Universal Geneve, Fab Suisse, Jumbo Dress Watch, circa 1950s

Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist

A Beautiful and Well Preserved Vintage Jumbo Universal Geneve Dress Watch in Stainless Steel with Beautiful Teardrop Lugs, c.1950s Founded in 1894 in Le Locle, Switzerland, Universal Genève quickly gained a reputation for innovation and elegance in watchmaking. Known for pioneering the chronograph wristwatch and introducing the iconic Tri-Compax in 1944, the brand became a favourite among collectors and style icons. Universal Genève combined Swiss precision with avant-garde design, producing legendary models like the Polerouter, designed by Gérald Genta. Whats on offer This elegant Universal Genève Jumbo Dress Watch is a standout example of mid-century Swiss refinement, distinguished by its rare 36mm stepped stainless steel case — a generous size for its era and a watch that wears beautifully on the wrist today. This Universal Geneve watch features striking fancy teardrop lugs, adding a beautiful design detail to its otherwise minimalist profile. The dial is a subtle silver tone with a sunburst finish and boasts delicate gilt leaf hands and applied raised Arabic numerals. A well-proportioned sub-seconds dial is positioned at 6 o’clock. The minimalist “Universal Genève FAB. SUISSE” signature sits proudly beneath 12 o’clock, a hallmark of export models destined for the French-speaking market. The watch is powered by the manual-wind Universal Calibre 262, a reliable in-house movement known for its fine finishing and precise engineering. This Universal Genève dress watch is in excellent vintage condition, showing only light, age-appropriate wear. The stainless steel stepped case remains sharp with well-preserved edges and minimal surface marks. The silver-tone dial is clean and evenly aged, with all gilt hands and raised Arabic numerals intact and clearly defined. The teardrop lugs are crisp and retain their elegant shape. The acrylic crystal is clear, and the crown appears original. A beautifully kept example of a mid-century classic.