Agree... best set to come out of Sweden since Anita Ekberg and... Anita Ekberg. You are truly living la dolce vita.
G - can you post a picture of the case back? I'm looking for the serial number and model number. Would help me in my research. Mucho obliged ! It should be around 1808xxx and b 1023X but with UG, you just never know. Consistently inconsistent…apparently chalked up to import restrictions and tariffs? -R
The ref. number is 10234 1 and the serial no 1678XXX. The chart of serialnumbers I have seen suggests this serial to be within 1952 to 1955.
Wow! Great find, and great story. You saw a guy wearing it "in the wild," approached him, and he agreed to a trade for a Rolex? Well done! The Rolex is replaceable. You will never find another one of these. Seems like you have the beginnings of an elite Polerouter collection to me.
Excellent! 10234 1 is what I expected (I think a "b" before the reference would indicate red gold. But, red gold wasn't used until later Polarouter's. 1678xxx makes sense. Finally. This helps confirm what I've discovered: all original Polarouters used the older "DeLuxe" cases. I think UG was focused on the new Microrouter movement and needed to use up what was basically laying around (cases and 138ss movements). The watch you just purchased is a total score and an important milestone watch for this brand. Congrats!
Left it at my watchmaker today. Small surprise - the bumper springs and their bracket was loose. One of the springs had jammed itself stuck (can be seen in the pictures). At some point someone has straightened out a dent in the caseback. We agreed on a service of the movement, a new crystal but then to leave everything else as found. No polishing at all.
Today I got it back. Been longing for quite a while. As this might be, for the Universal brand, a historically important watch I decided not to polish - or even detail anything. Strict orders to the watchmaker to do a service, repair the above mentioned springs and then leave everything else exactly as found. Later we also agreed on a new crystal as the one mounted clearly was not the original - the glass ring not fitting properly (can be seen in earlier photos). I do have watches that are in a better condition than this one but I believe it has something else to offer - an interesting story to tell. It has its blemishes and the face shows its age. It has been around. It has an air of adventure, travel and luxury. Here it is:
Congratulations... And I agree with you. Some pieces tell a story. They tell you the time and show you time. Nice pics too. Looks like its glowing
Dead sexy - words don't suffice. And it's in good hands too, to judge from your curatorial approach to it.
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