Universal Genève Polerouter SAS Tribute: Three Watches Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of Transpolar SAS Flights
Before the official brand relaunch that is set for 2026, Universal Genève has unveiled three special timepieces in honour of the 70th anniversary of the first SAS flight over the North Pole. These tribute watches pay homage to the Polerouter, an iconic model created by young Gérald Genta. With a new case design and the historic Microtor movement, these watches bridge the gap between history and the brand’s future. One of these watches will be auctioned off at Phillips in May 2025, while the other two will remain in the Universal Genève archive.
Case
The three tribute watches feature a newly designed case that is water-resistant, just like the original Polerouter. The tribute watches have a diameter of 35 mm, a thickness of 9.95 mm, and a lug width of 19 mm. The watch that is set for auction has a white gold case with the characteristic twisted lugs, giving it a unique and timeless appearance. The other two watches have either an 18k red gold case (reference RU6910) or a stainless steel case (reference AU6910). All three watches have cambered sapphire crystals that are anti-reflective on both sides.
Dial
The dials of the three tribute watches differ in colour and material but all feature the new Universal Genève logo alongside the historical and modern SAS logos. The Polerouter SAS Tribute with reference JU6910 has a blue satin-finish dial with a white gold inner bezel. The other two watches have a black dial with an 18k red gold inner bezel (reference RU6910) and a silver dial with an 18k red gold inner bezel (reference AU6910). The hour markers are attached to the glass, creating a three-dimensional effect. This design, patented by Universal Genève in 1953, was a characteristic feature of the original. The rhodium-plated hands on the first watch and the 18k red-gold-plated hands on the other two watches ensure optimal readability.
Movement
All three tribute watches are equipped with the original “Microtor” calibre 1-69 from the 1960s. This automatic movement, with a diameter of 28.5 mm and a depth of 4.75 mm, is renowned for its slim design. The rotor is positioned between the plates and bridges, allowing for a slimmer profile. The power reserve is approximately 57 hours, and the balance frequency is 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz). The movement displays hours, minutes, and seconds.
Strap
The Polerouter SAS Tribute with reference JU6910 features a handcrafted bracelet made of 18k white gold, inspired by Universal Genève’s historical designs. This bracelet was made by Laurent Jolliet, the last chaîniste, or chain-maker, in Switzerland. The other two watches come with black calfskin leather straps and a red gold pin buckle on the RU6910 and a stainless steel pin buckle on the reference AU6910.
Laurent Jolliet
Price & Availability
The Polerouter SAS Tribute with reference JU6910 will be auctioned at Phillips in May 2025. The proceeds will benefit CFP Arts in Geneva. The other two watches will not be sold and will remain in the Universal Genève archive. There is no information on the estimated price of the auction watch.
Collective Horology and Zenith have unveiled the Defy Skyline C.X Edition, a limited edition watch that reinterprets the Defy Skyline with a focus on industrial design. This marks Collective Horology's tenth project to be done in collaboration with another watch brand, and showcases a unique aesthetic and functional features. With a limited run of 200…
The A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst harks back to the Cabaret Tourbillon presented in 2008. With this watch, the world's first tourbillon with stop-seconds made its debut. Now the Saxon manufacture is presenting a Handwerkskunst variant of this model. The watch appears in a rectangular case made of platinum and bears traditional decorations…
French watchmaker Trilobe is set to unveil three new editions of its Une Folle Journée (“A Crazy Day”) collection, showcasing the brand’s innovative approach to horology. These timepieces feature floating rings to indicate time, offering a fresh perspective on timekeeping. The new models distinguish themselves with grey rhodium-plated bridges, a departure from the previous black…
Breguet is enriching its new generation of Marine watches with a creation housing three horological complications. In addition to an alarm, the Marine Alarme Musicale 5547 displays a second time zone as well as the date. Breguet Marine Alarm Musicale 5547 The alarm is a multi-purpose function suited to a number of daily requirements, such…
Patek Philippe has developed a broad spectrum of calendar functions, from the simple aperture date to the extremely complex secular perpetual calendar that is preprogrammed into the 28th century. At this years Baselworld 2019, Patek Philippe introduced a new function for calendar watches: the weekly calendar. The Calatrava Weekly Calendar (Ref. 5212A-001) is a semi-integrated mechanism that…
Chopard has acted as the official timekeeper of the Italian classic car rally Mille Miglia. Not only does Chopard's co-president take part in the 1000-mile race, but also the annual event sees the introduction of exclusive timepieces to celebrate the events. This year, Chopard presents the Mille Miglia GTS Azzurro Power Control and the Mille…
At this years watch fair SIHH in Geneva, Panerai introduced two new diving watches with Carbotech. Carbotech is a material based on carbon fibre. Especially due to its lightness in comparison to steel or titanium and its resistance to external shocks and corrosion Panerai now uses this carbon fibre based material for producing professional diving watches.…
Ressence was born in 2010 with the purpose in mind to improve the function of the mechanical watch in the 21st century context. Ressence wants us to make better use of our time by focusing on our relation to it. Marking the 10th anniversary of Ressence, the Belgian-Swiss brand introduces the limited Type 1 Slim…
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is a watch that has been around for over 25 years. It was introduced in 1993 as a larger and more robust version of the Royal Oak. Since then, it has become a symbol of the brand’s innovation and creativity. One of the materials that Audemars Piguet has been…
For globe trotters and lovers of travelling, Vacheron Constantin extended its 'Overseas Collection' on the Geneva watch fair SIHH in January 2019. The new ultra-thin model with perpetual calendar has been introduced with two different dials. The first version has a blue dial and a blue strap (Ref. 4300V/000R-B509), the second version has a bracelet…
Jaeger-LeCoultre and designer fashion retailer MR PORTER have created a collaborative timepiece; the Master Ultra Thin Kingsman Knife Watch Limited Edition. The classic watch pays tribute to the latest Kingsman film, which is due to come out in September 2020. The film, The King's Man, is set in early 1900s – meaning the watch has…
More than half a century after introducing its Top Time watch, Breitling is launching an updated and upgraded model. When it was first presented in the 1960s, it particularly suited to the needs of the young and active professionals and even attracted many young women. The striking dial has long been known to collectors as…
Breitling has introduced a brand new collection, the Breitling Capsule Collection Superocean Heritage '57. Its watches are reminiscent of the laid-back Californian surfer lifestyle of the 50s and 60s, while their inspiration stems from the original 1957 Breitling SuperOcean. As well as three variations, Breitling has also released the colourful Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition.…