Original Item: Only One Available.This is a rare vintage 1939-1945 Swiss Military made mechanical men’s wrist watch by the high end watchmaker MINERVA. Known as a “D-H” service wristwatch of the German Army for Wehrmacht officers and soldiers during WWII. All of parts of watch are 100% original with the exception of the high quality reproduction leather wristband.

This example has an original metal chrome case with stainless steel screw-back, indicated by the marking BODEN EDELSTAHL (Stainless Steel Back). Reverse of screw-back impressed with issue number D 647249 H, and the inside is marked with the MINERVA arrow logo.

The watch has beautiful original high-grade movement marked with the company name and arrow logo. It is also marked MINERVA on the face. Balance on the watch has shock-proof device. The dial is original. Watch-hands are original. On the dial, hour markers and watch hands are radium luminous for night viewing. The watch has been fully cleaned, tested and calibrated by a master watchmaker and is in good running condition.

Minerva is a storied Swiss watch manufacture, famous especially for producing chronograph movements and today part of Montblanc in the Richemont group. The company was originally founded in 1858 as H. & C. Robert in Villeret in the Bernese Jura, the French-speaking area of the Swiss canton of Bern. By 1908 the company was known as Robert Frères Villeret, and began production of chronographs and stopwatches. In 1923 the brand name "Minerva" was introduced, and in 1929 the company was renamed to "Minerva SA, Villeret". In 1934 Minerva SA was taken over by Charles Haussener and Jacques Pelot.

The German Army issued wristwatches to their officers of the Deutsches Heer (The German Army). The Letters DH found on the reverse of the case designated that the watch was made in Switzerland under military order for Germany during the WWII.

The German ARMY had watches produced and retailed by companies such as ARSA (Auguste Reimond), Alpina, Mulco, Titus, Minerva, Record, Zenith, Silvana, Helvetia, Longines. And also (mixed up with German): Buren, Doxa, Dogma, Glycine, Gala, Mimo, Phenix, Record watch Co., Recta, Para, Leonidas, Revue, Tritona, Wagner, B.W.C., Grana, Helios, Moeris, Helma, Siegerin, Vogele, Zentra, Laco, Stowa ,Wempe, IWC, A. Lange & Sohne, Hanhart, Glashutte.

The pocket as well as the wristwatch had screwed backs and were shock resistant. The dial was black with a small second hand with radium digits and hands. The back was marked "D.H." (Deutsches Heer), with the case number. The watches were partly deployed and written into the soldier's book, and also sold to army staff. It is not entirely clear what D H stands for. Some writers suggest the D stands for Deutsches (Germany) and the H for Heer (Army). Some prefer the interpretation given by Konrad Knirim (http://www.knirim.de/english.htm), who has written that the D stands for Dienstuhr (Service Watch) and the H = Heer (Army). However, it is not entirely clear that DH watches were originally intended for the Army alone, given documented instances where the service record books of members of the Luftwaffe (Air Force) have been found with DH watch serial numbers written as issued to these troops. In addition to watches marked with DH, there are some identical watches with only the letter D in front of the serial number and no H after the number. Collectors speculate that these D only watches were for the Luftwaffe. Others speculate that these watches were used by Para-military personnel such as those working in railroads. However, given that the WWII German records have been lost we really don’t know for sure how these watches were issued.

There is no warranty for this watch and returns for a non-working watch will not be honored. Please note all watches are wound and tested then recorded on video before shipment. We are not in the watch repair business- ALL SALES ARE FINAL.