Universal Geneve was famed for making elegant and complicated wristwatches back in their heyday- becoming known a more accessible alternative to Patek Philippe. It’s not hard to see why, with famed models such as the Tri-Compax and their Compax line in general.
This example is one of their most popular, the Uni-Compax. The term Compax was Universal’s way of denoting the complications of the watch. With the Uni-Compax, as there is only one complication, the chronograph, it is called the ‘Uni’ Compax.
This example is one of their more unusual examples with lots of details going for it. Cased in a solid 18k pink gold case, it is ultimately a dress chronograph. Featuring elegant dauphine hands and blued steel chronograph and subdial hands, it sits on top of one of the most beautiful dials in my opinion. The dial is a silver linen dial, vertically brushed with a contrasting white outer tachymeter scale with matching blue text. Complement this with two oversized subdials that are recessed and engraved with concentric circles, the details really add depth to this simple chronograph and accentuates the overall look.
The condition of this Uni-Compax further highlights the desirability of this piece with a close to unpolished case. Flip the watch around and you will find one of the best chronograph calibres of the era, the famed in-house UG Cal. 285. A lot of things going on for this watch, what’s not to love?
