A mint example of the striking Universal Geneve Polerouter Ref. 20214-1. The Polerouter traces its origins back to a collaboration between Universal and SAS in the 1950's when SAS opened a new route between Europe and California via the North Pole. Universal provided flight crews with automatic precision watches which were resistant to the strong magnetic field of the polar region. These watches went onto become the official chronometers of SAS.
The 20214 models are gold cap variants of the Polerouter with the 20214-1 model featuring the attractive circular pattern of the tension ring and folded Dauphine hands. Early examples such as this were powered by the automatic calibre 138 SS. In this case like all our watches the movement has received a full service.
For more information on the Polerouter story, we highly recommend checking out the fantastic resource of Polarouter.de (available in English and German). Here you can also see an original advert featuring the ref. 20214-1 without the Polerouter name present on the dial as in this example.
A stunning example of an attractive and historically important watch.
the basics
Brand
Universal Genève
Model:
Polerouter
Reference:
20214-1
Year:
Early - Mid 1950's
SKU:
1365
THE CASE
Case Size (excluding crown):
34mm
Case Material:
Gold
MOVEMENT
Movement Type:
Automatic
Movement Calibre:
138 SS
CONDITION
Case Condition:
Dial Condition:
Original
Glass Condition:
Strap Condition:
THE STRAP
Material:
Additional Information
Box & Papers:
Our Own
Brand
Universal Genève
Model:
Polerouter
Reference:
20214-1
Year:
Early - Mid 1950's
SKU:
1365
Case Size (excluding crown):
34mm
Case Material:
Gold
Movement Type:
Automatic
Movement Calibre:
138 SS
Case Condition:
Dial Condition:
Original
Glass Condition:
Good
Strap Condition:
New
Material:
Box & Papers:
Our Own
Shipping:
For orders placed before 2pm orders will be shipped the same day.
Your watch will be carefully packaged and shipped fully insured with leading global courier companies.
Delivery Prices:
Delivery within the UK is Free. Delivery within Europe is £30. Delivery for the Rest of the World is £50.
Returns:
Don't like it or change your mind? Return it for a full refund with our 14 day, no hassle returns on all sales. See the full conditions here.
The Watches
Are all watches authenticated?
All our watches pass through a double authentication process to insure their authenticity. We also provide detailed photos of the watch from all angles to allow you to undertake your own anlysis. Finally as with everything, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to our friendly team
What if something goes wrong with the watch
Whilst all our watches are fully serviced before sale, if something does go wrong, we'll repair it for free as part of our 1 year warranty
Do watches come with original box and papers?
It depends on the individual watch. You can see details under "The Basics" heading on this page. For the majority of vintage watches their original box and papers have been lost to time. Whilst they are nice to have, it’s important to note that “box and papers” DO NOT authenticate a watch despite what many in our trade say. It’s also important to realise alot of sellers (including some of the most well known in the UK) put together full sets of box, papers, hang tags etc by buying blank paperwork and boxes in the secondary market. This is a very regrettable, but unfortunately common occurrence in the trade but something we will never do!
How do I know it will fit?
For metal bracelets we provide the size it will currently fit in the description section of this page. If this measurement is too large or too small we are able to assist in either adding or removing links. We also offer this service, post service on a at-cost basis (i.e. we don't add a margin).
Can you change the strap?
Absolutely! If you don't like the current strap, let us know and we'll change it for free! We maintain a broad selection of styles and can also source straps to your specification free of charge.
Can you source something similar?
Absolutely! If its not quite what you’re looking for just get in touch and we can source one with our Free, No Obligation sourcing service. You can contact us on phone, live chat or simply submit the details of what you’re looking for on our “Find a Watch” page.
Payment
What payment options do you offer?
We accept payment by all leading credit and debit cards, ApplePay as well as bank transfer.
Do you offer financing?
Currently we don't offer financing but it’s something we're exploring.
Shipping & Returns
Can you ship an order to arrive on a certain day?
We can certainly try! We can request with our shipment partners for delivery on a certain day but ultimately the exact delivery date is subject to a number of factors outside our control.
How do I return a watch?
Simply let us know you want to send the watch back within the 14 return period and return it to us via Royal Mail Special Delivery. We’ll process your refund the same day we receive the watch back.
Terms & Conditions
Terms & Conditions
You can find our full terms and conditions here.
5 great reasons to buy from us

Prices upto 30% cheaper, see how we do it.

Friendly & never pushy. Phone, Live Chat, Whatsapp.

All watches are guaranteed authentic.

All our watches are serviced, not just 'inspected'.

Not 100% sure? Don't worry, you have 14 days to return your purchase.
Universal Geneve Polerouter Ref. 20214-1 Men's Vintage Watch



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