Minerva Steel Chronograph Ref VD712, 1950s — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Bulang & Sons · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: Bulang & Sons · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Minerva Steel Chronograph Ref VD712, 1950s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Minerva (maker)
Date: 1950s
Historical period: Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Materials / technique: steel
Dimensions: Case 36 mm
Dealer: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen
Stock no.: W-2672
Credit line: Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-2672)
Catalogue title (original): Minerva Steel Chronograph Ref VD712 (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-2672), this is a wristwatch by Minerva, made in Switzerland, dated 1950s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: steel. Recorded dimensions: Case 36 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 — Bulang & Sons

Minerva was established in 1858 in Villeret, Switzerland, and is celebrated for its significant contributions to the chronograph complication. This is a wonderful looking chronograph from the 1950s, in a stylish 36mm steel case with round pushers and radium Arabic hour markers on the original white dial. The case remains in beautiful condition. The white dial has the Minerva scroll-signature and aged radium hours. The hands are blued steel with nicely matching lume. The case, dial and Valjoux 72 movement are all signed Minerva. The watch will come fitted with the picture Bulang and Sons leather strap. The watch has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. We have a lot of love for cool vintage chronos. Please get in touch and let us share our passion with you! Specifications: - Minerva Chronograph - Dates to 1950s - 36mm steel case with screw case back - White dial with radium Arabic hours - Blued hands - Valjoux 72 manual wind movement - Comes on pictured Bulang and Sons strap - Fully serviced by our watchmaker

Historical context

Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)

Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.

The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking

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.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsRecorded
DimensionsRecorded
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Bulang & Sons — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Minerva Steel Chronograph Ref VD712, 1950s." Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen, W-2672. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/minerva-steel-chronograph-ref-vd712-3a0945.