Very Rare Minerva Johannes Hartmann Berlin Pocket Watch Royal Court Watchmaker
Scarce working example of this watch. I'm pleased with myself saving this time piece, came to me not working, after some investigation I noticed one of the movement to case securing screws missing, found it loitering between two movement cogs, a bit of a fiddle to retrieve but as soon as it was released the movement came to life. Because of this the mechanism has had little use over all this time, the tests show a very strong and tight mechanism, keeping great time.
I was was initially tempted to re-case it into a nice Dennison Gold filled one, I have plenty of spares but sense prevailed, this has to stay original. There you have it, extremely rare in this great working condition, one for the genuine collector.Please study the photos and video for your own research, condition and function, message if you need more.. This is an excellent and historically significant timepiece. The combination of the two names, Minerva and Johs. While I cannot examine the physical condition or the specific case markings of your watch directly, the collective details point to a rare, likely World War II era military-issued pocket watch or chronograph.
Here is a detailed description and history of your timepiece. This type of partnership was common, where a highly respected German dealer would case and brand a precision Swiss movement. Detail (Inferred from common examples). Military Pocket Watch or Chronograph/Stopwatch.
A high-quality mechanical, hand-wound Minerva caliber. Examples from this era often used the Minerva Calibre 19 movement. Circa 1930s to 1940s (World War II era).
Often steel, especially for military-issued pieces, though non-military versions were also made in gold. If the watch was military-issued, the case back may bear markings such as R.
(Reichsluftfahrt Ministerium - German Air Ministry/Luftwaffe) or a German national eagle with an'M' (Kriegsmarine - German Navy). Timepieces from this partnership, particularly those with documented military provenance, are considered rare and highly collectible pieces of horological and military history. Historical Significance of the Makers. Hartmann was a prominent German watchmaker and retailer operating out of Berlin. Royal Court Watchmaker: Hartmann was known as a Königlich Hof-Uhrmacher (Royal Court Watchmaker), indicating a high level of prestige and quality recognized by the German monarchy.
His workshop was located at the prestigious address of Unter den Linden 48-49 in Berlin. Early History: His business dates back to at least the mid-19th century, with records showing him operating from 1856 and continuing even after he was forced to step back from some aspects of the trade due to poor eyesight around 1872.WWII Supplier: During World War II, the Hartmann company became an official supplier to the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces). They were responsible for procuring, casing, and delivering specialized timepieces-particularly chronographs and stopwatches -for the German Luftwaffe (Air Force) and Kriegsmarine (Navy), often containing robust Swiss-made movements like those from Minerva. Minerva is a renowned Swiss manufacture (a company that makes its own movements) founded in 1858 in Villeret.
Precision Timing Specialist: Minerva gained a reputation worldwide as a specialist in the production of professional watches, chronographs, and stopwatches. They were one of the few companies capable of manufacturing their entire movement in-house, including complex components like the balance spring. Military Use: Due to the exceptional quality and precision of their mechanical movements, Minerva was a key supplier of movements and finished chronographs to various militaries around the world, including the German military during the 1930s and 1940s. The Movement: Minerva calibers from this era, like the robust Cal. 19'', are highly regarded by collectors for their quality and finish. Your watch represents a functional piece of history, where German retail and military specifications met Swiss mechanical excellence. It is a testament to the high standards of both the Royal Court Watchmaker in Berlin and the skilled manufacture of Minerva in Villeret.