Comments:
A short about Edmond Capt of Valjoux 7750 fame … and Jean-Jacques Frey or Minerva fame
Circa 1980, JJ Frey bought fifty vintage Valjoux 71 calibres from a watchmaker. The name of this watchmaker was Edmond Capt.
Fast forward to 1997 JJ Frey would rework and use these fifty Calibres to issue the Minerva Aviation 45. 🫶🏼
Interesting?
🤝
https://www.watch-wiki.net/duku.php?id=capt_edmond
Pictures from Champthekid
Fast forward to 1997 JJ Frey would rework and use these fifty Calibres to issue the Minerva Aviation 45. 🫶🏼
Interesting?
🤝
https://www.watch-wiki.net/duku.php?id=capt_edmond
Pictures from Champthekid
🫶🏼 I thought you would find it interesting
I would have tagged you if there was a way to do so.
And the LE of 32 Valjoux 71 AVUS II that I have was a different batch of calibres that JJ Frey found in Minerva storage. They also found 26 Valjoux 22 in storage (also with no Incabloc and with the Breguet hairspring) and that is why they made 26 of them.
That’s why yours has the Incabloc and flat hairspring and mine and the one with the Valjoux 22 has no Incabloc and a Breguet hairspring.
🤝
PS
Is your black dial from 1997 called the “Aviation” of the “Aviation 45”? I think it is just “Aviation”.
And the LE of 32 Valjoux 71 AVUS II that I have was a different batch of calibres that JJ Frey found in Minerva storage. They also found 26 Valjoux 22 in storage (also with no Incabloc and with the Breguet hairspring) and that is why they made 26 of them.
That’s why yours has the Incabloc and flat hairspring and mine and the one with the Valjoux 22 has no Incabloc and a Breguet hairspring.
🤝
PS
Is your black dial from 1997 called the “Aviation” of the “Aviation 45”? I think it is just “Aviation”.
Mine is an “Aviation 45” as per the papers and letter attached.
Thank you again for all the valuable information. I really appreciate it.
Ah yes. I see it now as well
in your letter of authentication as well. Aviation 45 ✅
And as a final piece in the jig-saw puzzle
See this copy (from another owner) of the authentication letter from mine the AVUS II VALJOUX 71
Here it is said that the calibres were found:
🤝
And as a final piece in the jig-saw puzzle
See this copy (from another owner) of the authentication letter from mine the AVUS II VALJOUX 71
Here it is said that the calibres were found:
🤝
Back in the day when movements were bought and forgotten 😁
Different approach to stock keeping and working capital, leading to some fun pieces for collectors decades later 😊👍🏻
I know right?
How about the story of the Zenith head of watchmaking that DEFY-ied (see what I did here 😅) the instructions to destroy the dyes and machinery for the El Primero.
Only to be retrieved from storage when Rolex wanted to use the calibre for the Daytona. Which in turn helped generate much needed cash flow for Zenith.
You couldn’t make this stuff up.
🤝
Only to be retrieved from storage when Rolex wanted to use the calibre for the Daytona. Which in turn helped generate much needed cash flow for Zenith.
You couldn’t make this stuff up.
🤝
I don’t remember as well
I’m not a big Rolex fan but I recollect Rolex as being key in this story.
🤝
🤝
Here we go 😊👍🏻
A post explaining the timeline from Bruno.M1: www.watchprosite.com
Ebel was eight years before Rolex 😊👍🏻
That really is a stunning looking Minerva watch.
Both sides are equally beautiful and the back story adds to the beauty of the watches.
Marc
Agree 💯 Marc
And beyond looks, they have heritage, rarity and provenance.
These are the 4 factors I consider.
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These are the 4 factors I consider.
🤝