SPECIFICATIONS
Exceptional Universal Genève x Gobbi Milano, with a “jumbo ultra slim” 18K yellow gold case measuring 37.5mm, in-house manual-wound movement UG 262, from the 1950s.
Solid 18K yellow gold case measuring 37.5mm
Double-signed dial
Original plastic crystal
Original crown
Solid 18K yellow gold bracelet
In-house manual-wound movement UG 262
ANALYSIS
A great Maison for a great watch. This time-only watch produced by Universal Genève around 1950/1951 is a blend of rare beauty and elegance.
The dial features a stunning guilloche pattern that creates small waves on a very clean, light background. This pattern makes the entire composition very vibrant, in keeping with the outermost part, which is instead treated with a series of hemispheres. The applied “arrowhead” indexes stand out on the entire layout, along with the Arabic numerals positioned at the quarter hour. The hands, shaped like dauphine hands, also complement the overall look of the dial. At the center, at 12 o’clock, stands the double signature: Universal Genève x Gobbi, Milan. Gobbi was and is one of the largest and most important Italian jewelers and watchmakers. Founded in Modena in 1842 by Raimondo Gobbi, it moved to Milan’s Corso Vittorio Emanuele II fifty years later. Guiseppe Gobbi, Raimondo’s son, spearheaded this transition, making the boutique one of the world’s foremost and most important centers for the sale of high-end Swiss watches. For collectors and enthusiasts, the double signature of this prestigious name on the dial of a watch is an irresistible plus.
The case of this spectacular Universal Genève is unique: it is extremely thin and has a very large diameter (37.5 mm). Its profile is lightweight, and the beautifully curved lugs ensure a comfortable fit on the wrist. Inside the snap-on caseback is the inscription of the casemaker Jung & Fils of La Chaux-de-Fonds (active from 1934 to 1966), as well as the gold standards and the Universal Genève logo introduced in 1953.
Powering this important piece of the Maison’s history is the in-house 262 movement, manually wound. It is extremely thin (just 3.9 mm), beats at 18,000 vph, and has a 38-hour power reserve.
The watch is still paired with an elegant 1950s bracelet with small polished links in solid 18kt yellow gold and featuring a clasp branded with the acronym of its previous owner (“FC”), which makes this wonderful watch even more unique.
