The Olive Green Minerva Exo Tourbillon Limited Edition 18 Brings Back The Suspended Regulator

Minerva, founded in 1858, has entered a new phase in 2026, stepping out from its long-standing double branding with Montblanc to operate as a stand-alone name. The transition has already brought several new creations, including the Unveiled Crownless and new executions of the Unveiled Secret and Unveiled Chronograph, putting Minerva’s distinctive movement designs and traditional hand-finishing back at the centre of the watches. This renewed position now extends to the Exo Tourbillon, one of the manufacture’s most distinctive modern constructions. First introduced in 2010 after three years of development (recently featured in this opulent Montblanc Star Legacy), its patented design places the balance wheel above the rotating tourbillon cage. And for this new 18-piece edition, Minerva combines the mechanism with a large yellow-gold case, black onyx and deep olive-green decoration.

The Exo Tourbillon Limited Edition 18 is presented in a fully polished 18k yellow-gold case measuring 44.8mm in diameter and 15.03mm thick. The large case provides enough space for the exposed tourbillon construction and the off-centred display. Stepped lugs and the onion crown give the timepiece a traditional look, recalling Minerva’s pocket-watch heritage. A domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides protects the front, while a sapphire insert in the yellow-gold caseback lets you view the movement. The case is water-resistant to 30m.

The dial is a beautiful combination of layers and materials. The deep olive-green guilloché plate harmonises with the case and yellow-gold dial elements. The upper section is dominated by a domed black onyx time display, polished and with 18k yellow-gold hands, gold-coated Roman numerals and a fine minutes track. It “resides” on top of a shaped yellow-gold-coated plate stretching left to right, engraved with the Minerva logo and “Depuis 1858”. Another plate, at 4 o’clock, bears the indication “XVIII” and marks the 18-piece production.

The lower part is where the tourbillon is king. A single-arm bridge arcs over the Exo Tourbillon, drawing attention to its elaborate construction. The tourbillon makes one revolution every 60 seconds and therefore doubles as the small-seconds indication. The brand explains its choice of colours, noting that the olive branch has long been associated with peace and prosperity, the yellow gold traditionally represents prosperity and black onyx was historically associated with strength and resilience.

The Minerva Exo Tourbillon Limited Edition 18 is powered by the manufacture calibre M16.68, a hand-wound movement. Its special feature is the separation between the balance and tourbillon cage: the large 14.5mm screw balance with 18 regulating screws for fine adjustment sits above the rotating escapement, and this is what provides the tourbillon with its “Exo” name, Greek for “outside.”

A single-arm bridge holds the cage, an arrangement that demands some very precise positioning. According to Minerva, the balance staff is mounted to tolerances of as little as five microns. The movement beats at a traditional 18,000 vibrations/hour and provides approximately 50 hours of power reserve.

Visible through the sapphire caseback, the 218-component calibre receives extensive hand-finishing, including circular graining, Côtes de Genève, hand-chamfered edges, polished surfaces and carefully worked interior angles. The German-silver plates and bridges contrast with the gold-plated, circular-grained and chamfered gear train.

The watch is worn on a dark olive-green semi-matte alligator strap with an olive-branch pattern on the lining, closed with an 18k yellow-gold triple-folding clasp. The presentation box continues the theme, decorated with two olive branches made using hand-applied gold leaf, carrying 18 olives and 58 leaves as references to the limited edition and Minerva’s 1858 founding year. A loupe is included to admire the watch in greater detail.

The Minerva Exo Tourbillon Limited Edition 18 is limited to 18 individually produced watches and is certified through Minerva’s Laboratory Test 500H. It is priced at EUR 160,000. More details at www.montblanc.com.