ABOUT THIS WATCH

Before becoming one of several brands who couldn’t weather the storm of the Swiss watch quartz crisis in the 1980’s, Universal Geneve was a beloved and innovative watchmaking house producing some of the most iconic and valuable timepieces of the mid 20th century. In fact, some models like the UG Big Eye are so coveted by current collectors that new homage versions have been produced to profit off of their rarity. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

There are however still some beautiful and original Universal Geneve designs you can own without having to buy a cheap knockoff and one of them is this 18k gold automatic bumper dress watch. As modern day automatic movements typically have a rotor that spins 360 degrees while wearing the watch to wind the mechanism, bumper movements have a rotor that spin only about 120 degrees back and forth bumping off a pair of springs on opposite sides of the watch. It is said that English watchmaker John Harwood invented it in the 1920’s after seeing kids playing on a see-saw in the park. This can at times feel like an inelegant mechanism, nonetheless it is highly reliable and was an ingenious solution to the manual wind movement for its day.

What’s not inelegant about this watch is literally everything else and it has held up extremely well for it’s age. The gorgeous pie pan dial changes shades in different light and has developed a well earned light patina. The solid gold case, while having normal scratches from daily wear, is still thick and maintains its original shape and the gold hands have aged consistently in relation to the rest of the watch. Certain gold dress watches can feel like they’re only for special occasions, but the honest condition of this watch will make you feel like you can wear it everyday while it exudes the elegance it did the first time it was ever strapped on.

This lovely no-nonsense watch is keeping accurate time and is ready to be worn on the wrist of someone who is equally as effortlessly stylish. It is a watch to be used and loved.

WATCH SPECS

Maker: Universal Geneve
Model: Automatic
Reference: 10216
Year: 1951
Material: 18k gold
Dimensions: 35mm diameter; 11mm thickness with crystal
Crystal: Plexiglass
Lume: None
Caliber: Universal Geneve 138ss automatic bumper
Bracelet/Strap: Beige veal leather strap with gold tone buckle
Lug Width: 20mm
Box/Papers: N/A