Community Stories

Latest craze - Universal Geneve rare boxes

Woops
Posts
548
Likes
2,551
This newly acquired box is scuffed and smells like a tobacco tin but I find it charming all the same. I have been looking for one for ages; as many have lamented, the boxes are increasingly getting as hard to find as the watches....

F3DE0E3C-143F-43DE-8E0E-F79872F9037F.jpeg 29305247-FFB9-4EDA-8933-C66C724C76B8.jpeg
 
Mazoue
Posts
1,169
Likes
2,987
Completely agree, boxes in very good condition are very hard to find.

I suppose unlike watches, which can be serviced, have parts replaced, polished (shudder) etc, boxes just get tatty or are thrown away.
 
bgrisso
Posts
3,262
Likes
7,742
Anyone know what this box belongs to? It's quite big (last pic is compared to a men's 40's box), $1600 price tag suggests gold ?
 
P1020957_adj.JPG P1020958_adj.JPG P1020959_adj.JPG P1020960_adj.JPG
rolokr
Posts
1,195
Likes
1,979
bgrisso bgrisso
Anyone know what this box belongs to? It's quite big (last pic is compared to a men's 40's box), $1600 price tag suggests gold ?
Maybe solid gold Tri-Compax ?
 
ELV web
Posts
2,671
Likes
24,901
bgrisso bgrisso
Anyone know what this box belongs to? It's quite big (last pic is compared to a men's 40's box), $1600 price tag suggests gold ?
It looks like 60s big aero compax box.
 
CafeRacer
Posts
388
Likes
1,038
My guess would be something 18k, on an 18k bracelet (these usually did not have folding clasps that ive seen), from the very late 60s through 70s.
 
bgrisso
Posts
3,262
Likes
7,742
CafeRacer CafeRacer
My guess would be something 18k, on an 18k bracelet (these usually did not have folding clasps that ive seen), from the very late 60s through 70s.

$1600 in 1970 is over 10k in today $$. I didn't realize they were charging that much for watches back then. Seems like a fair amount of gold must have been involved.
 
gatorcpa
Posts
12,627
Likes
17,055
bgrisso bgrisso
$1600 in 1970 is over 10k in today $$.
More like $40K. The dollar was worth about 4 Swiss francs at that time. Now it is about even.
gatorcpa
 
Mazoue
Posts
1,169
Likes
2,987
I'm not sure whether this qualifies as a box - I think it might be for cigarillos!

IMG_4398.jpg IMG_4396.jpg IMG_4397.jpg
 
Woops
Posts
548
Likes
2,551
Mazoue Mazoue
I'm not sure whether this qualifies as a box - I think it might be for cigarillos!

IMG_4398.jpg IMG_4396.jpg IMG_4397.jpg

Wow, that's lovely. Is it large enough to double up as a cheeky strap container?
 
Mazoue
Posts
1,169
Likes
2,987
Woops Woops
Wow, that's lovely. Is it large enough to double up as a cheeky strap container?

Not quite sadly.
 
Carlton-Browne
Posts
876
Likes
2,171
So... You'll be taking up smoking then.

26e92f879f1197108502234474366bc9.jpg
 
bgrisso
Posts
3,262
Likes
7,742
Mazoue Mazoue
I'm not sure whether this qualifies as a box - I think it might be for cigarillos!

IMG_4398.jpg IMG_4396.jpg IMG_4397.jpg

business cards ?
 
Mazoue
Posts
1,169
Likes
2,987
I thought business cards or cigarettes but it is slightly too small for both.

As you open the pouch, the internal brass fittings rise up, which would then lift the contents slightly.

It would have made an excellent cigarette case but they don't fit, hence the cigarillo suggestion.
 
Woops
Posts
548
Likes
2,551
Really nice exterior pattern and an unusual rounder font on the inner box lining of this one.

81C7680D-FD71-439A-95D8-BC666E9C9D94.jpeg 649BD0AD-0B4C-4A2F-9825-0955798502AD.jpeg
 
Adam2941
Posts
263
Likes
378
Here is a nice Polarouter box for sale. I just put in an offer lower than the asking price and got promptly but politely rebuffed. Seller says he already has higher offers, which I do not doubt!
https://www.chrono24.com/universalgenve/case-polerouter-polarouter--id16559495.htm

By the way, I strongly suspect that some Polarouters were originally sold with the same UG box but without the word Polarouter printed on top. Two of my Polarouters came with such boxes, and I know another collector who has another one. I will post photos soon.
 
Mazoue
Posts
1,169
Likes
2,987
This box has been on eBay for a while now. The seller was originally selling it with a much later Polerouter Date but has now sold that watch.

The box was originally missing its interior. Although the seller has found a very fitting interior of the right size and colour, anyone considering spending this sort of money should be aware that it is not identical to the original interior.
 
24 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

MarktheTime

Universal Geneve - Rare Box for Tri-Compax

MarktheTime Watch Parts and Accessories For Sale
MarktheTime
MarktheTime
Posts
6
Views
1K