Universal Genève Military, c. 1943

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

We’ve joined forces with our friends at 10:25 Vintage, a New York-based operation with a shared enthusiasm for interesting vintage timepieces, to bring you a robust handpicked collection that is both exceptional and affordable. Perfect for the discerning collector on a budget, these pieces provide an excellent entry point to the joys of vintage watches. Universal Genève is a true vintage watch nerd's type of brand, and we're happy to see it's been growing in popularity and getting the recognition we feel it deserves. Dating back to 1894, Universal earned its reputation by building beautiful watches powered by their innovative in-house movements, rather than using off-the-shelf parts like many of their Swiss counterparts. They were an early pioneer of chronographs with their Compax line in the 30's and 40's, brought us the timeless Polerouter in the 1950's, and put the world's thinnest automatic movement into the stunning White Shadow in the 1960's. That's quite a track record, but there is so much more to UG than just those models, and we're happy to bring you this affordable entry into such a storied brand. Dating to circa 1943, this simple, straightforward piece bears a striking resemblance to military-issued Universal Genève models of the era, including those worn by the Dutch Royal Army in World War II. The 31.5mm case cradles a beautifully patinated dial, blued steel hands, and a Caliber 263 movement, built fully in house by Universal Genève. Small in size but big in character, this piece provides an excellent jumping-off place for the enterprising collector looking for something just a little bit different.