Universal Genéve Compax 1950

Why We Love It

There was a time in the not too distant past when one could acquire any number of perfectly proportioned, mid-century chronographs from Universal Genéve with relative ease. Available for a fraction of the price of their similarly designed contemporaries, these brilliantly designed timepieces were overlooked by collectors the world over. Fortunately or unfortunately, those days are behind us.

So what do you do when you absolutely must have that classic, mid-century aesthetic but are working with a less than stratospheric budget? You might consider going with a faithful recreation from the original brand itself - a piece that comes with all of the authenticity, heritage and character of the originals - but without the matching price tag.

Housed in a 36mm two-tone stainless steel and solid gold case, this Compax 1950 features a white dial with triple subsidiary registers and blued steel sub register and chronograph seconds hands. The gold Dauphine hands, indices, and applied 'U' logo stand in elegant relief to its softly patinated dial.

This particular example shows signs of wear and tear from loving use, including light polish and the loss of the enameling in the bezel. All watches, regardless of how rare and collectible they have become, were built to be used. It's clear that this Compax 1950 has been worn, used, and loved thoroughly. But these characteristics and particularities don't diminish the overall beauty of the classic Compax design, and keep this piece accessibly priced.

The watch as a whole posses all of the patination, correct components, and personality of its far less obtainable forefathers. If patina, story, and value weigh in heavily in your enthusiasm for collecting, you just hit the jackpot!

The Story

Universal Genéve is synonymous with classic chronographs.

In the last decade, the demand for their vintage models has risen sharply, with some examples making world record appearances on the auction circuits. Surely, Universal Genéve has secured its position as a staple of vintage collecting.

The 1940s to the 1960s were in many ways the golden years of chronograph production for Universal Genéve. The timepieces produced during this period (in particular the "Nina Rindt" Compax and the "Eric Clapton" Tri-Compax) have attracted the attention and admiration of collectors.

So in the 1990s, when Universal Genéve wanted to commemorate its centennial, they released a series of  chronographs espousing similar design language.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.