Universal. A fine and rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and tropical dial
Lot 219 Various properties

Universal. A fine and rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and tropical dial

Signed Universal, Genève, Polerouter, Automatic, Microrotor, case no. S 20217 4 - 1715017, manufactured in 1955

Closed14 November 2016

Price Realised

CHF 4,750

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Universal. A fine and rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and tropical dial
Signed Universal, Genève, Polerouter, Automatic, Microrotor, case no. S 20217 4 - 1715017, manufactured in 1955
MOVEMENT: automatic, cal. 215, 28 jewels
DIAL: black with luminous dot numerals, minute division, outer steel ring with engraved numerals, sweep centre seconds
CASE: stainless steel, screw back, 36 mm. diam
SIGNED: case, dial and movement

Specialist note

According to the Archives of Universal the present watch was made in 1955.

The Universal Polenrouter first came out in 1954 as Polarouter with calibre 138 featuring a bumper self-winding movement. Only one year later, Universal replaced the original movement with a radically new automatic winding system: the Microtor with its incorporated rotor mass. The first movement, such as the present watch, were signed “patent rights pending” as Universal was facing legal issues to patent the technical design. On top of that, it is essential to mention that the Polerouter was actually designed by Gerald Genta almost 2 decades before he conceived the legendary Nautilus and Royal Oak.