Not An Omega, But A Genta Design

jwalther · Dec 30, 2012

Thought you all might like this one:

This one is all original (Polerouter redials are common) including the impossible to source trapezoidal inverted cyclops crystal. Inexpensive alternative to a similar vintage Constellation!

dsio · Dec 30, 2012

This looks like an exact twin of Dennis' black polerouter, don't know that he has the cyclops crystal though on his. Is this one of the microrotor versions?

jwalther · Dec 30, 2012

dsio
This looks like an exact twin of Dennis' black polerouter, don't know that he has the cyclops crystal though on his. Is this one of the microrotor versions?

Yes it is. Although it seems to run well, I'm going to send it off to my guy for a service just to be safe. There are some annoying pieces of lint under the crystal to be taken care of as well.

dsio · Dec 30, 2012

jwalther
Yes it is. Although it seems to run well, I'm going to send it off to my guy for a service just to be safe. There are some annoying pieces of lint under the crystal to be taken care of as well.

Yea that pisses me off something fierce, one of the watches had a large grey fibre... like over 1cm long sitting across the 9:00 markerand down into the 10 and 11... it was like the watchmaker let a big grey bushy eyebrow fall onto the dial before re-casing it.

All you can look at is the crap on the dial every time you look at it 😒

Gavin · Dec 30, 2012

Yours is in terrific condition. I have been looking for one in good condition. I can only say that I am a fan of Genta's design even if i am not of Patek or AP, I still like the nautilus and RO. When you need to let it go, I do need a second microrotor.😁

dsio · Dec 30, 2012

I do have a massive crush on most of his designs...

BTW what is the going rate for a polerouter like this one in this condition?

ulackfocus · Dec 30, 2012

Here's my nearly identical version:

What's not to 🥰 about a black crosshair dial and twisty lugs? Throw in a logo crown, caseback engraving, and an interesting story (the Buren infringement suit) and you have everything a vintage collector wants. No internal date magnifyer like Jeff's though so his watch gets an extra cool point.

Gavin · Dec 30, 2012

dsio
BTW what is the going rate for a polerouter like this one in this condition?

I have seen those in not so good condition going for 500-700.

dsio · Dec 30, 2012

Gavin
I have seen those in not so good condition going for 500-700.

Hmm, what's the parts situation like with that Microrotor movement? I'm guessing its in-house

ulackfocus · Dec 30, 2012

dsio
Hmm, what's the parts situation like with that Microrotor movement?

There are enough of them around with crappy dials that donor watches aren't hard to find. This particular caliber 215 was made for 2 or 3 years.

dsio
I'm guessing its in-house

Yes..... with an asterisk. UG lost a patent infringement lawsuit to Buren and ended up paying royalties for the nearly identical design.

dsio · Dec 30, 2012

U ulackfocus
There are enough of them around with crappy dials that donor watches aren't hard to find. This particular caliber 215 was made for 2 or 3 years.

Yes..... with an asterisk. UG lost a patent infringement lawsuit to Buren and ended up paying royalties for the nearly identical design.

Ahk ok, might be worth looking into one of these...

Someone mentioned a while back that UG also made De Luxe gold versions of these, sort of like the Constellation De Luxes, is that true?

ulackfocus · Dec 30, 2012

dsio
Someone mentioned a while back that UG also made De Luxe gold versions of these, sort of like the Constellation De Luxes, is that true?

Sure is.

dsio · Dec 30, 2012

U ulackfocus
Sure is.

oooh... what's that worth?

ulackfocus · Dec 30, 2012

Don't know what they're going for now. I passed that one up a few years ago at $1500-ish. 🙁 Similar rule on the ink color as with Constellations - the lettering should be the same color as the hands.

Gavin · Dec 30, 2012

dsio
oooh... what's that worth?

I saw one sold for 1500ish a couple of months ago on ebay and that one does not have a black dial.

LouS · Dec 30, 2012

They come in dozens of different versions, including a rare early version with UG's version of broad arrow hands

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the history is interesting, over and above the history of the model itself (SAS and the trans-polar route to the US). Up until the Polerouters, UG was known for chronographs with and without complications. UG staked a lot on its new line of microrotors and built a whole new plant outside of Geneva devoted to them in the mid-1950s. Betting the farm on the microrotor, it let go of its chronograph production works which ultimately ended up in the hands of...wait for it...Zenith, bringing to Zenith the expertise that would later create El Primero.

Between the microrotors and the earlier chronographs, the web screams out for a Universal Geneve forum - there isn't one, and this is by far the most interesting collected manufacture not discussed on the web today. The knowledge is fragmentary, and most of it is exchanged one-to-one by email among aficionados.

X350 XJR · Dec 30, 2012

Did you know the crystals on these were signed just like Omegas.

kyle L · Dec 30, 2012

Nice watches...I kind of miss mine.

Hey Lou, do you still have that Jet or did you flip it? 😀

LouS · Dec 30, 2012

kyle L
Nice watches...I kind of miss mine.

Hey Lou, do you still have that Jet or did you flip it? 😀

I have it still, but it does not get a lot of wrist time - the gold on gold is not how I roll most days. Want it back?

kyle L · Dec 30, 2012

LouS
I have it still, but it does not get a lot of wrist time - the gold on gold is not how I roll most days. Want it back?

I kinda want one with a black dial but I'll think about it...

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