Universal Geneve Polerouter Date 'Gilt dial'

Now, everyone knows the story of this watch but here’s a reminder, just in case: To shortcut the flights from Europe to California (USA) by some thousand kilometers, the airline SAS (Scandinavian Airline System) opened new routes over the North Pole in the 1950s. All crews on these flights had to take part in a special training at the "SAS's Arctic Flight School". The Swiss watch manufacturer Universal Genève provided the crews with automatic precision wrist-watches that are resistant against the strong magnetic field of the polar region. They became the official chronometers of SAS. This design was commended to 23 year old Gerald Genta who also was the same designer of the legendary Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus. Soon this Polerouters, specially the Date versions, became a sought after for collectors all around the world.

This particular example circa 1962-63 has an amazing glossy gilt dial with huge tritium hour lume plots markers. It has the correct applied UG logo and a beautiful minute counter inner silver ring that make the face of this piece just awesome. The 35mm (excluding the small original UG signed crown) all stainless steel case is part of Watch History as young 23 year old Gerald Genta (same designer of the Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus) designed it especially for SAS. It remains sharp. The famous twisted lugs are UG’s sign of character adding so much value to the piece. It has the original acrylic crystal with trapezoidal date magnifier. Details that add a lot of value to these pieces. The case back has some marks due to normal wear but remains unpolished letting the logo and reference/serial numbers clearly visible. The in-house cal. 218-2, correct for this model, looks clean although service history is unknown.  It is running smooth and keeping time.

It comes suited on an 18mm handmade leather strap.