Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Universal Geneve Compur Chronograph 18kt Gold Ref 12430, 1930s
- Maker / attribution
- Universal Geneve (maker)
- Date
- 1930s
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dimensions
- Case 37.5 mm
- Stock no.
- W-913
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-913)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Universal Geneve Compur Chronograph 18kt Gold Ref 12430 (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-913), this is a wristwatch by Universal Geneve, made in Switzerland, dated 1930s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. Recorded dimensions: Case 37.5 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 — Bulang & Sons
Square pushers all round… The 1930s was a transition time from pocket watches to wristwatches and this large chronograph is from that exciting horological era. This Universal Geneve Compur is cased in an 18 karat yellow gold case and features a large winding crown and square chronograph pushers. The dial in awesome condition features painted arabic numerals and has a Base 1000 chronograph scale on the perimeter. Both sub dial hands and the centre stop watch hands are in blued steel and remain in beautiful condition. The hour and minute hands have radium luminous material. This is a large and very stylish chrono that really sits well on the wrist! The case has fixed lugs and will be supplied on the pictured fixed-lug strap. The movement has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. Specifications - Reference 12430 - 37.5mm 18kt yellow gold case case - Dates to 1930s - UG Cal 287 handwound movement - Radium arabic numerals dial - Includes a handmade single leather watch pouch
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The wristwatch overtook the pocket watch. Military use in the First World War, aviation, water-resistant cases (1926), automatic winding (1923–31), rectangular Art Deco designs and early chronographs and calendars defined the period.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
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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