Universal Genève Polerouter

Why We Love It From the perspective of the history of modern horology, the Universal Genève Polerouter holds a special corner all to itself.  In many ways the Polerouter, with all of its variety, is the story of modern Swiss Watchmaking.  This particular twisted lug beauty is remarkable even amongst other similar examples. Expertly color-matched, its rare dauphine-style handset jumps off of the glossy gilt dial. Their rich, tan lume is a study in contrast against the shiny inky black. Beneath its caseback, which still bears its factory engraving (a rarity in and of itself), spins a stainless steel bumper movement. Such mechanisms are a snapshot in the history of the automatic movements we often take for granted today.  Those of us who collect watches are in fact collecting more than just watches. We collect stories- tales of mechanism and craftsmanship, of companies and countries, of individuals. It is more than the ticking of hands that sets our hearts aflutter.  The Story Most of us, even the most diehard collectors, know only one watch designer by name: Gerald Genta. The man behind the AP Royal Oak, the Patek Philippe Nautilus and the IWC Ingenieur, Genta changed the watch industry with his luxury stainless steel sports watches with sharp 70s lines and his characteristic integrated bracelet design.  But before he could pioneer haute horology, he had cut his teeth on a more approachable timepiece; the Universal Genève Polerouter. The Polerouter was Genta's first watch design brought to market, penned by the young Swiss designer in his early 20s. The watch was a sales success and propelled Genta’s career forward (allowing for the greats such as the Royal Oak and the Nautilus.) The first Polerouter was released in 1954 (and originally called the POLARouter) to celebrate and promote Scandinavian Airlines’ Royal Viking polar flights between New York City, Los Angeles and Europe. The flights forged a new route over the North Pole, reducing flight times between the two continents. Flying over the North Pole presented a unique set of challenges for a watch, and the Polerouter was designed to be highly resistant to magnetic fields (in addition to the usual shock and water resistance) so as to maintain accuracy during the trip.