Minor Watches emerges as a classic microbrand that beautifully fuses the soul of Spain with the precision and quality synonymous with Swiss craftsmanship. This blend of Spanish essence and Swiss know-how has produced timepieces that not only tell the time, but also tell a story of cultural richness and precision engineering.
About Minor Watches
Santiago Salgado Menor, born on February 20, 1929, had a deep love for the world of watches. He emigrated to Venezuela in 1955 and, after years of hard work, returned to Galicia in 1979. Santiago, who passed away on February 19, 2019, at the age of 90, left behind a rich legacy for his grandchildren – Héctor, Santi, and César.
In 2018, driven by their shared passion and the desire to honor their grandfather’s legacy, the trio turned their dream into reality with the creation of Minor Watches. This microbrand is more than just a watch collection; It is a tribute to the love and passion for their grandfather, who influenced his grandchildren’s passion for engineering and watches
“We wanted to create a range of watches that not only lived up to the highest quality and durability, but also had a story to tell. It was also a way to give something back to our grandfather, who taught us his passion for watches. These are pieces that have become more than just a watch.”
Today, let’s take a closer look at two standout models from their Heritage Collection – the Minor Heritage Elegance Grey Automatic and Minor Heritage Classic Beige Automatic.
Minor Heritage Elegance Grey Automatic
The 316L marine-grade stainless steel case with a finely brushed finish complements the Classic Beige’s vintage appeal. Limited to just 500 pieces, each watch bears a unique serial number engraved on the back, adding a touch of exclusivity.
Unveiling the Elegance
The Minor Heritage Elegance Grey Automatic showcases the microbrand’s Swiss Made dedication to quality and style. Let’s check on the details that make this timepiece a noble choice for watch enthusiasts.
First of all the stunning dial; the Elegance Grey boasts a beautiful sunburst dial, adorned with highly polished markings and vintage Swiss Super-LumiNova filling and print. This combination of colors and contrasts ensures that the watch is easy to read, which is crucial for a pilot’s watch. Additionally, the choice of vintage lume adds to the charm of her grandfather’s legacy.
Stunning sunburst dial, well crafted indices and clean printed dial, Photo: Watchbandit
Minor Heritage Elegance Grey Automatic on the Wrist
Meticulously manufactured from 316L marine-grade stainless steel, the 42mm case of this timepiece wears nicely on the wrist. With its finely polished finish the wear experience is great, giving an impression of being smaller than its 42mm diameter, thanks to the generously sized bezel. What truly enhances the wearing pleasure, however, is its slender profile, measuring a mere 10.5mm in height.
Minor Heritage Elegance Grey Automatic, wrist circumference 18cm/7″, Photo: Watchbandit
The low height of the clock is particularly noticeable in the side profile. It can be easily hidden under a sleeve and sits comfortably on the wrist.
Measuring only 10.5mm in height, the Minor Heritage sits comfortably on the wrist, Photo: Watchbandit
Minor Heritage Classic Beige Automatic
The Minor Heritage Classic Beige Automatic from the Heritage Collection by Minor Watches is a sporty Flieger watch, which almost whispers the elegance of a classic field watch. With its soothing cream beige dial, it immediately sparks a sense of adventure in the desert. The muted, neutral color palette provides a versatile aesthetic, making it the perfect companion for various occasions.
Similar to the Elegance Grey, the Classic Beige is a limited edition of 500 pieces, Photo: Watchbandit
High Contrast Dial
Carbon black markings on the dial add a touch of bold contrast, improving legibility. The printed Arabic numerals and indices, adorned with a subtle green lume, not only help to make time reading easier in normal, but also low light conditions.
Minor Heritage Classic Beige Automatic on the wrist
Wearing the Minor Classic Beige on the wrist is a delight. Thanks to its well-thought-out design and slim profile, it feels smaller than its 42mm size suggests. The sand/beige dial color adds to its charm, giving it a light and stylish appearance when worn. It’s a comfortable and attractive timepiece that effortlessly enhances your wrist presence.
Minor Heritage Classic Beige Automatic, wrist circumference 18cm/7″, Photo: Watchbandit
Swiss Super-LumiNova
The Heritage collection models feature Swiss Super-LumiNova on hands, Arabic numerals, and indices. But, if you’re into strong lume, the Beige might not be the best choice. The darker the luminescent material, the weaker its glow, and black is as dark as it gets. You can still read it at night of course, but if you’re crazy about vibrant lume, go for a model with a brighter luminescent material. The Elegance Grey convinced with a strong lume.
Minor Heritage Elegance Grey Automatic Swiss Super-LumiNova Lume Shot, Photo: Watchbandit
Swiss Sellita Movement and Exhibition Case Back
The exhibition case back, fitted with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, provides a mesmerizing view of the movement. The heart of the Classic Beige is a 26-jewel Swiss Sellita SW200-1 automatic mechanical movement. With hacking, hand-winding, and automatic winding capabilities, it stands as an example to Swiss precision.
Minor Heritage watches are powered by a Swiss Sellita SW200-1 automatic mechanical movement, Photo: Watchbandit
Straps and Packaging
The vintage leather straps, handcrafted by Jacob Straps, complete the ensemble. The straps, known for their thickness and good craftsmanship, seamlessly complement the overall aesthetic.
The watch comes in Minor’s presentation box with a glossy black piano lacquer finish, emphasizing the brand’s attention to detail.
Warranty and Final Assembly
Minor Watches stands behind its creation with a 3-year warranty, and any required service is entrusted to Luis Míguez Watchmakers – Swiss certified with over 25 years of experience.
Conclusion
The Minor Heritage Elegance Grey Automatic and Heritage Classic Beige Automatic exemplify the fusion of vintage Flieger/field watch charm and contemporary Swiss craftsmanship, with a note of Spanish legacy. These limited-edition timepieces not only capture the essence of horological excellence but also offer a unique and exclusive experience for discerning watch aficionados. Minor Watches, with its commitment to quality and classic tool-watch style, continues to make its mark in the world of microbrand watches.
Specifications
- Reference: Minor Watches Heritage
- Limited Edition: 500 timepieces, with the serial number engraved on the back
- Diameter: 42 mm, excluding crown
- Lug Width: 20 mm
- Lug-to-Lug Length: 48 mm
- Height: 10,5 mm, thinner than most automatics with exhibition case backs
- Case: 316L marine grade stainless steel with a finely brushed finish
- Case Back: 316L marine grade stainless steel with scratch resistant sapphire crystal exhibition window that showcases the movement inside
- Dial: Cream-colored matte dial with charcoal black markings and matching black circular applied indices
- Dial Crystal: Scratch resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Lume: Swiss Super-LumiNova lume on the applied indices, Arabic numerals, and hour and minute hands
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM / 50 meters / 165 feet
- Movement: 26 jewel Swiss Sellita SW200-1 automatic mechanical movement
- Oscillation: High beat 28,800 BPH, (8 ticks per second)
- Hacks: Yes
- Hand Winds: Yes
- Automatic Winding: Yes
- Power Reserve: Up to 38 hours
- Straps Included: handmade vintage leather straps from Jacob Straps with beige stitching. Lengths: 115mm & 75mm.
- Packaging: Minor’s presentation box with glossy black piano lacquer finish, Minor warranty card, and The Microbrand Store™ micro-fiber cleaning cloth
- Manufacturer’s Warranty: 3 years. Minor Watches warranty work is performed by their partner, Luis Míguez Watchmakers, who are Swiss certified, and have more than 25 years experience repairing watches
- Final Assembly: Switzerland