Lot 506

Universal Genève

Uni-Compax

An extremely rare, large Geneva vintage wrist chronograph with 45 min. counter and tachy scale

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Universal Genève introduced its Compax line at the end of the 1930s, when production of the Compur was slowly discontinued. The "Uni-Compax" with 45-minute register was introduced in 1936. The chronograph movements came from Martel and were the birth of what would later become the Zenith El Primero calibre, the world's first self-winding integrated chronograph calibre.
Some Uni-Compax models are particularly large for the 1940s with a diameter of 38 millimetres, especially the waterproof Spillman gold cases, recognisable by the hammer with inscribed 136. Spillman also made Rolex Oyster cases.
This Uni-Compax has a delicately shimmering silver dial with two engine-turned registers. Its luminous Arabic numerals have taken on a patina appropriate to their age and appear in a refreshing light yellow. Together with the blue accents and the gold case, we have here a fantastic collector's item with the perfect vintage look.