UNIVERSAL GENEVE

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UNIVERSAL GENEVE

UNIVERSAL GENEVE

Sin duda otra de las grandes.

Universal Genève tiene una larga y gloriosa historia que se remonta a su creación en 1894. Sin entrar en demasiados detalles, diremos que la empresa ha desempeñado un papel muy importante en el área de los cronógrafos.

En 1927, Universal lanzó con bastante éxito su primer cronógrafo de muñeca (un calibre 17’’’).

La marca ganó reputación internacional gracias a una sucesión ininterrumpida de innovadores cronógrafos.

Los modelos con dos pulsadores, introducidos en los años treinta, revolucionaron las funciones cronográficas. Los modelos que más impactaron fueron los de la serie Compax.

De 1936 a 1944, la marca presentó los modelos Uni-Compax, Aéro-Compax, Dato-Compax y Tri-Compax, uno trás otro.

La principal innovación de la colección Compax fueron sus dos pulsadores, que permitían varias lecturas consecutivas sin tener que ponerlo a cero cada vez. Luego vendría el contador cronográfico de una hora (en vez de los 30 o 45 minutos), un segundero pequeño ajustable individualmente (Aero-Compax), la indicación de la fecha (Dato-Compax) y funciones especializadas (Medico-Compax). La serie culminó con el Tri-Compax, lanzado en 1944, que incluía indicación de día, semana y mes, contador de minutos, horas cronográficas y taquímetro.

Más tarde, Universal innovó en el área del reloj automático con la introducción de un microvolante con una masa excéntrica: una proeza técnica indiscutible.

Esta innovación revolucionaria encontró su mejor expresión a partir de 1956 con la serie Polerouter de relojes herméticos con mecanismo antimagnético y antichoques.

La maravillosa saga de la serie Compax, que había consolidado su reputación internacional , en los 70 tropezó con el cuarzo, que revolucionó la relojería y redistribuyó el sector.

En la galeria teneis magnificos ejemplos
desde los polerouter microrotor de finales de los 60
pasando por el primer modelo electronicos de la casa
con tecnologia accutron fruto de la union con Bulova
(ejemplo de tandetemps que me ha venido al pelo)
al reloj con Mayusculas

la serie Compax, que quitan el hipo al mas pintado

teneis desde un compax nomal en impecable estado *Nos*
al Universal geneve Space-Compax con valjoux 72
que me vuelve loco y Fue «el reloj» en 1970.

tambien comparativas entre el compax de 1969 y el susodicho
space-compax de 1970

y para ponerle broche de oro a la galeria aun no siendo setentero
el mitico cronografo de Ayrton Senna

Polerouter date Microrotor

Polerouter compressor

Electronic Unisonic

(Photos Tandetemps)

1969 Universal Geneve Unisonic-Sub

Tuning Fork Diver

Compax

Space Compax

Comparativa Compax 1969/ SpaceCompax 1970

Los ya hoy miticos Modelo Ayrton Senna

Breve Cronologia

1894
fue fundada por dos talentosos relojeros,señor Numa Emile Descombes
y el Sr Ulesse Georges Perret, que en 1897 asociado con el Sr Edouard Louis Berthoud.

1897
registro de Perret y Berthoud como nombre de marca.

1917
El primer cronógrafo de muñeca fue inventado por Universal Genève.

1925
El primer reloj de pulsera automático producido por Universal.

1929
La introducción de los Cabriolet y relojes de 8 dias.

1930-1940
… El inimitable periodo de cronógrafos de Compax Compur, Uni-Compax, Dato-Compax, Medico-Compax, Compax Aero-24H, Cine-Compax, Flight-Compax en su fabrica de de Ginebra, nombres sigue siendo, 70 años más tarde,conocidos por todos los amantes a la relojeria.

1944
El Tri-Compax denominado «La Gloriosa» con días, semanas,
meses e indicador de fase lunar, minuto y hora, tachymetro a escala que está patentado y usado por el Señor Presidente de los Estados Unidos Harry S. Truman.

1954
Lanzamiento de El Polerouter, que, con su revolucionario movimiento automático Microtor producido y patentado por universal, cruzó el Atlántico en la muñeca de un piloto de la escandinava SAS Airlines sin ser dañados por la atracción magentica del Polo Norte.

1955
El movimiento automático Microtor se mejoró y llegó con su rotor «descentrado».

1966
Universal Genève presentó su mejora de Microtor (2,5 mm).
El Calibre 66 fue puesto en la Golden Shadow, fabricado en casa. El reloj más Plano del mundo.

1967
Fusion Bulova- Universal Genève comprado en un momento histórico crucial, cuando el precursor del movimiento de cuarzo, el Accutron, fue inventado por Bulova, Bulova ofrecia su nueva tecnología para Universal Genève con el fin de extender la marca …

Década de 1970

… El prestigio de la generación de cuarzo obliga a las grandes marcas a caer en la obsolescencia lo que afecta a Universal Genève, al igual que muchas otras marcas suizas.

1994
Comienzo de la era actual.

La edición limitada de Oro cabriolet Janus se puso en marcha para el centenario de Universal Genève.
Se enfrenta a su doble, analógico y saltando horas, con un único movimiento Caliber 42 ha sido una gran firma de la marca.

1998
Universal Genève entra en el mundo de la competición con la colaboración
del campeón de Fórmula 1 Ayrton Senna elaborando su mítico reloj.

2004
La edición limitada Aéro Tri-Compax con la fase lunar e indicador de zonas horarias, se vendió Totalmente toda la produccion bajo pedido , antes de su lanzamiento oficial.

2005

Universal Genève lanza dos nuevas colecciones, Okeanos (caballero) and Anthea (señora).

2006
Presentación en Baselworld de 4 nuevos modelos: the Microtor UG 100, Okeanos Compax, Okeanos Aero-Compax y Okeanos Moon Chronograph.

2007
Presentación en  Baselworld de 3 nuevos modelos de caballero en acero:  Microtor UG 101, Uni-Timer, y Timer Chronograph.

http://www.universal.ch/

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UNIVERSAL GENEVE

No doubt another major.

In the gallery you have magnificent examples from the Polerouter microrotor of the late 60’s, through the firsts electronic models of the house with Accutron technology like the units from Tandetemps,

that were the fruit of the union with Bulova,

And the awesome 1969 Unisonic-Sub Tuning Fork Diver ,to the Compax Chronograph Series,

from a nomal Compax in immaculate condition * Nos * to Universal Space-Compax geneve with Valjoux 72 which drives me crazy and was «the WATCH» in the 70s.

Compax also is compared in teh gallery between the 1969 model and the aforementioned space-Compax 1970

and to put finishing touch, on the gallery

while not the legendary seventies chronograph of Ayrton Senna.

Universal Genève

is a Swiss luxury watch company, founded in 1894 as «Universal Watch».

Since its beginnings, the company has produced complete watches with in-house movements, and throughout the 20th century, distributed many notable and important timepieces. Along with neighboring Geneva companies Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux, Patek Philippe and Rolex, Universal is internationally regarded for its style of craftsmanship and manufacture.

Initially started and briefly based in Le Locle, co-founder Ulysse Perret would relocate Universal to Geneva in 1919, solidifying the company’s status as a Genève brand. Arguably the most famous Universal watch was the Polerouter. Designed by Gérald Genta, it was originally produced as the Polarouter in 1958, appearing with a Cal 138SS Bumper movement. The following year it was replaced with the revolutionary Cal 215 micro-rotor movement which, with minor changes and a name change (from Polarouter to Polerouter), was produced until late 1969.

The Golden Shadow and White Shadow were first produced in 1965 and were the thinnest automatic watch movements at the time, with a thickness of only 2.3mm. This record was held until 1978.

The Shadows were also designed by Genta and were available in 18K yellow and white gold as the Golden Shadow, and in stainless steel as the White Shadow. Both watches contained the calibre 2-66 micro rotor movement.

After a difficult period in the 1980s and 1990’s, Universal Genève recently released a series of watches with a new micro-rotor caliber, which revisited the company’s earlier success. Although still headquartered in Geneva, Universal’s namesake was purchased in 2004 by Hong Kong-based investment firm Stelux Holdings International, Ltd., which also owns Cyma, another high-end Swiss watchmaker.

Many celebrities, writers, business executives and diplomats from around the globe have owned both contemporary and vintage Universal Genève watches. Former Argentine President Juan Domingo Perón was a wearer of a Universal, as was former U.S. President Harry S. Truman, who adorned the popular Tri-Compax model at the Potsdam Conference.

BRIEF CHRONOLOGY

While 1894 was the founding year of Universal Genève, it also symbolised the start of a great adventure. Present on European markets from its early days, the company originally known as Descombes & Perret has never ceased to fascinate connoisseurs and devotees ever since.

In the course of its long and eventful history, Universal Genève developed a considerable quantity of movements to equip its collections, each representing a further step on the path to innovation. Within the space of a few years, several models that are still highly sought-after among collectors to this day were introduced: the Uni-Compax, the Compax, the Medico-Compax, the Aero-Compax and the Tri-Compax (also referred to as “le glorieux”), as well as the famous Polerouter. Nicknamed the “watch couturier”, Universal Genève also designed subtle and refined ladies’ collections featuring uniquely personalised models.

Much in favour in the literary and artistic “salons” of post-war Paris, Universal Genève timepieces established themselves as a watchmaking reference. After revolutionising the chronograph by introducing a second push-button and a chronograph hour counter, the Universal Genève design-engineers presented a patented automatic winding system with 360° oscillating weight, integrated within the movement and significantly enhancing its precision: the Microtor. This invention resulted in the world’s thinnest (a mere 2.5 mm) self-winding movement, Calibre UG 66, which was to equip the Golden Shadow launched in 1966.

Building on over 100 years of know-how, Universal Genève is now run by a team of passionately dedicated brand devotees headed by Vincent Lapaire, who is conducting a development strategy closely attuned to the markets.

1894
January 18th – Creation in Le Locle of the Descombes & Perret watch company headed by Numa Emile Descombes (1863-1897) and Ulysse Georges Perret (1868-1933).

1925
Two international patents (nos91051 and 91463) are registered for the Auto-Rem, the first self-winding wristwatch by Universal (a mechanism equipped with buffers).

1927-1929
Presentation of the Cabriolet model and of watches endowed with an 8-day power reserve.

1934
Creation of the double push-button Compur chronograph wristwatch (a trademark registered under patent n°83340); the first movement used is equipped with two column wheels.

1935
Launch of the Compax chronograph wristwatch with 12-hour and 30-minute counters.

1936
Presentation of the Uni Compax chronograph wristwatch with 45-minute counter.

1937
Universal Watch Co. Ltd is renamed Universal Genève.
Creation of the smallest ladies’ chronograph wristwatch of the era, equipped with a 19 ½’’’ movement.

1940
Launch of the Aero-Compax (patent n° 235608). This is a Compax chronograph equipped with a fourth subdial featuring hour and minute hands at 12 o’clock and enabling the user to memorise the start of an operation by means of an additional crown at 9 o’clock.

1943
Universal Genève presents the calendar watch, with or without moon-phase display, showing the small seconds at 9 o’clock, the date at 3 o’clock, the day at 12 o’clock and the months and moon phases at 6 o’clock.

1944
Manufacture des Montres Universal, Perret et Berthoud SA à Genève
To commemorate its 50th anniversary, the company presents its latest launch: the Tri-Compax.
This hour-counter chronograph with triple-date calendar and moon-phase display is to become one of watchmaking’s greatest 20th Century commercial successes.

1948
UG launches Calibre 138, a 12 ½’’’ self-winding movement with small seconds and subsequently central seconds.

1954-1955
Launch of the Polerouter or Polarouter. SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) makes the inaugural flight along the first air route between Europe and the United States to cross the North Pole. The crew is equipped with a high-precision self-winding watch (Cal. 138) capable of withstanding the powerful magnetic fields around the Pole.

1955
Creation of the Microrotor (patent n°329805), a new type of self-winding movement with oscillating weight integrated within the movement (Calibre 215).

1963
Presentation at the Basel Fair of the Universal Genève Railrouter and Polerouter Electric models.

1966
Launch of the Golden Shadow, “the world’s thinnest self-winding watch”, driven by Calibre 66 and Calibre 67 with date display (2.5 mm thick).

1968
Introduction of the Tuning Unisonic, a watch with a tuning-fork type frequency regulator.

1975
At the Basel Fair the brand presents Calibre 74, the world’s thinnest analog-display quartz-driven movement (just 3.45 mm).

1994
To celebrate its centenary year, Universal launches a world first (UG Calibre 42-83/4’’): the Janus watch, inspired by the Cabriolet model. Its reversible dial features a single movement allowing one to read off the time on two dials, including one with jumping hours.

2005
Universal Genève launches two new collections, Okeanos (for men) and Anthea (for ladies).

2006
Presentation at Baselworld of four new models: the Microtor UG 100, the Okeanos Compax, the Okeanos Aero-Compax and the Okeanos Moon Chronograph.

2007
Presentation at Baselworld of three new steel men’s watches: the Microtor UG 101 (self-winding proprietary movement), now produced in series; the Uni-Timer, with two-counter chronograph Calibre UG 71.5; and the Timer Chronograph, with three-counter Calibre UG 71.6, the two latter being equipped with an openworked oscillating weight. For ladies, the Anthea steel watch is available in two new jewellery versions: one set with 46 brilliant-cut diamonds and the other with 132 brilliant-cut diamonds.

http://www.universal.ch/