Universal Genève Polerouter Date

Why We Love It Here at A/S, we are huge proponents of the Polerouter. The 35mm dress piece from Universal Genève offers both looks and Gerald Genta design at a price that's hard to beat. Its twisted lug case is elegant and wears comfortably on the wrist. The glossy black dial is split into four sections, giving this dial the 'quadrant' nickname. Under the dial is the renowned automatic Calibre 69 micro-rotor movement. With it's original caseback engraving still present, this is truly a gem from the past. UG collectors know firsthand how few examples still have their engravings visible - paired with its correct sign crown and crystal. 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.