Why customers love Universal Genève?

This 1962 polerouter is attractive, due to its rather unique patina reminiscent of molten magma depending on the light, due to its caliber, a cal 218-2 micro rotor with a beautiful finish with its 28 jewels, its twister horns. The watch is quite light and has a diameter of 34mm excluding the crown and wears very well on beautiful leather. A beautiful automatic Swiss watch with a beautiful history, and existing in several variants for everyone's tastes and colors.

As a collector passionate about vintage watches, my recent encounter with the elegant and ultra-thin Universal Genève White Shadow designed by the great GENTA has completely transformed my perspective on Swiss manufacturing of the 70s and the quality of the product of one of the best watches. The undeniable appeal of this elegant and dressy piece struck me once on my wrist! A real treasure in my eyes 🤩

Iconic model of Universal Genève! Mine that I got from my father, who himself had been given to him by his best friend. It is in its strictly original condition! On its dial, some letters are erased by time but which gives it a very nice and "vintage" patina. I unfortunately only wear it very rarely for fear of damaging it...

Bought at auction, I didn't know its whole story but I liked its dial and I found the original micro rotor. I then discovered that I had one of the first models of the cal 215. Then Genta had designed it. A bit of legend at a low price for the time. I wear it regularly and its particular little noise reminds me that I don't have a watch like the others. Attention to bracelet enthusiasts, it is not the standard size (19mm)

Ultra light, with a well-proportioned gold-grey dial, very simple, very clean and very bright. I like the pearl edging and the double herringbone mesh bracelet that evoke luxurious jewelry from yesteryear. It is both modern and retro. Its bracelet adjustment system is very easy but the hook attachment does not reassure me at all.

This is a vintage watch from 1968 with an electromechanical tuning fork movement (ESA 9164). The diameter is small 34mm but perfect for my chicken wrist. The particular design of its case seduced me, its dial worn with time is very beautiful. What can I say about the tuning fork movement, the fluidity of the second hand hypnotizes it every time I look at it.

This watch has always been a watchmaking dream for me, constantly repeating to my friends during our discussions around watches that one day, I would own a Polerouter. I had to wait maybe 3 years before it came true, this watch that I scrutinized from time to time on resale sites, always impressed me with its history and style. With its contained diameter, its magnificent twisted horns, its dial equipped with a peripheral flange, this gives all the elegance, the brilliance and the depth that sets it apart from other watches for me. But each time in front of the ads, it was the search for the perfect watch. Beware of repainted dials, service crowns and consequently prices that fluctuate from single to triple depending on the copies, all this makes me doubt. After endless research, I finally found the copy that suited me, gold-plated case in good condition, dial that had apparently not been repainted and was starting to patina with small bubbles on it. Delighted with my purchase, I continued my research by also looking at the spare parts categories of this iconic model. And it was then with surprise that I came across a copy that was the complete opposite of what I was initially looking for. A watch with a patinated "Polerouter Deluxe" dial that had become tobacco-colored, gold-plated case in good condition but which did not correspond to the original since a "Deluxe" normally has an 18k gold case. This watch is sold at an unbeatable price (€400) since its owner is aware of these weaknesses. It is ultimately for this tobacco copy that I have a crush, these defects make it for me a unique watch with a crazy charm. After receiving the two watches, I am now preparing to resell the first copy and keep the bad little duck, it is for me a story that sums up my watchmaking passion, love at first sight before rationality. I will nevertheless scrutinize possible solid gold dials in order to restore all the nobility that this copy deserves.

Universal Genève is a legendary brand that has not made, dare we say, legendary watches. And yes, the polerouter is a passion of an enthusiast and not an icon. However, it is not necessary to create icons to become a renowned brand, Universal Geneva is one of them. This Universal Geneva has nothing emblematic, it is a watch with a tonneau case like so many others from the early 70s, late 60s, it was even originally available with different movements (micro-rotor or manual like this one). But do we need to be an icon? This watch will not have marked its time but its time has marked it and that is already enough. A two-hand, manual, a gold-plated case like there were thousands of in those years but nevertheless rare were those who did it as well.

This little Universal Genève is particularly close to my heart. To do this, we have to go back to 1986. At that time, I was young but already passionate about watchmaking. I remember very well that day in September when I was chatting with a lovely "grandpa" about the watch he was wearing on his wrist. And after two hours of intense dialogue about it and watches in general, he took his off and offered it to me. Of course, I refused, telling him that he would regret his gesture that very evening towards a person he didn't even know the day before. But no, he insisted strongly and was so happy that a young person could be interested in this passion. It must be said that at the time, finding out about brands was not easy. No social networks, no internet, but only advertisements in magazines, a few newspaper articles, and retailer catalogs when they were willing to give them to you! The "grandpa" and I talked for another hour, during which he gave me some wise collector's advice that I have always followed since. And then we parted ways. I never knew his name, and I have never seen him again. But his watch has been in my collection for 37 years now. And I make it my duty to ensure that it always remains in perfect working order. Specifically, it is a Universal Genève ref. 306501/4P that he bought in the early 60s. The caliber is the 332 with 17 jewels and manual winding. An ultra classic watch, but very well made. The dial had a lovely speckled patina that has grown over time. I like it like that. This watch was my first vintage dress watch, and this patina reinforces its old-fashioned side. It is obviously a watch that I will keep all my life (unless I pass it on to a young enthusiast, who knows?). For me, it remains the symbol of what my passion for watchmaking is: curiosity, wonderful encounters, reciprocal and constructive exchanges, and emotion, whatever the brand or the price.

Small precision watch, faithful, beautiful, elegant, always on time, fine, because it uses a microrotor of about 9mm, a watch that travels our time beyond the lives of men, a re-rigged, it is not possible to see the movement of this watch, it lacks the transparency of the bottom, too bad...