Universal Geneve Polerouter Date 'Glossy 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 early 1960s example has a beautiful black glossy dial with gilt printing, applied logo and a beautiful minute counter inner silver ring. The lume plots are big and with a beautiful patina. The 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. The famous twisted lugs are UG’s sign of character adding so much value to the piece. Acrylic crystal plexi with no scratches.  The case back is a Supercompressor type with bayonet closing and Brevet numerals (rare on these versions) and it has some marks due to normal wear but the outer logo reminds untouched and visible, quite a difficult thing on these models. The gorgeous in-house cal. 218-2 is running smooth and keeping time, although service history is unknown.