Manufacturer
Universal Genève
Also recorded as: Universal Geneve · Universal Watch
Chronograph specialist known for the Compax and for the micro-rotor Polerouter.
Numa-Emile Descombes and Ulysse Georges Perret founded the company in Le Locle in 1894; it moved to Geneva in 1919. Universal became known for chronographs — the Compax, Tri-Compax and Aero-Compax — and in the 1950s for the Polerouter, designed by Gérald Genta, which adopted a micro-rotor automatic movement.
- Country
- Switzerland
- City / centre
- Le Locle; Geneva (from 1919)
- Founded
- 1894
- Status
- Revived (acquired by Breitling, 2023)
- Key people
- Numa-Emile Descombes; Ulysse Georges Perret
Innovations & specialities
- Compax chronographs
- Micro-rotor automatic movements (1950s)
Works by Universal Genève in the catalogue
Open in the catalogue →
Movements & Components · circa 1935
Universal Watch Co. watch dial, circa 1935
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · circa 1941
Universal Genève Compur 30, ref. 22409, circa 1941
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · circa 1945
Universal Genève Uni-Compax, ref. 22492, circa 1945
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Pocket Watches · circa 1950's
Universal Genève pocket watch, ref. 11746 3/ 11746 1, circa 1950's
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Clocks · circa 1960-1970's
Universal Genève clock, ref. 999.116.01, circa 1960-1970's
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · sold on 8 Sep 1995
Universal Genève Tri-Compass, ref. 699.104, sold on 8 Sep 1995
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Linked through the Atlas maker authority list, which reconciles the spellings used by different institutions. Attributions are as stated by each holding institution or auction house.
