. Such a beautiful country. Would you like to meet up for a coffee? 🤝

Thank you very much for the invitation.

By: Derreck : December 7th, 2024-20:02

I’d love to meet but we are living in Barcelona and go to Istanbul only for holidays or sporadically for business trips now, if I’m there in March I’ll definitely drop you a pm for us to meet. Otherwise when and if you plan a visit to Spain please let me ...

That would be great, thank you ☀️

By: this_hobby_of_hours : December 8th, 2024-03:34