Minerva – Rechlin Luftwaffe Military Pilot 1930 Chronograph – Cal. 19.9CH ON HOLD/RISERVATO

Brand:Minerva
22 people are watching this product

8'880.00

Shipping calculated at checkout.

or

Minerva – Rechlin Luftwaffe Military Pilot 1930 Chronograph – Cal. 19.9CH ON HOLD/RISERVATO

Brand:Minerva
22 people are watching this product

8'880.00

Shipping calculated at checkout.

or

Here is an original and very rare 1930s Minerva Ref. 362 single-pusher chronograph, an historically significant timepiece used by Luftwaffe pilots stationed at Rechlin air base.

Minerva, founded in 1858 in Villeret, Switzerland, became a respected name in precision chronographs by the early 20th century. By the 1930s, the brand was supplying military-grade chronographs to various air forces, including the German Luftwaffe, which required accurate and durable timepieces for flight operations.

Rechlin Air Base, established in 1918, was Germany’s primary aviation testing center and played a key role in the development of aircraft and aviation technology before and during World War II. Located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rechlin was the Luftwaffe’s equivalent to Britain’s Farnborough or America’s Wright Field. It was here that Germany’s most advanced aircraft and flight instruments were tested before being deployed in combat.

The base was instrumental in evaluating experimental aircraft, aerodynamics, and flight navigation tools. Pilots stationed at Rechlin were among the first to test cutting-edge technology, including early versions of jet propulsion.

Watches like this Minerva chronograph were issued to these pilots, allowing them to accurately time maneuvers, measure distances, and synchronize operations in the air.

This chronograph has a stainless steel measuring 45mm, excluding the crown The original pressure-locked caseback is stamped Rechlin and serial number 850007 on the case back, 85000 should be the military reference code and 7 the serial number, which confirms this watch as the seventh in this specific series, adding to its rarity and historical importance.

At the heart of this chronograph is the Minerva Caliber 19.9CH, a manual-winding, single-pusher movement introduced in 1908. This caliber was designed as a reliable and accurate movement suitable for both pocket and larger wrist chronographs.

Operating at 18,000 vibrations per hour, the movement ensured the 19.9CH was an important milestone in Minerva’s history, laying the foundation for the brand’s later developments in high-precision smaller-sized chronographs.

This Minerva has been fully serviced in-house and is in good working order.

The original enamel dial with the characteristic counters of different size, where the counter at three o`clcok is smaller in size and has the characteristic red-white-blue flags, is well-preserved, with a small restoration on the edge between the 1 and 2 o’clock.

The watch is fitted with its original mineral glass, which is in an excellent condition and with anew NATO-style leather strap.

For collectors and aviation enthusiasts, this 1930s Minerva Luftwaffe Chronograph represents a unique connection to military aviation history. It combines technical craftsmanship with historical significance, offering insight into the instrumentation used by pilots at Rechlin Air Base during a transformative period in aeronautical development.

This watch will be delivered with our six-month guarantee and originality certificate. Contact us today to secure this piece of horological and aviation history. Worldwide shipping and personalized assistance are available.

Minerva – Rechlin Luftwa...

8'880.00

1 in stock

Newsletter

    Need help?