Minerva Chronograph, Ref. VD 712

Minerva Chronograph, Ref. VD 712Minerva manual wind stainless steel chronograph, ref. VD 712, circa the 1960s. Fine, manual winding, stainless steel chronograph wrist watch with round chronograph buttons, and three registers. Case: Three body, screw down case back. Dial: Silver with three subsidiary dials for chronograph and subsidiary seconds. 30 minute counter at 3, chronograph seconds at 6, and small seconds at 9. Signed Minerva under 12. Movement: Valjoux 72, 17 jewels, signed

The first IWC “Portugieser

“Top Gun” signature on side

Circa 1957

mother-of-pearl dial

Please allow for slight color variation

800 Vph (4 Hz)

having been pioneered by IWC in the 1980’s with the Porsche Design “Titane” model

up until 2000 when it was purchased by an Italian company who later was sold to the Richemont Group with Minerva SA movement production being integrated to Montblanc

Scott's NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster failed sometimes during the mission

Only three watches passed the first round of “Qualification Test Procedures” and went on to final stages of testing

Case: Stainless steel and platinum

finally becoming part of the Swatch Group through their purchase of Breguet