Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Minerva 'Jumbo' Chronograph, late 1940s
- Maker / attribution
- Minerva (maker)
- Date
- late 1940s
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 37 mm
- Stock no.
- 40992965
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (40992965)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Minerva 'Jumbo' Chronograph (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (stock number 40992965), this is a wristwatch by Minerva, made in Switzerland, dated late 1940s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 37 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Analog/Shift
If you know chronographs, you know Minerva. Long before heritage became a marketing strategy, Minerva was producing some of the most beautifully engineered chronograph movements in Switzerland. The Calibre 13-20 (often referred to within the 20CH family) remains one of the great manual-wind chronograph calibres of the mid-20th century — column-wheel controlled, elegantly laid out, and finished with a level of care that rewards a loupe. This rare stainless steel Reference 1327 dates to the late 1940s, early 1950s and represents a fascinating transitional moment in chronograph design. Housed in a substantial three-piece snap-back case — bezel, mid-case, and caseback — it reflects early efforts to introduce water-resistant construction to serious timing instruments. The case has real presence, with oversized proportions and fixed bar stepped lugs that underscore its utilitarian intent. The silvered dial is pure mid-century clarity: bold printed black Arabic numerals, outer seconds track, and twin subsidiary registers for running seconds and a 30-minute counter. Blued steel sword hands provide just enough contrast against the dial’s restrained palette. At approximately 37mm, it wears with authority yet retains unmistakable vintage proportions and charm. Powered by the manual-wind Cal. 13-20 chronograph movement, this is Minerva at its most honest — mechanical, purposeful, and built for those who appreciate chronograph architecture over branding. A connoisseur’s chronograph in oversized steel.
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The wristwatch overtook the pocket watch. Military use in the First World War, aviation, water-resistant cases (1926), automatic winding (1923–31), rectangular Art Deco designs and early chronographs and calendars defined the period.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
Related records
Wristwatches · c. 1960s
Minerva wristwatch, ref. VD712, Chronograph, circa 1960s
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Pocket Watches · c. 1930s
Minerva pocket watch, Single Button Chronograph Black Luminous Dial, circa 1930's
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · c. 1940s
Minerva wristwatch, Single Button Chronograph New Old Stock, circa 1940's
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Pocket Watches · c. 1930s
Minerva pocket watch, Single Button Chronograph Black Dial, circa 1930's
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · 1931
Rolex 'Oyster Perpetual' rotor self-winding wrist-watch, lever escapement, in steel case with glass in back, Montres Rolex SA, Geneva, Switzerland, 1931
Science Museum Group, London
Wristwatches · 1900–1999
Wristwatch by Certina, Switzerland, 1900–1999
Nordic Museum Foundation
Wristwatches · 1900–1999
Wristwatch by Omega, Västerås, 1900–1999
Nordic Museum Foundation
Wristwatches · 1900–1999
Wristwatch by Universal, Switzerland, 1900–1999
Nordic Museum Foundation