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1960's Universal Geneve Polerouter Microtor Watch, Automatic - Stainless Steel
$3,119
£2,369.14
€2,730.05
CA$4,392.32
A$4,869.54
CHF 2,559.13
MX$59,595.20
NOK 31,960.98
SEK 29,998.58
DKK 20,378.11
About the Item
NAMED ONE OF WATCHPRO MAGAZINE’S “HOT 100” - THE TOP 100 INFLUENCERS OF THE U.S. WATCH INDUSTRY. HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU?
We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stDibs, but we have sold over 10,000 fine watches and exceptionally served thousands of customers with a 5.0 star rating.
1960's UNIVERSAL GENEVE Polerouter Microtor Watch, Automatic - Stainless Steel
Beautiful Original Condition - Technical Marvel - Desirable Microrotor - 1 Year Warranty
Today's offering showcases this very fine Polerouter watch that presents in very pleasing original condition with Microtor movement and uncommon black dial.
The Universal Geneve Polerouter really captures the romance of mid-century horology.
Conceived in 1954 by a 23-year-old Gérald Genta — widely considered one of the greatest watch designers of all time, who would later create icons like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus — the Polerouter was originally created to celebrate SAS Scandinavian Airlines’ daring polar flights from Copenhagen to Los Angeles. These were the first commercial routes to cross directly over the North Pole, saving passengers hours of travel but exposing aircraft to intense magnetic fields near the Arctic Circle. Universal Geneve responded with a watch engineered to resist those conditions, christened the “Polerouter.”
This was the watch of jet-setters at the dawn of the jet age worn by airline pilots, businessmen, and diplomats who embraced the romance of polar routes and international travel. To strap one on today is to channel that spirit of optimism and modernity — a reminder of when crossing the pole was as daring as space travel.
That’s the romance of the name. But the real heart of this watch is the Microtor movement that Universal Geneve pioneered in the late 1950s. Described by a member of the watch media as the greatest technical advancement in self-winding watches in 30 years when it was introduced, the micro-rotor powered movement allowed watchmakers for the first time to fit even thin dress watches with automatic movements. Instead of a large, centrally mounted rotor, the Polerouter’s caliber 215 tucked a small oscillating weight into the plane of the movement itself. This ingenious solution allowed for a thinner profile and elegant proportions, while still delivering the convenience of automatic winding.
It was an engineering masterstroke — so compelling that later, the same principle was adopted at the very highest echelons of watchmaking, by houses like Patek Philippe and Chopard and only a very few others in their ultra-thin automatic calibers.
For collectors, the Polerouter offers that perfect sweet spot: accessible enough to wear daily, but imbued with a narrative that rivals watches costing ten times more.
Our uncommon black dialed Polerouter is all original down to the signed crown. The photos couldn't do it justice.
Its case presents as just short mint with very slight remnants of wear. Its matte black is original and untouched.
One of our watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw and cleaned and oiled it making it ready for immediate enjoyment. It is running extremely strong and true, keeping time essentially on par with a new Universal Geneve in our testing position.
For the finishing touch, we have paired it with a beautiful original Nomos Glasshutte leather strap handmade in Germany making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Note: For more on the Microtor mechanism, visit this link on the Universal Geneve site.
Detailed Appraisal:
Manufacturer: Universal Geneve
Country of origin: Switzerland
Year built: c. 1960's
Serial no.: 2,10,641
Model: Polerouter, Ref. 20375-5
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Microrotor Automatic, Sweep Seconds
Designed for: Men
Case material: Stainless steel
Case markings (inside): Universal Geneve, Swiss, Acier Inoxydable
Dimensions: 34mm wide (excluding crown), 41mm long lug tip-to-tip
Case markings (outside): 20375-5
Case condition: Presents as just short mint with very slight remnants of wear.
Dial: Matte black with steel applied baton indices, signed Universal Geneve and Swiss, original and untouched, excellent condition with light loss of finish in a few slivers around the periphery and light aging
Hands: Original, luminous steel "dauphines"
Movement type: High grade UG caliber 215-9, micro-rotor design with solid gold rotor, shock protected, rhodium plated and decorated, 28 jewels
Movement markings: Universal Geneve, Swiss, Twenty Eight Jewels, 2 Adjustments, 215-9
Jewels: 28 rubies
Beat frequency: 18,000 BPH
Band: Nomos Glasshutte leather strap handmade in Germany with original Nomos buckle We also stock lizard and a variety of other straps in various prints, skins, and colors. Please ask us if you're interested.
Crystal: Acrylic, excellent condition
Serviced: One of our watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw and cleaned and oiled it making it ready for immediate enjoyment. It is running extremely strong and true, keeping time essentially on par with a new Universal Geneve in our testing position.
Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. It is running extremely strong and true, keeping time essentially on par with a new Universal Geneve in our testing position.
Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please message us for details.
Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.
Box/Papers: BOX - Watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
SKU 9211
- Creator:
- Case Material:
- Strap Material:Leather
- Case Shape:Round
- Movement:
- Case Dimensions:Height: 1.62 in (41 mm)Width: 1.34 in (34 mm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1965
- Condition:Its case presents as just short mint with very slight remnants of wear. Its matte black is original and untouched. Our uncommon black dialed Polerouter is all original down to the signed crown.
- Seller Location:Suwanee, GA
- Reference Number:Seller: 92111stDibs: LU4333227269632
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