ME AND TIMEZONE, AND A WATCH NAMED MINERVA PYTHAGORE AVIATION WAYNE LEE Penang, Malaysia

It all started about three months ago after I came back from my bug-hunting Florida trip. I got stung by this little Minerva bug. I had planned to purchase this watch earlier, but somehow I could not make up my mind. I guess it has to do with the number of watches I had. I just simply cannot justify to Ivy [my wife] (and myself too) the amount of money I had spent on fine watches. I got to do something (I told myself deep inside!) I got to do something! So I took out all the 12 watches I owned and start asking myself frankly how much I love each one of them. It took self-understanding (10%), discipline (80%) and lots of perspiration (10%) to come out with a list of watches to let go. Among them on the list to be slashed out were my IWC Mark XII, Zenith Chronomaster El-Primero and Heuer Carrera Re-edition. It took me a while to liquidate the watches. The last one sold was my Mark XII (in fact, I had very deep dilemma earlier whether forsake my wish for a Pythagore and keep my Mark XII). As Minerva is not currently marketed in Malaysia/Singapore, I have no choice, but to purchase it through mail order. About five weeks ago, I contacted Minerva S.A. by fax to request for a Minerva Pythagore catalog and how I can buy one from a dealer located near where I stay. To my surprise, I received the catalog at my doorstep within two and a half weeks. An enclosed letter signed by Mr Jean-Jacques Frey (the President of Minerva), suggested to me to either purchase directly from Minerva, or from Japan (where the nearest dealer are located). There is also a price list (in Swiss Francs) that came together with the letter. Using my old Casio scientific calculator, I make some calculations and conversion and found that it is actually cheaper to buy directly from Minerva S.A. That night, I went through the catalog with Ivy and was trying to decide whether to get a Pythagore Aviation ((Ref: A481-A6), or the new dial Pythagore (A481-AA8). We finally agreed that the aviation dial will suit me better with my job as a university assistant professor. While I was brushing my teeth the following day, another question struck my mind. Should I get one with or without the micrometric swan-necked index-adjuster? What the h*ll is a swan-necked index? So, I posted a question in Minerva and Public forums in Timezone, and it is so kind of Chronopassion to reply to my inquiry. I then decided that since I am not going to adjust the watch by my own, I probably won't need to spend extra for the swan-necked index. Also, this is not a feature that came with the original Pythagore (I like classic and tradition!). The next day, after my morning lecture, I went straight to the bank and bought a certified bank check. Just after 30 minutes later, the check and an accompany letter was off to FedEX to be sent to Villeret, Switzerland. I received a fax from Mr. Frey about 3 days later, saying that he has received my check. He also told me that he will be doing a time-check on 'my prospective watch' to make sure everything is in perfect condition. Two days later, I received another faxed letter from him, telling me that the watch had been shipped out and also provide me with the FedEX tracking number. Never in my life would I have ever thought that I will have the opportunity to deal directly with the President of a famous watch manufacturer. Thumbs up for Minerva!!! Their efforts to make THAT personal touch is simply remarkable. The waiting period from that Mr Frey's fax to the arrival of the watch was only 4 days. Despite of only 96 hours, it was indeed a long waiting period for me. I tracked the package almost 3 times every day and it was kind of silly when I think back again now! The package arrived to my house in the morning when I was at work. Ivy, being an understanding wife and shares my passion, immediately call me at my office to let me know the good news. During lunch, I went back home to open the package. The watch was very well-packed. The long leathered Minerva box was nicely constructed and elegant. As I opened up the nice blue box, a fine little gem appeared before my eyes. It was so fine...., so finely made. A check on the dial using a 5X loupe revealed the high quality control adopted by Minerva. The luminescence paint on each arabic number was so equal and precise (as good as my earlier Mark XII). A peek through the see-through caseback to view the Minerva Cal. 48 movement can be a wonderful experience. It is one of the most beautiful movement I have ever seen so far and is indeed very asthestically appealing to eyes. It was signed Minerva on dial, crown, buckle, leather strap, see-through caseback and movement. The watch weighs about 50 gm and the leather strap is comfortable on wrist. The package also comes with a Minerva polishing cloth. My wife loves the watch very much and was asking me whether there is a lady version at a smaller diameter (she owns an Omega Constellation now). Hearing the watch ticking is delightful. I love to place the watch under my pillow when I am taking a nap. The 18,000 Bph and hand-winding features brings nostalgia to me of the first watch I received from my father as my 8 years old birthday present. It is a hand-wound Mickey mouse watch. The only limitation of the watch is it does not come with date. I guess that is why Pythagore has a catchy slogan 'The very essence of a watch'. It has however, trained me to remember each day and not to take time for granted. As with any other watches, my main concern is its accuracy. Below are the results I obtained after wearing it for 3 days, in comparison with three wristwatches in my collection. Each watch was worn for 10 hours per day for three consecutive days under my normal daily activities (lecturing, researching cockroaches and termites, paperwork, etc.) and dial was kept face up when I am not wearing at night. Their time keeping abilities were compared with a Citizen digital stop watch. The total deviation of time in comparison with the stop watch after 3 days was divided with 3 to obtain the average accuracy per day. Please note that studies on all watches (except Minerva) had been performed before the arrival of Minerva. Minerva Pythagore Aviation: +4.3 sec/day (total deviation = 13 sec/3 days) Seiko Military Automatic 4S15: +2.7 sec/day (total deviation = 8 sec/3 days) Seiko Military Automatic 7S26: +4.7 sec/day (total deviation = 14 sec/3 days) Titoni Military Automatic: +5.0 sec/day (total deviation = 15 sec/3 days) Oris Full-Steel Chronometer: +2.0 sec/day (total deviation = 6 sec/3 days) In terms of value, it is undoubtedly very reasonably priced. At US$1200.00 (list price), it is relatively affordable by most watch enthusiasts. Many may not agree, but I am definitely not someone who will be spending >$2500.00 for a watch at this stage of my life. Minerva Pythagore just fit my budget nicely. I will not hestitate to recommend this watch to anyone who wants a watch with a long tradition and made with a personal touch by a reputable watch manufacturer. Please contact me directly if you need any additional information on the watch. Thank you for spending your time reading this post. I hope I did not bore you.