THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: UNIVERSAL GENEVE
MODEL: 20357/2
YEAR: 1959
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 35mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: LEATHER
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

In the early 1950s, commercial aviation was rewriting the map. Scandinavian Airlines Systems (SAS) pioneered a bold new route—charting a course over the magnetic North Pole to connect Los Angeles and Copenhagen faster than ever before. 

To mark the occasion, SAS turned to Universal Genève. The brief: create a watch worthy of this moment in modern exploration. The result? A design from a young Gérald Genta who would go on to re design and create some of the most iconic watches we know and love today. The Polarouter (as it was first named) was issued to SAS pilots and crew, built to navigate extremes with precision and style. It wasn’t long before its reputation left the cockpit and hit the wider world. The watch was soon renamed Polerouter and the rest is history. 

This example is the Microrotor, this range debuted in 1955 and had one the earliest microrotor calibres, the 215. It was replaced around 1960 for the newer cal 218 making this piece one of the last to have the 215. 

The original dial has some patina with all the radium markers in tact. The original hands are also still present with their radium lume plots still present. The case is still full, showing signs of wear. This case if polished, hasn't been done in some time. 

We have just had the movement fully serviced and its running at +7 s/d, 255 amps with a beat error of 0.2. 

Polerouter's are the Alfa Romeo of the watch world. If you are remotely into cars, you have to own an Alfa at some point, the same with watches. Everyone at some point needs to enjoy a Polerouter. Sublime.