AndrewD
[HoMe Moderator]
12829
Kind words, Art, thanks…
Despite the wealth of knowledge available on the internet, it is difficult to find a lot of reliable information. All the retired watchmakers out there better start sharing their accumulated knowledge before it is lost!
Not such a huge task to prepare this report for PPro as I had done a lot of research before committing to the watch – didn’t notice that bridge though! The one thing my kids have taught me is how to multitask.
You will remember my questions a couple of months ago on the issue of Minerva servicing. This watch wasn’t available to me at that point but the servicing of vintage Minerva pieces was on my mind. I was reassured to hear that they would and that the MB network could be used to get the watch safely back to Switzerland.
I wonder what sort of parts Minerva keep in stock? With this little ‘surprise’, however, I wonder what Minerva /MB will say and I don’t expect they will want to touch the watch. These Valjoux movements were quite common in a range of brands in the 50’s and 60’s. Would others just get this movement serviced by a competent local watchmaker?
Most importantly can anyone tell me how this apparent Cal. 730 has a functional moonphase?
Andrew
Review: Minerva triple date moon phase chronograph
Vintage Minerva triple date with moon phase and 12 hour chronograph I thought I would post this review of my new vintage Minerva on the Montblanc Forum rather than on the HoMe Forum, as it is the current 'home' for Minerva. Hope you find it interesting. F...
There's a special place in heaven for those who manage . . .
. . . to review vintage watches . . . many, many thanks, Andrew. For anyone that hasn't written one, it's quite a feat to pull off in the space of a week, especially when you have a demanding day job! I would say that despite the multiplicity of complicat...
Kind words, Art, thanks…
Despite the wealth of knowledge available on the internet, it is difficult to find a lot of reliable information. All the retired watchmakers out there better start sharing their accumulated knowledge before it is lost! Not such a huge task to prepare thi...
It was around midnight after a long day when I first read your review . . .
. . . but now that I'm reading it again in the morning (before coffee!), the implication of the milled chronograph bridge and mismatching movement number is startlingly clear. My apologies - I shouldn't have asked what in retrospect seems like a very sill...
Concerning the "special place in heaven"...
do you have any inside knowledge about heaven´s architecture, Art? I know you just want to express your appreciation of Andrew´s reviewing his vintage Minerva, but what on earth has this to do with heaven ? To my knowledge we can read in John chapter 14 t...
Hi, anaesdoc . . .
. . . I hadn't an inkling that the phrase in question could be taken as critical of or condescending towards religious belief. It was written and meant to be taken figuratively. Please accept my apology for the inadvertent slight . . . sincerely, Art
What a beautiful vintage piece, Andrew!
IMO that’s one of the “tastiest” blends in watchmaking: a chronograph / full calendar / moonphase and your gorgeous Minerva is a pretty nice example of how it can be perfectly executed. Thanks for the review and pictures, and congratulat...
Awesome review Andrew..
Nice addition to your collection. Not quite sure about the origins of your movement. I'll ask MB if they can shed some light on this mystery. Thanks again for posting this wonderful review, Best, MIke
That would be appreciated …
Thanks Mike, It would be great to get more information from MB/Minerva. The 4356 stamped on the case may be a serial number to help the investigation. Looking at the later triple date moonphase Minerva below superimposed on my movement, the escapement als...
Now I know at least something about Minerva
Thanks to your review, Andrew! I like the watch´s look and interior life - thanks for your effort to present this lovely vintage chronograph again. Best, anaesdoc
Now that's a watch. Congratulations.
Hi Andrew, Thanks for this great review! I really like your new watch, even with the machined bridge. By the way, it does appear that the machinist did a careful job of removing the offending name - It looks like he beveled the edges and everything I have...
Servicing …
Thanks Jeff, I appreciate your comments. That bridge is interesting, isn’t it? It certainly wasn’t a hatchet job. The movement is otherwise in very nice condition. Click here for that earlier thread on MB service . It sounds promising that they will help ...
Hi Andrew,
These are old pictures and I need to take some fresh ones. Here is the back of the vintage piece. Mine has a snap-on back as you can see on the right side of the image. I had an extra back made with a window so I can see the movement. Small watches unite!...
Nice ...
Thanks Jeff, Very nice chronographs and great to be able to see those movements. Legibility on the black dial looks excellent and I also like the 45 minute chrono counter. The size looks perfect to me! Andrew
Great reading, Andrew!
I like how this watch presents a lot of information cleanly and clearly. I must admit some bias though, as the minute I see the Minerva script I'm interested to learn more about the watch. I feel very drawn to their timepieces for some reason. Your partic...
Wrist shots …
When I read your comments I realised that I had only posted wrist shots rather than static posed photos. Despite the fact that one can control lighting, reflections etc more easily in a posed shot, I really prefer the ‘life’ that a wristshot b...
A very nice watch and an informative post...
The solution to the mystery of the ablation of the bridge engraving is eagerly awaited. tempusfugit
Power Reserve ...
Some additional information I did not put in the initial review: The power reserve of the Cal. 730R has been consistently 44 hours from fully wound. While my preference is for manual wind watches to have a PR comfortably over 48 hours so that they do not ...
Minerva triple date moon phase chronograph
Excuse please Andrew, but your Minerva is not from 1050th, nore from 1970th, it is a re-assempled of the middle of 1980th with a Wakmann caliber Valjoux 730 upcraded to a Valjoux 88.8. Because this the name "Wakmann" on the bridge is reamed. After the end...