Lot 293

Universal Genève

Polerouter Date Automatic Microtor

A beautiful and rare vintage Geneva wristwatch with centre seconds, date and two-colour crosshair dial - NOS full set!

Sold

This marvellous Polerouter features a polished black bezel, which is decorated with crosshairs set inside a fluted silver minute ring. The applied luminous dots and the luminous material of the gently patinated Alpha hands have slightly darkened over time. To the best of our knowledge, the case remains unpolished with the number clearly legible on the caseback. The watch comes with the original UG crown and pin clasp and is sold with the original red box, certificate of origin and guarantee dated November 9, 1961, fact sheet and hangtag.

The Universal Genève "Polerouter" model was designed by Gérald Genta in 1954 and was on the market until the early 1960s. The "Polerouter" is the watch that launched the designer's illustrious career. Universal Genève 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: due to the fact that the movement can be reached without having to take the rotor off completely, the microrotor system is extremely practical and easy to service. It was patented in 1958.