Brothers Charles and Hyppolite Robert founded H. & C. Robert in 1858, ultimately becoming Minerva (the Roman goddess of handcrafts, the professions, the arts, and, later, war) in 1887. The brand introduced its first chronograph movement in 1908 and made a name for itself in the subsequent years as a makers of well crafted high quality chronographs.
The brand went through ups and downs in its long history until the Frey family took over in the 1960s and steered the company successfully through the quartz crisis of the 1970s. Minerva not only survived thanks to the recognized quality of its chronographs and rare capability to produce in-house its own balance wheels and hairsprings but fully concentrated its efforts in the 1980s-1990s on chronographs.
The present Phoebus (the Greek God of light, god of prophecy, poetry, music and healing) presented in the early 1990s was made in a limited edition of 80 pieces, of which the present example is number 47 and houses the iconic and vintage new old stock Valjoux 72 chronograph caliber. The present example features the black gilt dial, which is rare than its white gloss counterpart.
The yellow gold case is beautifully hand engraved on the flank and frames an attractive black glossy dial providing for a very attractive combination.