Why We Love It Every enthusiast has a piece at the heart of their collection, something that expresses something about them, their tastes, their love for watches. And while collections are as varied as their owners, it’s a safe bet that the crown jewel of any cache of vintage timepieces is something with significant history, beautiful design or serious horological chops. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to own something with all three. That’s why we gravitate to the Universal Genève Polerouter. Donned by Scandanavian pilots for the first-ever airborne traverse of the North Pole, designed by the famous Gerald Genta, and built specifically to withstand the powerful magnetic field of the Earth’s northernmost point, the Polerouter has it all — history, design and horological significance. The best part is that these sleek timekeepers have gone largely overlooked except by the keenest collectors, making them seriously undervalued. But unlike some other sleepers, this UG Polerouter makes no excuses. A seriously gorgeous twisted lug case, immaculate glossy black crosshair dial, Dauphine hands and trapezoidal date window with matching inverse-cyclops magnifier, this example is as good as they come. Whether you’re looking for the perfect addition to an existing collection or just beginning one, this beautiful watch should be on your radar. The Story Released in 1954, the Polerouter, despite its elegant appearance, had exploration at the heart of its development. A mere five decades after the Wright brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk, air travel was burgeoning, widening the horizons of the modern day. Despite the technological advances in avionics and aeronautical engineering, considerable challenges still loomed, especially to sensitive equipment and instruments. On November 15 of 1954, a DC-6 aircraft christened the Helge Viking departed Copenhagen for Los Angeles, becoming the first flight to traverse the North Pole. The route, devised by Scandinavian Airlines, sought to shorten the flight time from Europe to the United States. To celebrate this feat, Universal Genève launched the 'Polarouter' (which was later renamed the Polerouter) leaning on the then 23-year-old Gerald Genta to design a watch capable of resisting the magnetic fields over the Pole and remain accurate during the flight. Both the flight and the watch were successes, leading to a fruitful partnership between the growing airline and the Swiss watch manufacture. We've offered Polerouters before. It's safe to say we never get tired of them, because they have everything we want: an interesting history and a sleek exterior designed by the hand of a master.
