Manufacturer: Universal Year: 1936 Reference No: 5126 Case No: 630'204 Model Name: Contax Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 285, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel buckle Dimensions: 35mm. Diameter Signed: Case and movement signed, dial signed Astrua Accessories: With an Extract from the Archives Literature: Paul White "I cronografi da polso" Volume III, pg. 362/363
Catalogue Essay
Chronographs with minute and hours registers became increasingly popular in the 1930s. Many manufacturers from Longines to Zenith produced various dial configurations and styles. The most sought after amongst seasoned collectors are the black dial versions and finding ones with steel hands and indexes make it even more special.
This particular Universal, signed by the retailer Astrua, features all those attributes, from its steel case with flat bezel, brushed sides and square push buttons to its stunning black dial.
The dial showing purity of design and with contrasting silver text against the gloss black becomes a classic, stylish and very elegant chronograph from the golden era of wristwatch chronographs.
Universal Genève was founded in Le Locle, Switzerland in 1894 and was originally known as "Universal Watch." Since its inception, Universal Genève has produced watches with unusually high quality for their price point. Universal was among the first brands to introduce a chronograph wristwatch.
Today, the firm's vintage models are highly sought-after and desired for their oversized cases and interesting dial designs. Key models include a variety of "Compax" models such as the "Nina Rindt" or "Evil Nina," the Uni-Compax, the Space-Compax, the Aero-Compax and the Film-Compax.