Horological Meandering

amanico
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A View on the Universal Genève Polerouter Sub.

Let's first give back to Cesar what belongs to Cesar.

Ervin PIQUEREZ gave birth in the 60ies to a new family of Diving watches, the Super Compressor Cases, with his invention patended on the 15th May 1956.

He was not a watch maker, but a case manufacturer.

To fully understand the interest and importance of Mr Piquerez invention, I made a search on the net and found AT LEAST 15 ( !!! ) brands which used this case:

Benrus, Bulova, Lip, Droz, Sandoz, Fortis, Edox, Enicar, Wittnauer, Hamilton, IWC ( the Ref 812, but it came with a 37mm case ), Bucherer, Longines, Jaeger Lecoultre, Vulcain and Universal Genève, with the Polerouter Sub.

Some examples:

The Sandoz Super Compressor:



Enicar Super Dive:



One of my favourite, the Bulova ( don't know who to credit for, sadly ):



It may be taken as a biased view, but to me, if the Polaris is the King of the Super Compressor watches, some are nice Princes, like the Longines Diver or the U.G Polerouter Sub.



What is the D.N.A of a Super Compressor case?

Basically, an enhanced water resistance due to the special conception of the case and of the sealing gasket, a round ( and in the seventies it may also have been a cushion ) shaped case, with 2 crowns and an inner bezel, ( one ofr the movement, one which is used to turn the bezel ) sometimes 3, like on the JLC Polaris ( the third crown being used for the alarm )..

This said, let's speak about one of these Super Compressor Cases, the U.G Polerouter Sub.

This is certainly a very elegant Diving Watch, with a quite thin case, compared to the Longines or to the Polaris, a domed plexy ,and a nice, simple, legible and strong looking dial.

Here, you can see the relative thinness of the case, the 2 impressive crowns with the characterisitic gridwork, and the whole volume of the watch ( the case is 42mm, by the way ) :



The shape of the lugs and of the case is very close to other Super Compressor watches, but we always look at them with great pleasure.

A strong, clean, simple even sensual look, due to these sweet curves:











Which is specific to this watch is the dial, first, then the movement.

As the eyes are the mirror of the Human Soul, we could say that the dial is the soul of a watch, and it is particularly exact with this U.G Polerouter, don't you think?

.

You will notice the rough but exciting finish of the dial, these Gilt writings, and the gorgeous patina of the indexes.

While the minute and hour hands are always the same, I noticed some differences with the second hand, which was sometimes white and a bit short, white and and bit longer, or silver, thin, but normally sized.

Here are the pics I found here and there ( which leads me in the impossibility to credit them, sorry, except Steve's G pics, which I know by heart ):

Normally sized White Second hand, and beautiful patina of the dial, which looks like " grainé " and turning a bit brown.



Another Polerouter Sub I took in pic, with a short white Second Hand and a matter black dial which fades to grey:



An exceptional Polerouter Sub which turns to burgundy ( partially ), coming with its original SS Bracelet.



Some macros to admire the Finish of the dial, the golden writings and the exceptional patina ( you will also notice the particular " U " of " Sub ", designed like a Trident ) :


:


And here a Macro of the whole dial...

Don't know how to desricbe this patina, Stardust, grainé, pailleté, whatever you call it, it is just gorgeous!



The 2d sepcifity of this watch is certainly the movement, a nice and iteresting Micro Rotor, which was ( and still is ) not that current.

If I got it well, the first Polerouter Sub came with a Caliber 215, while the later ones housed a derived movement of the 215, the Cal 69.

Here it is , cased:



And now, some macros to have a deeper look on this special micro rotor movement, whose plate and bridge are quite nicely finished, with Geneva Stripes, and anglages.



A view on the Micro Rotor:



You will see that the part of the plate which is located just above the micro rotor is shaped like this last one.



In a Diving Watch, I think that the use of a Micro Rotor is unique...At least, to my knowledge.

Wearing it is a pleasure.

The watch is perfectly centered on the wrist, not that heavy, and quite thin, with a domed plexy, but not as thick as the Polaris or Longines Diver.

Actually, it has a great presence on the wrist.



I will end this post by adding that this watch which was also used by the US Navy, in the Sixties, which certainly represents a kind of recognition.

One of the nicest Super Compressor diving watches, for sure.



Hope you will enjoy the post,

Best.

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-07-07 13:23:27 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2009-07-08 07:29:18

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