Unpolished 1966 Universal Geneve Polerouter Date Ref. 869113/01 'NSA bracelet'

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 1966, has an amazingly mint glossy gilt dial with golden tritium hour lume plots markers. The original dauphine hands are also untouched showing a matching patina. The dial remains in great condition with no stains or spots. It has the correct applied UG logo and a beautiful inner minute counter silver ring that make the face of this piece just awesome. The 35mm (excluding the original UG signed crown) all stainless steel case remains in untouched condition showing sharp chamfers. The case back remains unpolished too letting visible some marks due to normal wear and also the logo and reference/serial numbers, which is something pretty to find in these as the engravings were very faint and tent to fade away quite easily.

The crystal is also the original hands, with the UG logo engraved on the center and the trapezoidal date magnifier to a better reading of the open 6 and 9 font.

The in-house Microrotor cal. 69 is clean and shiny, running great, although service history is unknown.

It comes suited on what is probably the original 18mm NSA bracelet in stainless steel, adding a lot of the 70s character to the watch.