Universal Genève: History of an Incredible Value Vintage Brand + 1959 Watch | Armand The Watch Guy

Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль

In today's video, I would like to discuss Universal Genève, a brand which has been lost to time but which produced some of the most beautiful and remarkable watches of the mid-20th century. I would also like to talk about a wonderful dress watch from 1959 which I have acquired from the brand recently with a truly remarkable bracelet.
Vintage and Watches (The seller from whom I bought the watch): / vintageandwatches
For horological photography, follow me on on Instagram at: armand_the_watch_guy
To join "The Watch Guys" on Snupps: snupps.com/group/27--the-watc...
For any questions or business enquiries, please email me at: questionsforatwg@gmail.com

Пікірлер: 69

  • @sbtjlhw111
    @sbtjlhw1116 жыл бұрын

    that honeycomb bracelet is really something new to me, it's a gorgeous watch!

  • @fpoynton1604
    @fpoynton16046 жыл бұрын

    Sometimes " less is just more" . "Simplicity is beauty" and as my boxing coach used to say - " in the ring - slower is often faster". Your timepiece has it all - while its hard to understand- when you look at your timepiece it all starts to make sense. Enjoy Armand and thanks again.

  • @gregarends2731
    @gregarends27316 жыл бұрын

    Haven't seen a watch on such a bracelet for over 3 decades. Just gorgeous !

  • @Goat_Beans
    @Goat_Beans6 жыл бұрын

    I would love to listen to a book narrated by yourself! Fantastic video and yet another gorgeous watch

  • @Walnuts88
    @Walnuts886 жыл бұрын

    Bravo! Another superb production, Armand. Keep up the great work!

  • @dangerspouse4741
    @dangerspouse47416 жыл бұрын

    Congratulations on acquiring such a wonderful piece. Fascinating to see the direct comparison to a modern interpretation, that was very well done. Seeing it on your wrist was a good argument for the aesthetic validity of smaller diameter watches. Probably my favorite review of yours to date.

  • @davelee9791
    @davelee97916 жыл бұрын

    It's beauty is its simplicity ...thank you for sharing

  • @gregorypease213
    @gregorypease2136 жыл бұрын

    Best intro ever, and another great presentation. Bravo.

  • @wick-trimmer1980
    @wick-trimmer19806 жыл бұрын

    Love the watch love that bracelet another excellent video again

  • @MiataBRG
    @MiataBRG6 жыл бұрын

    Great video as ever. I love the scene setting at the start. Lovely watch.

  • @MaleGolfer
    @MaleGolfer5 жыл бұрын

    Excellent watch and video, Armand. I enjoy your reviews very much!

  • @vorticwatchcompany
    @vorticwatchcompany6 жыл бұрын

    That strap/bracelet looks incredible, rarely see one like it! Best, IC

  • @jimbegin6554
    @jimbegin65546 жыл бұрын

    Envious Armand! Both watch and bracelet are brilliant!

  • @leedixon3945
    @leedixon39452 жыл бұрын

    Enjoyed this little bit of history I love the tri compax and have one on the way to me from 1945

  • @Rosay__
    @Rosay__6 жыл бұрын

    Great segment - both on UG and your particular piece...thanks! Perhaps consider a segment focused just on bracelets (historical designs, major innovations, etc...)

  • @trailblazerkingdaytonaalfa3318
    @trailblazerkingdaytonaalfa33186 жыл бұрын

    I've always liked these watches I love the micro-rotor 215 movement it's claimed to be one of the first to have this. Im always interested in the watches history and your watch channel is fantastic and rate it the best. Thank you Armand. P.S. even your adverts are interesting. I too have bought from the budepest man he found me my lost 3310 movement.

  • @StefaanVdV1961
    @StefaanVdV19616 жыл бұрын

    Great informative video, It looks like my Orient Star Classic, timeless design.

  • @jamesfabbo6481
    @jamesfabbo64816 жыл бұрын

    I enjoy watching your informative videos. Have you done any videos on Tavannas Watches? I picked up one recently but do not see too many videos out there about them. Keep the videos coming and thanks for doing them.

  • @chrislowe5462
    @chrislowe54626 жыл бұрын

    Congratulation on your new acquisition , beautiful watch and bracelet , wear it in good health .

  • @davelee9791
    @davelee97914 жыл бұрын

    Very much enjoyed the history of Universal Geneve..it would have been great to have seen photographs of the watches that you were describing ..

  • @rongriffiths6927
    @rongriffiths69276 жыл бұрын

    Stunning bracelet and simplicity

  • @paulandsueroberts4121
    @paulandsueroberts41216 жыл бұрын

    Love the bracelet,it's definitely got a 1970s look about it.All In all a great acquisition.

  • @adrianmcnally6006
    @adrianmcnally60065 жыл бұрын

    Amazing bracelet, great find Armand!

  • @skipper_mtb6644
    @skipper_mtb66446 жыл бұрын

    Another great video, your new ug is gorgeous

  • @mikeday62
    @mikeday626 жыл бұрын

    The bracelet is amazing.

  • @chrissullins3
    @chrissullins36 жыл бұрын

    The dispute has been settled for a long time. Buren had the FIRST micro-rotor movement patented in 1954. UG came out a year later in 1955 with theirs. Buren won the patent infringement case against UG. Hamilton bought Buren for their micro-rotors which ended up in some Hamilton Thinomatics in the late 50s and early 60s, but Buren would still end up even more lost to history than UG.

  • @theartistformallyknownasdi5338
    @theartistformallyknownasdi53386 жыл бұрын

    Bracelet is pretty cool.

  • @Sramota1
    @Sramota15 жыл бұрын

    I have a 1957 polerouter date and I love it. A classic timeless watch

  • @vermazing888
    @vermazing8885 ай бұрын

    Favorite watch KZreadr

  • @canonlon311
    @canonlon3116 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful watch. Classic.

  • @fenilparekh4439
    @fenilparekh44396 жыл бұрын

    Nice and informative video.

  • @vincentschneuwly9783
    @vincentschneuwly978310 ай бұрын

    Wonderful watch and bracelet

  • @monacoharry23
    @monacoharry23 Жыл бұрын

    brilliant review, brilliant watches from Universal❤️❤️❤️

  • @billcosgrave6232
    @billcosgrave62326 жыл бұрын

    Gorgeous watch!

  • @VintageInvicta
    @VintageInvicta2 жыл бұрын

    Lovely watch, and yes this is an underrated forgotten brand! 🍻👍🏻

  • @joelee2346
    @joelee23463 жыл бұрын

    I have a Polerouter Sub Mk1..... Great video sir. Bravo.

  • @edheliosz
    @edheliosz6 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful watch.

  • @vinhdu408
    @vinhdu4085 жыл бұрын

    another great review. again everyone- 36k subscribed but only few hundred liks?,,..cmon... seriously..... Keep up great work Armand, be awesome if you could review some Gallet E.P 40-68 or Valjoux 72 column wheel pieces from 50s t0 60s and 70s....

  • @carlomarzot9654
    @carlomarzot96546 жыл бұрын

    Class!

  • @jamesluciani3284
    @jamesluciani32846 жыл бұрын

    Interesting Watch brand from the past. I purchased a late 60’s micro rotor piece on a recent impulse buy and was very happy with the quality and accuracy of the movement. Thanks!!

  • @johnnyarsenault9124
    @johnnyarsenault91246 ай бұрын

    As you must know by now Universel Genève has recently acquired by Breitling. Hoping that Breitling will reintroduce U.G. watches of the past 👌❤️👍 Best wishes for these Holydays!🎄🎉🎊

  • @jamesm.2802
    @jamesm.28022 жыл бұрын

    Great video! Also, I like that honeycomb bracelet. Is that aftermarket? Anyone know where to find something like that?

  • @timur9429
    @timur94296 жыл бұрын

    I like Universal and own a few of these. But there is such a big range of watches which makes it hard to guess which one is a real manufacturing wonder and which not. The tri compax, the Subs, the Polerouters are just some of the real good examples. But there are still a lot of Universals which have a normal handwound movement with nothing special going on insinde. In fact the Handwound movements are like night and day if you compare it to the microrotor movements. I ended up with the 218-2 on my polerouter jet and its keeping almost cosc grade time. 👍

  • @davidstevenson5787
    @davidstevenson57876 жыл бұрын

    Great intro 👍

  • @amundbjerve
    @amundbjerve5 жыл бұрын

    I think the marks on the caseback is due to perlon straps or similar straps rubbing in sweat and dirt for many years. I have seen this on several vintage watches. I suppose you should clean the perlon/NATO/zulu strap every now and then if you use one.

  • @adamrassi6355
    @adamrassi63556 жыл бұрын

    In addition to your wealth of knowledge, the integrity in your suggestions, and the variety of topics you offer on your channel, the way you describe the things you are talking about is, well, glorious! I have a similar appreciation for the descriptive power of the english language and ofter am told that when I do speak, which due to my shyness is not often, some find it hard to continue to contribute to the conversation because they feel intimidated. It's flattering but these comments do keep me from talking at times. Have you been told this or something similar? Bvb

  • @ArmandTheWatchGuy

    @ArmandTheWatchGuy

    6 жыл бұрын

    +Adam Rassi: Goodness, I am very flattered! I can definitely understand what you mean about how a few well chosen words can conclude discussion about a subject though, I regret, I have not yet had the pleasure to provide such words though I do look forward to in the future!

  • @adamrassi6355

    @adamrassi6355

    6 жыл бұрын

    Armand The Watch Guy even if you don't, this fan of yours truly appreciates your way with words. They and you are a delight to listen to. Thanks again for the great videos and your unique perspective!

  • @ChevyBM
    @ChevyBM2 ай бұрын

    It will be interesting to see what Breitling will do with Universal Geneve, I hope they will keep the sizes small and not large like Breitling's are and I also hope they will start producing microtor movements and other movements that UN had also manual wind chronographs.

  • @davidcrandall4958

    @davidcrandall4958

    11 күн бұрын

    I am curious to see what Breitling will do with Universal Geneve also! The price of Reviving Universal might effect this!

  • @Degarth
    @Degarth4 жыл бұрын

    They are amazing watches. I own a couple of tri-compax, a white shadow, a medico and uni compax (havent yet found a good polerouter) but if you are planning to buy one bear in mind ESPECIALLY on the 40's and 50's trip compax you are buying a delicate vintage item. It's like buying a vintage car. A/C, power locks and windows, reliability and durability are not necessarily there. You have to baby these watches and you will be at the watch shop more often. But they are a joy to own if you don't mind the high maintenance required.

  • @marcomartinez-tv4fb
    @marcomartinez-tv4fb2 жыл бұрын

    wow! what kind of watch!

  • @javelsaudades6537
    @javelsaudades6537 Жыл бұрын

    I have never seen this bracelet. Pity we can not get the original Crystal! Have you seen the VERY Thin, Square one!? I do not know it’s name! I have three; it is my Favorite Watch. Can you do a video about it? Thanks 😊 Namaste!!!!

  • @Alhazmi75
    @Alhazmi754 жыл бұрын

    it’s confusing your holding a watch and talking about deferent models

  • @ragazzi25
    @ragazzi252 жыл бұрын

    Love U.Genève...which model exactly is the 59??

  • @ats7485
    @ats74856 жыл бұрын

    I like the new Icon instead of that eye.

  • @SFCB1954
    @SFCB19546 жыл бұрын

    Great brand which unfortunately in the wrong hands. It would be a great view if you had added some pictures of the models you mentioned.

  • @pilotstyle123
    @pilotstyle1236 жыл бұрын

    This is a lovely piece, would you mind telling us what you paid for it? I have been looking for a UG for a while but Im hesitant because I dont know if there is a good availability of replacement parts.

  • @ArmandTheWatchGuy

    @ArmandTheWatchGuy

    6 жыл бұрын

    +pilotstyle123: That is certainly a valid point though I have been able to find quite a lot of parts on the market for the 1105 movement in this piece. I don't know for sure what the reason is but I suspect that the number of watches still operating with this movement is relatively small. The price which I paid is perhaps not demonstrative of the regular price due to the addition of the bracelet. However, I paid a price towards the top end of the £300-800 which you can expect to pay for these due to the condition and the bracelet.

  • @pilotstyle123

    @pilotstyle123

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thats an excellent deal! congratulations.

  • @alongthebluff
    @alongthebluff4 жыл бұрын

    Universal Geneve still in business, but I think they no longer have the capacity to produce their own watches and movements themselves (they no longer have their own factory), correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.

  • @canonlon311
    @canonlon3116 жыл бұрын

    What is that style of bracelet called?

  • @Martin_Breu
    @Martin_Breu25 күн бұрын

    Does someone know where ro buy that bracelet?😅

  • @davidcrandall4958
    @davidcrandall495811 күн бұрын

    Breitling recently bought Universal Geneve in 2024.

  • @peterpan6812
    @peterpan68126 жыл бұрын

    beautiful review. Whats the price point of that watch?

  • @ArmandTheWatchGuy

    @ArmandTheWatchGuy

    6 жыл бұрын

    +Patrick Corleone: Thank you very much, the price for these does vary with more poorly maintained models selling for about £300 and immaculate models extending up to £800.

  • @MrAdjaize
    @MrAdjaize6 жыл бұрын

    Yeah that strap.lucky you .

  • @gus196666
    @gus196666 Жыл бұрын

    i have one UG cal 138 ss bumper hammer , up for sale

  • @javelsaudades6537
    @javelsaudades6537 Жыл бұрын

    You have beautiful hands and nails! Please have your nails and cuticles done so we can enjoy the video fully!😊 Thanks Namaste!!!!

Келесі