Posts Tagged ‘Compax’
‘Evil Nina’ 885103/01 Universal Genève Compax
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 More885103/02 ‘Nina Rindt’ Universal Genève Compax
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 MorePrototype Dial 22410 Universal Genève Compax
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 More885108 ‘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 More885103/01 ‘Evil Nina’ Universal Genève Compax
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 More885107 ‘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 More885103/02 ‘Nina Rindt’ Universal Genève Compax
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 More22705/1 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 MoreValue Proposition: 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 MoreUniversal 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…
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