WristScan

When I got into watches, I always gravitated to non mainstream , ie, not Rolex. There was too much hype and brand recognition. Just wasn’t my thing (funny I like the Rolexes I have now, purchased 10 years after I started collecting, they are very well made and wearing- but it is annoying that people tend to always ask about them). So I got into IWC, JLC and omega (obviously a big brand). Then when I was this Minerva it blew me away. I knew nothing of the stuff being put out in the collection villeret, such high quality and craftsmanship , the essence of high watchmaking to me making 200 or so per year. Like Lange but at such a smaller scale (not that Lange was big then).

I’ve posting this watch (many times), but the size at 39mm was perfect, the case shape I love, gold dial with enamel, mono pusher hand wound column wheel chrono, the pearl in the crown, the limitation to 58, perfect. As a physician I always thought the pulsographewas cool, and a nod to vintage. Regardless, just a dream. 

10 years later, however, lightning struck. I emailed MB North America looking for the green dial mono pusher (I think from 2019), asking if they had any NOS. In the email I mentioned I had always loved the vintage pulsographe, but at the time it was just a dream. They said why don’t you talk to the boutique manager at the nyc store. After talking, he said they had a few NOS Minerva around, the story was at the time they didn’t do a good job marketing them (then as now MB stores not really cater to the high end watch), and a lot of the staff didn’t even really know how to sell these pieces or get collector interest showing a 40k+ watch with coming in the store for a 3k chrono. They had a green one in NA, but more importantly, they had a NOS vintage pulso! I was stoked. It was a little more than I was wanting to spend, but I couldn’t think of another time I’d find one new (I’ve never even seen one secondary market). The deal was done! 

Another one I want and had the same feelings for (but don’t own) is the VC traditionelle small seconds in platinum. I love the simplicity, the case design and dial, their great movement. It all worked. When it came out I couldn’t get. Then in 2020, I purchased a VC during Covid from the Miami boutique. At the time economy crashing, lockdowns, etc I didnt think much of the platinum but it was still on their site so I figured would wait a year. The following year I talked to the manager in Miami, hopeful because it was still on their site… but alas, not available any longer. No inventory in their world wide network. Darn. I still look on secondary but haven’t found a mint one (at least not in us).

Sorry for the textbook,

Kevin

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