CELEBRATING THE MINERVA LEGACY

HONOURING OVER 165 YEARS OF WATCHMAKING HISTORY

In 1858, Charles-Ivan Robert set up as an "etablisseur" in the village of Villeret, where he bought components from all over the region and assembled them by hand. His children later took over the family-run Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie business. To this day, in the same manufacture, Minerva timepieces have been celebrated for their commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. The Maison continues the Manufacture's watchmaking legacy with our unique, handmade, and hand-finished calibres.

CRAFTSMANSHIP

AESTHETIC AND TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

From in-house movements to special finishings and traditional materials — Minerva, whose name comes from the goddess of craftsmanship, has conveyed, generation after generation, the best-kept know-how of Swiss watchmaking. Minerva watches embody the expertise of each watchmaker, placed at the service of exceptional timepieces in the purest horological tradition to inspire bold journeys.

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Minerva is among the last manufactures to produce, assemble, and adjust all its hairsprings by hand.

Precision hand-setting is particularly demanding, with balancers oscillating at a low frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour.

Patented in 1912, this chronograph bridge, with its unique and recognisable shape, was inspired by the Swiss Jura Mountains seen by watchmakers for more than 165 years opposite the Manufacture. The angle of the bridge is the same as that of the mountain, testifying to the link between Minerva, history, nature, and expertise.

All our components are hand-decorated in our Haute Horlogerie workshops.

The Maison's craftsmen operate hand-guided machines with great skill on components as small as they are complex. Each component is decorated on top and underneath for a perfect and elegant finish from every angle.

Each Minerva Manufacture movement features an arrow on one of the components and on the plate.

The arrow, which has become a Minerva emblem over the years, derives from the historical representations of the goddess Minerva, often depicted holding an arrow.

Minerva is among the last manufactures to produce, assemble, and adjust all its hairsprings by hand.

Precision hand-setting is particularly demanding, with balancers oscillating at a low frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour.

INNOVATION

THE CALIBRE, REVEALED TO THE WORLD

Since 1858, the most beautiful part of the timepiece — the calibre — was hidden from sight. Montblanc’s designers have taken a genuinely architectural approach to the entire timepiece to create a play of light and depth flowing through the movement constructed on pillars so the wearer can fully admire the 291 components via five different crystal windows.

THE UNVEILED MINERVA CHRONOGRAPH LIMITED EDITION - 100 PIECES

A breakthrough in watchmaking history — discover the incredible Minerva movements, not just from the dial, but from the five openings that have been added to the Minerva Chronograph Monopusher Unveiled Secret model. All the beauty of the 16.26 movement was reinvented and put on a pillar to let it penetrate the light and allow the wearer to admire the exceptional handwork of this daring timepiece and its 17.26 movement.

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EXPLORE ALL MINERVA TIMEPIECES

HERITAGE

CENTURIES OF CRAFTSMANSHIP

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Throughout the 20th century, Minerva Manufacture was the leading specialist in professional timepieces that could measure small intervals of time with high precision. Today, we see the continuation of the Minerva legacy — with Montblanc sharing Minerva’s dedication to design and engineering and the endless quest for perfection.

1858

The beginning of an era: Charles-Ivan Robert and his brother Hyppolite Robert founded the H. and CE. Robert Watch company in Villeret. Over the years, the modest watchmaking business grew and acquired international renown thanks to prizes won at World's Fairs.

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1902

The first in-house calibre was produced, featuring an 18-line pocket watch with a cylinder escapement. In the following years, a dozen other calibres were made, focusing on chronographs and chronograph counters, signaling a legendary future for the Manufacture.

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1912

The unmistakable Minerva V-shaped bridge was patented in the spring of 1912 and is now a part of Minerva’s Legacy. Its singular shape is a nod to Villeret and its famous Combe-Grède — a geological feature that gives access to one of the highest peaks in the Jura.

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1927

Further solidifying its place in watchmaking history, Minerva was among the first manufactures to make a fluted bezel and an internal countdown rotating bezel, patented in 1927 and dedicated to pilot's watches.

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2023

A landmark moment — the new Unveiled Timekeeper with bezel function launches, continuing the legacy of years of Swiss watchmaking expertise. Both Montblanc and Minerva remain dedicated to pushing the limits of aesthetic and technical excellence. Fine craftsmanship, mountains and valleys, and a quest for perfection connect the two icons.

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DISCOVER THE STORY
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Writing Instruments Craftmanship

For the Pleasure of Writing

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How to find your perfect watch

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About Montblanc

Pioneering since 1906

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