Heritage Pittagore Small Seconds Japan Limited Edition 14 / Hand-wound, 18K white gold case, case diameter 39mm, power reserve approx. 80 hours, alligator strap, water resistance to 5 atm, limited to 14 pieces in Japan. ￥4,260,850
From Montblanc’s Minerva, a new watch has been released that pays homage to the two sacred places of Kyoto. The “Heritage Pitagore Small Seconds Japan Limited Edition 14” is limited to only 14 bottles in Japan. In the details, the aesthetics of Switzerland and Japan are quietly breathed, as if speaking only to those who notice.
A neat piece that inherits the lineage of Minerva
Founded in 1858 in Villeret, Switzerland, Minerva is a long-established manufacture known for its precision and beautiful finishes. The new watch from Minerva is a neat three-hand watch that at first glance recalls the golden age of the 1940s and 50s. The 18-carat white gold case, salmon-coloured dial, Arabic numerals and vintage-style domed sapphire crystal – the well-proportioned 39 mm case diameter quietly embodies classic elegance. One of the charms of the dial is that it is layered with three textures: grain, sunray, and azurage, and delicately changes its expression depending on the angle of light.
Salmon dial with three textures spread out in concentric circles. The railway minute track and off-center small seconds neatly pay homage to the archive dials of the 1940s and 50s.
But this watch has another face. In the dark, the indexes and hands quietly emit a deep orange light. This is a tribute to Fushimi Inari Taisha, which is located in the southern part of Kyoto and is known for its approach to the shrine with more than 10,000 vermilion torii gates. The color, which has been dedicated to the hope of prosperous business, breathes quietly on the dial at night, symbolizing a quiet prayer for prosperity.
The dial, which has different faces during the day and night, recalls how the torii gate of Fushimi Inari Taisha deepens its vermilion after sunset.
When you turn the clock over, you will see more highlights. On the balance holder of the caliber MB M14.08, the five-storied pagoda of Toji Temple is reproduced with an elaborate laser engraving. Founded in 796 and registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, Toji Temple is one of Japan’s most iconic wooden buildings. Its image is quietly engraved in the movement.
On the right edge of the balance holder, you can see the elaborate laser engraving of the five-storied pagoda. The Côtes de Genève-patterned bridges, gold-coated gear trains, and 19-jewel rubies shine red together to encapsulate the essence of Villelet watchmaking that has lasted for more than 165 years.
The wide balance holder provides high rigidity to the fleece splange balance and adjustment screw group, providing both improved accuracy and space for engraving. The movement has a power reserve of approximately 80 hours, and the Côtes de Genève finish and hand-chamfered chamfer shine discreetly through the sapphire crystal caseback.
The tortoise shell pattern covering the surface of the strap, along with the inscription “A Tribute to Ancient Japan” on the case back, quietly tells the story of the watch’s origins.
In addition, there are designs that cannot be seen from the outside. The lining of the strap is a tortoise shell pattern that symbolizes longevity and good luck. You only notice it the moment you take it off – a modest luxury that only those who wear it know.
And the number “14” also has a meaning. It is a composition in which “14”, which is derived from the ancient Japanese beauty ratio (1:1.414), and the movement size of 14 lignes. The laws of beauty nurtured in different cultures quietly overlap in this single watch. At the intersection, Minerva set this model.
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