RARE UNIVERSAL GENÈVE HENRIQUE PFEFFER CARACAS CIRCA 1940

SOLD

Universal Genève watch, sold by the famous jeweler Henrique Pfeffer in Caracas, Venezuela.

By the 1950s, the Universal Geneve brand was represented in more than 40 countries, including Venezuela, where the current watch was retailed. Universal Genève's presence in South America began in the 1930s, after being affiliated with motor sports, including the Mille Miglia, which brought racing drivers from South American countries to the Italian event. Although Universal Genève watches were distributed by their retailers, it is rare to find an example that is actually stamped on the dial with the name of the retailer itself.

This is a nice military style watch dating from about 1944. A simple dial with no applied indexes, just numbers from one to 12, adorns this nice sandy colored dial tending towards khaki. At 6 o'clock is the small second on a dial with concentric circles that we see on most watches of this period.

The luminescent hands are made of blued metal and give a great look to this watch.

The luminescence of the numbers and hands is in exceptional condition given the age of the watch.

The case is a chrome plated metal base, with a stainless steel screwed back. There is some wear on the case commensurate with age, but nothing that detracts from the overall beauty of the watch. The case back has the original part number 212144, and the serial numbers 101156 on the case back dating the watch to around 1944. The case back has the Universal logo and the "Enversteel" inscription typical of that era.

The watch is powered by a Swiss-made mechanical movement: the caliber 262 Universal. It is a reliable and durable movement that was used in many Universal watches of this era.

Overall, a beautiful and rare reference stamped by a recognized jeweler. The overall condition is very good, and the dial with its double signature is really the feature that makes this watch stand out.

Rare are, on the current market, examples like this one.

Manufacturer: Universal Genève
Model: N/A
Part Number: 101156/212144
Year: Circa 1944
Materials: Steel
Dimensions: Diameter 34mm Thickness 10.35mm
Caliber: Universal Genève, manual winding, cal.262 number 164885
Strap: Condor black buffalo 18mm
Box/paper: no