Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Universal Genève Aero-Compax Chronograph, 1960s
- Maker / attribution
- Universal Geneve (maker)
- Date
- 1960s
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- Stainless Steel
- Dimensions
- Diameter 40 mm
- Stock no.
- CUR8
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Watches of Knightsbridge (CUR8)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Universal Genève Aero-Compax Chronograph (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Watches of Knightsbridge (dealer), London (stock number CUR8), this is a wristwatch by Universal Geneve, made in Switzerland, dated 1960s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: Stainless Steel. Recorded dimensions: Diameter 40 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Watches of Knightsbridge
The Aero-Compax was released in the early 1960s and were made with a target audience in mind: pilots. The dial is a highly legible two-tone dial, featuring bold Arabic numerals and large hands. The design of the dial is extremely well thought out, with a red crosshead splitting the dial into four quadrants to the large Arabic numerals and blued steel hands – all deliberately designed to increase legibility. The dial also sports a tach-o-meter scale on the outer ring and also makes use of an applied Universal Genève logo, adding a nice touch. The watch features a large 40mm stainless steel case with rotating 60 minute bezel. It features a screw-down case back for increased protection against dust and moisture. This Aero-Compax was available with either 24-hour or 12-hour dials, the latter being rarer of the two. The 24-hour variants were fitted with calibre UG90 (base cal. Venus 178), the 12-hour watches such as this are equipped with Universal’s calibre 130 (base cal. Valjoux 72). This base calibre Valjoux 72 also featured in the Rolex Daytona and Heuer chronographs from the same period. Overall, not only this is this a very rare UG model, it is also an excellent example. The case is still sharp with the serial and reference numbers still legible on the case back. The movement is clean and fully functioning.
Specifications — Watches of Knightsbridge
Reference: 22703/3; Metal: Stainless Steel; Movement: Manual-Wind Valjoux 72 Signed Universal Genève Calibre 130; Case diameter: 40mm; Bracelet/strap: Brown Leather Calf-Skin w/ a Steel Pin Buckle
Historical context
Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.
The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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