For watch collectors who are also “movie buffs”, if the present Universal Genève “Film Compax” doesn’t surprise you, it will absolutely delight you.

Universal produced many chronograph models for specific applications. Arguably the most elusive of these is the Film Compax. A model so utterly rare, that until an example was recently discovered, some doubted its existence. Thanks to pictures from Universal’s archives, along with an Extract from the Archives accompanying the present lot, collectors can be certain that this gem absolutely did exist. Research indicates that less than a handful of Film Compax examples have surfaced to date.

Without a doubt, the dial displays the rarest chronograph scale we are aware of found on any chronograph across all brands: The filmometer. The black outer ring is calibrated for the number of feet of 35mm film used, which was considered the “professional” standard for motion pictures of the era. With the standard exposure rate of 24 frames per second, filming consumed 1.5 feet of film per second. So for example, while shooting a 30-second long scene, it would indicate 45 feet of 35mm film was used. The inner red ring indicates the number of feet of less costly 16mm film, which consumed 0.6 feet of film per second. This would have been the ideal watch to be worn by Hollywood icons such as Walt Disney, Orson Welles, John Huston and their peers of the period…

The condition of the present lot is superb, making this exceptionally rare and uncommon chronograph a true treasure for discerning collectors.