Live Auction 1417Rare Watches Including Nautilus 40 Part II
Universal. A very rare, large and attractive 18K gold chronograph wristwatch with multi-scale dial
Lot 221 The Property of an Important European Private Collector

Universal. A very rare, large and attractive 18K gold chronograph wristwatch with multi-scale dial

Signed Universal, Genève, Climate-Proof, Compax, ref. 124'113, case no. 1’573’424, manufactured in 1952

Closed14 November 2016

Price Realised

CHF 11,875

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Universal. A very rare, large and attractive 18K gold chronograph wristwatch with multi-scale dial
Signed Universal, Genève, Climate-Proof, Compax, ref. 124'113, case no. 1’573’424, manufactured in 1952
MOVEMENT: manual, cal. 285, 17 jewels, metal dust cover
DIAL: silvered, applied dagger and Arabic numerals, fifth of a second combined with Arabic five minutes divisions, red telemetre scale, outer tachymetre scale graduated to 1000 UPH, three sunken engine-turned subsidiary dials for constant seconds and 12 hours and 30 minutes registers
CASE: 18K gold, sloped bezel, downturned lugs, snap on back, two round chronograph buttons in the band, 37.5 mm. diam.
SIGNED: case, dial and movement
BUCKLE: gold plated Universal buckle
ACCOMPANIED BY: Universal Genève Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch in 1952 in its present configuration

Specialist note

The present Compax chronograph is a rare example of Universal's "Climate-proof" model, as confirmed in the accompanying certificate.

The “Climate-proof” system was developed by Universal in the aim of creating a watch resisting to different weather conditions. The case construction consists of water-resistant-type round chronograph pusher and a metal dust cap underneath the snap on back made of a special alloy to withstand weather changes.

Consigned by a private collector the watch is in extremely well preserved condition. With its large 37.5 mm. diameter and the attractive multi-scale dial, it is a very attractive, wearable and collectible example of Universal's mid-century production.

Another pink gold example of the "Climate-proof" Compax ref. 123113 model is prominently illustrated and described in Universal Watch Genève by Pietro Giuliano Sala, p. 278.