Lot 374

Universal Genève

Polerouter de Luxe

A rare and attractive vintage wristwatch with oscillating weight winding movement, centre seconds and tropical crosshair dial

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The Universal "Polerouter" model was launched in 1954 and was on the market until the early 1960s. It took its name from the fact that the watch was specially designed for the SAS (Scandinavian Airline System) pilots who flew the Royal Viking stretch from Copenhagen to Los Angeles that took them over the North Magnetic Pole, the so called polar route. At the time the price of an 18 K gold Universal Polerouter was equivalent to the price of a VW Beetle.
The Polerouter presents itself as an irresistible combination of a fascinating and glamorous history with a modern and elegant design and technical innovation. This model features a tropical crosshair dial, which means that the dial has a "crosshair" marking in the centre and changed its colour from black to milk chocolate brown with tiny specks, which make this piece even more appealing to collectors.