‘Evil Nina’ 885103/01 Universal Genève Compax

Evil-Nina-Universal-Genève-885103/01

A few days ago, I was debating with a friend just what the purest expression of the Valjoux 72 was. There’s a lot play with here, he holds it’s an Oyster Paul Newman, which is hard to argue with. But the Daytona was just one of hundreds of references that the noble Valjoux 72 powered,…

Read More

885103/02 ‘Nina Rindt’ Universal Genève Compax

Universal-Genève-Nina-Rindt-885103/02

Nina deserves more. This is a ref. 885103/02, better known as the Nina Rindt, and it is one of the most attractive chronograph designs there’s been. Yes, full stop. When I say more, I don’t mean value. I quite like that these are still attainable on a relative basis. I mean Nina deserves every bit…

Read More

Prototype Dial 22410 Universal Genève Compax

Prototype-Universal-Genève-22410-Chronograph

When all you do is hunt watches all day like a shit Indiana Jones, it’s pretty easy to become jaded about even the greatest watches. You can find me a Jasper Day-Date and all I’ll want to do is compare it to the last one we featured. I love what I do, but I say…

Read More

885108 ‘Exotic Nina’ Universal Genève Compax

Universal-Genève-Exotic-Nina-885108

There aren’t many chronographs which can be described honestly as on par with a Paul Newman. This one can be, and it’s an order of magnitude less dear as well. It’s not just that it’s a Valjoux 72, hundreds of references were powered by one. It’s a Singer-made dial. It’s exotic. It was produced in…

Read More

885103/01 ‘Evil Nina’ Universal Genève Compax

Universal-Genève-Evil-Nina-Compax-885103/01

A few evenings ago, I popped round a cocktail bar I quite like here called Death&Co. It’s trendy. The sort where the bartender will give you a disapproving scowl if you order a scotch neat, as I always do, instead of the ‘Disco Kitten’ which includes chiles and a sprig of thyme, towering out of…

Read More

885107 ‘Exotic Nina’ Universal Genève Compax

There aren’t many chronographs which can be described honestly as on par with a Paul Newman. This one can be, and it’s an order of magnitude less dear as well. It’s not just that it’s a Valjoux 72, hundreds of references were powered by one. It’s a Singer-made dial. It’s exotic. It was produced in…

Read More

885103/02 ‘Nina Rindt’ Universal Genève Compax

Nina-Rindt-Universal-Genève-885103/02

In the pantheon of Universal Genève, three stand above the rest: they are the Big Eye, the Clapton, and this: Nina Rindt. Of all Compax chronographs, this humble Valjoux 72 is almost certainly the most desirable. Surprisingly rare, beautiful in detail, and with a well-photographed tragic love story of a history. The Nina represents an…

Read More

22705/1 Universal Genève Compax

22705/1-Universal-Genève-Compax

The humble three-register chronograph: executed by many, yet perfected by few. I am not claiming that the 22705/1 is a perfect chronograph, within Universal that’s probably something we call Nina. Outside of Universal, that title usually goes by 1463, 6263, or 2915. However, I am saying that outside of this triumvirate, it is one of…

Read More

Value Proposition: 222101/1 Universal Genève Compax

222101/1-Universal-Genève-Compax

The humble three-register chronograph: executed by many, yet perfected by few. I am not claiming that the 222101 is a perfect watch, within Universal that’s probably something we call Nina. Outside of Universal, we call it Daytona or Speedmaster. However, I am saying that outside of this triumvirate, it is one of the best ever…

Read More

Universal Genève 884100/01 ‘Big Eye’ Uni-Compax

Universal-Genève-884100/01-Big-Eye-Uni-Compax

For those deep in the rabbit hole of horologic inclinations, here is no denying the sex appeal of an original Big Eye. In production between 1963 and 1965, most estimate the quantity of genuine original dial examples somewhere under one hundred. A handful of known Big Eye serials are catalogued here. Certainly, very few have surfaced…

Read More