Nice little watch, with a pleasing patina, at least to me. No idea how old it is, or what's inside. Looks like a snap-back, but won't open with the force I've been willing to apply with a penknife blade. Looks pretty sealed with age - any suggestions? I bought it from the Salavation Army for a few bucks. Plated brass case with most of the plating gone missing. about 33/4 mm without the crown, 18mm between the lugs, with fixed bars Dial is in amazing condition, with applied arabic numerals Lovely blued-steel hour and minute hands with red sweep seconds. It runs, but the second hand sticks on the minutes hand every revolution. Movement/caliber ????
Thanks guys. Got it open, no corrosion on the movement that I can see. Matches the pics I've found of a cal. 48, from the 1940's I would guess. Hopefully not a lost cause, and worth a visit to the spa for an assessment. .
Looks to be in darn nice shape...wonder who dropped off this diamond in the rough? Congrats on your sharp eye and quick thought!
^5 Nice score. This watch is going to clean up really well. I assume it's chrome plated with a solid stainless snap-on case back? I think this is a cal. 49 (central seconds) because I'm fairly certain all cal. 48's were small seconds. I've never seen Minerva not sign the bridge on a movement - cool. Anyone know why? Minerva and Andrei Frey were very proud of their bridge designs (perfect 45 degree angles) and they always stamped their bridges. re: the serial # - I think you're correct about the date range - 1940's...it's certainly a very early Minerva. I generally favor complete number dials and this is no exception. Not a big fan of the Roman numerals...
I believe you're right on the caliber - 49, a cal 48 modified for center seconds. That caliber was, I believe, reintroduced by Minerva and ended up being the last production model of Minerva under Frey ownership. They made some beautiful movements, IMO. Would like to find a nice Heritage example some day, I'm a fan of two-register chronos.