Universal Genève Polerouter Jet, c. late 1950s

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

Why We Love It From the perspective of the history of modern horology, the Universal Genève Polerouter holds a special corner all to itself. And We. Love. Polerouters. Most likely, that will come as no great shock to those of you who know us. As far as general aesthetic, history, provenance, and wearability go - the Polerouter is one amazing value proposition that punches far above its weight class. The watch we have here, a Polerouter Jet dating to circa the late 1950s, represents a great entry point to the model with all the hallmarks of the classic Genta design. Featuring a twisted-lug case, a gorgeous dee blue dial with applied indices, a "big U" logo, a lovely dauphine handset. Additionally, this watch maintains a svelte profile thanks to its Universal Genève Calibre 215-07 micro-rotor movement. With a lovely patina and a crisp case, this is a stunning piece to behold, and an excellent entry point for any collector and any wrist! The Story Most of us, even the most diehard collectors, know only one watch designer by name: Gerald Genta. The man behind the AP Royal Oak, the Patek Philippe Nautilus and the IWC Ingenieur, Genta changed the watch industry with his luxury stainless steel sports watches with sharp 70s lines and his characteristic integrated bracelet design. But before he could pioneer haute horology, he had cut his teeth on a more approachable timepiece; the Universal Genève Polerouter. The Polerouter was Genta's first watch design brought to market, penned by the young Swiss designer in his early 20s. The watch was a sales success and propelled Genta’s career forward (allowing for the greats such as the Royal Oak and the Nautilus.) The first Polerouter was released in 1954 (and originally called the POLARouter) to celebrate and promote Scandinavian Airlines’ Royal Viking polar flights between New York City, Los Angeles and Europe. The flights forged a new route over the North Pole, reducing flight times between the two continents. Flying over the North Pole presented a unique set of challenges for a watch, and the Polerouter was designed to be highly resistant to magnetic fields (in addition to the usual shock and water resistance) so as to maintain accuracy during the trip.