Grieb & Benzinger’s unique workshop for high-end collectors has above all made its name with unique minute repeaters for connoisseurs. As the worldwide demand for rare, high-quality chronographs has increased, Hermann Grieb—watchmaking genius and one of the three partners comprising Grieb & Benzinger—has opened his treasure chest to conjure up a masterpiece of watchmaking: a rare Minerva column wheel chronograph movement estimated to be from about 1925.

After countless hours of total restoration, hand skeletonization, hand-engraving and guilloché, the vintage base Minerva movement awakens to new life to become a characteristic new horological piece of art in typical Grieb & Benzinger style: the 18-karat gold monopusher skeletonized chronograph christened The Blue Wave. The company’s typical blue platinum coating of the base plate has also found its way into the new unique piece.

The base plate was first hand-skeletonized to its barest minimum in characteristic wave style and the case back hand-guilloché. All 34 steel screws were polished by hand and classically tempered a cornflower blue over an open flame. Today, steel screws are generally blued by use of galvanic coating.

The Blue Wave is yet another outstanding one-of-a-kind-watch by luxury watch manufacturer Grieb & Benzinger. There will only be one lucky timepiece enthusiast worldwide to have the pleasure of wearing this exclusive watch on his or her wrist. (€ 87,500)

Herrmann Grieb, Jochen Benzinger, Georg Bartkowiak

Historic background information: In its heyday, Minerva was one of the finest and best chronograph makers in the world. Chronographs had already been in existence since around 1800, however Minerva was one of the first chronograph makers to incorporate a minute counter. Minerva named its company after the Roman goddess Minerva. Traces of this Roman deity can be found again and again in fine watchmaking—even A. Lange & Söhne has immortalized various depictions of the goddess as a motif or symbol on its most exclusive pocket watch cases.

Source: Grieb & Benzinger

www.grieb-benzinger.de

[email protected]

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