Universal Genève Polerouter Date Gilt

Why We Love It We've said it already and we'll say it again. Polerouters are fantastic watches.  This particular example has a non luminous glossy dial that has developed a stunning tropical patination. If you look closely, you'll notice the gold text and printed quadrant markings, which qualifies the watch for the desirable 'Gilt' name! Fitted with non-luminous steel hands a signed crown, and the classic asymmetric date window at 3:00, this example also features an applied-logo dial, supremely sharp twisted lug case and Calibre 218-2 Micro-rotor automatic movement, as well as a period steel buckle with Universal Genève signature. One of the things we like most about Polerouters are their seemingly infinite variations - each one is truly unique - and this one has impressive presence in the metal. Trust us, you'll love it. 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.