Hey guys, I just got a Polerouter NS. Thank you so much to @Florent for his time and expertise and @jumpingsecond for some encouragement. I do not know much about the UG line but I thought this one was cool, different, and rare too! I'll take better pics tomorrow (I know some are blurry) in the sunlight but I'm just really excited to share and learn anything else about the "NS" line (model number 869108/04). The serial number lines up with a 1966 production and the caliber is an I-69 microrotor I'm told. I know the NS was made in 1965-1968 per polerouter.de It also came with a really cool Gay Freres bracelet which does not have a datestamp on it like some others have. I found only a couple other examples of an NS online and most have unique dial configurations. This one is unique in that in only has a single red horizontal crosshair. I think the Polerouter NS all look like they have this "step" dial where there is a dropoff on the perimeter where the minute track and lume plots are. I imagine the C-shape also is shared by all. My guess is that most of them have the I-69 movement too (?). How much do we know about specific types of Polerouters and is there anything more we know about the NS? I'd love to hear more about this watch, I feel like it's my coolest pickup yet. As always thanks to this awesome community for its expertise, resources and passion.
I also think they are great and you don't see very many. Your variation with the long hour markers comes in a black dial with red single cross-hair or a white dial with a black single cross-hair. Both I think have the case reference 869108/04. There is a second dial variation with funkier circular hour markers. The white dial version has a red cross-hair and I think has the case reference 869108/01. The black dial version also has a red cross-hair and I think has case reference 869108/02. Example photos below are taken from the internet and are not my watches.
There's a similar thread here, where somebody suggested that NS might stand for North/South but I don't think anyone was able to confirm. https://omegaforums.net/threads/my-new-polerouter-ns-pictures-and-questions.32521/
Hey guys - a new initiate to the UG cult great pickup ben. you see many a pole router but not the mysterious 'NS'.
Had this before: Too bad I had to return it to the seller due to the microtor being loose. But yeah, it's a very nice watch! Congrats!
Thanks for the replies. Yeah, there are so few pictures available on the internet that I'd love to see what other dial variants are out there. How many are owned on the forum?
I believe those dial variants pictured above are the only types that were available but it would be a pleasant surprise if I was proved wrong. I've spotted an error in my description of 869108/01 above however as it has a brushed silver dial rather than a white dial as shown in the photograph above. I recently sold one with circular hour markers and a black dial. I will be getting another shortly but with long hour markers and a white dial - it's been earmarked for someone before it has even arrived. Their scarcity makes them very popular it seems.
Ya, interesting to really only see the 4 variants above. @Mazoue, do you have a picture of the white dial with long indices that you'd be willing to share?
I'm afraid I don't. The only picture I have is terrible (I took a punt as I too often do) but I can tell it is identical to the first picture in my post above. It comes with a bracelet that is not original to the watch. I've seen a couple with Gay Freres double beads of rice style bracelets with UC end pieces so I suspect that was what they were originally supplied with.
Yeah, this bracelet is interesting too. Ever seen one like it? No markings on end pieces but they seem tailored for the caseback.
I lost one sold last year here on OF: https://omegaforums.net/threads/universal-geneve-polerouter-ns.48386/ A bargain considering the GF bracelet
Here's that Polerouter NS I was waiting for. Spent a while wrestling with an ill-fitting nasty bracelet and corroded spring bar but I'm quite pleased with it. It would benefit from a clean up and perhaps a light polish but it's all original including the signed crown and signed crystal, which was an unexpected bonus.
neat score! im all bought out for the month with the third piece arriving due today but UG may be next on the hit list. that microtor tho, that and a seiko high beat lord marvel. tho i believe the more challenging endeavor will be the ug. thanks for the info
As many here know, these are fitted with the Universal Geneve 1-69 Caliber. I figured I'd drop this pic here of ranfft's summary of I-69 in case someone stumbles upon this thread. It appears these same calibers were used for some executions of the Polerouter Sub.
I have 3 of these NS. Here are 2 of them (the black dial is still with watchmaker for servicing). I don't have much knowledge about these but certainly there are quite a number of variants and the details on these watch are lovely. One of mine has no horizontal lines or crosshair on the dial.