Universal Geneve Polerouter Date Ref. 869111/01 'Chocolate dial'

Now, everyone knows the story of this watch but here is 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 wristwatches 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, especially the Date versions, became a sought after for collectors all around the world.

This mid-1960s example has a very nice tropical chocolate dial evenly spread throughout the surface that makes it so special. The tone under the sun is close to orange. Along with the mesmerizing chocolate dial, the printings have turned to a vivid gilt color matching perfectly with the golden lume present both on hands and hour plots, again matching in tone.

 

The 36mm (excluding the original small, flat 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 and remains unpolished. The famous twisted or bombe lugs are UG’s sign of character adding so much value to the piece.

 

The case back also remains unpolished and crisp, letting visible both reference and serial numbers (something hard to see nowadays on these).

 

It also has the very rare original acrylic crystal with trapezoidal date magnifier and UG logo engraved in the center. The trapezoidal date magnifier adopts the shape of the date window for a better visibility of the open 6 and 9 numerals.

 

The in-house Microtor cal. 69 is running well and keeping time, as it has been completely serviced by our watchmaker (service pictures can be provided under request).

 

It is suited up with a 18mm handmade alligator strap with original stainless steel 14mm UG buckle (lug width of the case is 19mm).