Why This Watch Matters An early design from the Gerald Genta, the Polerouter proved to be an instant favorite and remained in production over the next 15 years. And it is easy to understand why, between the bombé lugs and the inner silvered minute-track, this watch is pretty easy on the eye. The Full Story The Polerouter was designed in 1954 by a 24-year-old named Gerald Genta, the very same man who, almost 20 years later, would design the legendary Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. The Polerouter was launched in honor of a pioneering flight over the North Pole, hence its name. It was originally fitted with a bumper movement, but in 1955 Universal Genève introduced a ground-breaking automatic movement, the caliber 215 complete with a micro-rotor. The Polerouter Date you see here was released later and therefore benefits from the streamlined caliber 69 The dial is striking with the characteristic silvered inner track and the case offers the characteristic bombé lugs. This design is a brilliant example of how a date window can be added to an original time-only watch and still maintain the subtle balance of the cross-hair dial. The Polerouter is a fantastic example of how Universal Genève could produce more than just stunning chronographs. The Fine Print Maker: Universal GenèveModel: Polerouter DateReference: 204605Year: 1960sCase No: NAMaterial: Stainless SteelDimensions: Diameter 35mm; thickness 9mmSapphire Crystal: NoLume: TritiumCaliber: Universal Geneve caliber 69 with micro-rotorBracelet/Strap: Original folded bracelet from Universal GenèveLug Width: 19mmBox/Papers: No What we Love and What You Should Know The case of this Polerouter is in great condition, with few hairlines, and clearly visible down-turned lugs. The dial is almost tropical, which explains the darker lume on the hands and indexes. This watch comes with the original signed crown and characteristic plexi-crystal with an octagonal magnifier. As can be expected, the Universal Genève folded bracelet is a bit stretched, yet there are no excessive gaps and the clasp closes well.
