458 - UNIVERSAL GENEVE

UNIVERSAL GENEVE Space-Compax Ref. 885104/01 No. 2509129 Circa 1966 Chronograph with steel bracelet Case: barrel-shaped with a waterproofing system patented by John Simon (patent no. 238872), rotating bezel with graduations and numerals, vintage-style screw-down crown, “membrane” pushers, screw-down case back, signed Dial: black “SWISS-T” MK1, painted baton hour markers, painted minute track, gray hands, red central chronograph seconds hand, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock, baton hands for the counters, painted logo, signed Movement: mechanical, hand-wound, column wheel, signed—Caliber UG 85 (based on Valjoux 72) Bracelet/Clasp: steel bracelet made by Gay Frères, signed UG (dated 1/69) Diameter: 40 mm Wrist circumference: approx. 17 cm Includes: a vintage Universal Genève case Condition report provided for informational purposes only: At the time of catalog compilation, signs of wear and minor impact marks; bezel partially faded; engravings on the case back still visible; bracelet slightly stretched; movement and chronograph functional; routine service recommended; no warranty An unconventional timepiece straight out of the space age, the Space-Compax is a distillation of experimentation! While the rotating bezel—worthy of a diver’s watch—is striking, it is the membrane-style pushers that are particularly surprising. All these unique features allow this Universal Genève to offer the capabilities of both a diver’s watch and a chronograph—a trend that emerged following the successes of the space race.