Universal Geneve / Aero Compax
Universal Geneve Aero Compax
Collection profile
An aviator's compact chronograph introduced in 1936, designed specifically for pilots and military use in the years leading up to the Second World War. The Aero Compax featured a tachymeter and telemeter scale alongside its stopwatch function, making it a genuinely functional aviation instrument. It was produced in various configurations including versions made for the Royal Italian Air Force.
More from Universal Geneve
- Polerouter — Universal Genève's most celebrated model, originally introduced in 1954 and designed by Gérald Genta for Scandinavian Airlines' polar routes. The Polerouter featured a pioneering microtor (miniature rotor) automatic movement that kept the watch slim, and became the preferred choice of airline pilots flying over the Arctic. Its elegant cushion-shaped case and understated dial have made it one of the most coveted vintage watches of the post-war era.
- Compax — A chronograph collection first produced in 1933 and developed throughout the 1930s and 1940s, earning Universal Genève the reputation as a 'watch couturier'. The Compax was worn by world leaders including Harry S. Truman and Juan Perón, and by celebrities such as Eric Clapton, who wore a panda-dial variant now known as the 'Nina Rindt' watch. It remains one of the most collected vintage chronograph families.