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Universal Watch was founded
January 18th, 1894 in Locle, Switzerland. The two watch
manufacturers Numa-Emile Descombes (born at Locle in 1863) and Ulysse
Georges Perret (born at Locle in 1868) registered the name "Universal
Watch" at the rue du Collège for the "production of
watch-cases, domes, watch dials, movement, fitted boxes and packaging for
watches". This was a classical formula at that time, which enabled
the protection of the make and all related promotional material. In the
same year they patented a 24 hour indication watch. Just three years later
Numa-Emile Descombes died at the early age of 34. Consequently on July
22nd, 1897 all makes were transferred to the names of Ulysse Georges
Perret and Louis-Edouard Berthoud.
Universal Watch was amongst
the first to recognize the enormous potential of wrist-watches and
chronographs in particular. In 1898 superior quality wrist-watches with
chronograph and 30 minutes recorder were introduced. During the following
years the brand "Universal Watch" profited from rapidly growing
reputation in Europe and the two Americas. The company decided to move the
headquarter to Geneva, rue de l'Arquebuse in 1919. Research on
self-winding systems for wrist-watches was undertaken. In 1925 Universal
created the model "Auto-Rem", a self-winding system with an
oscillating weight mechanism with spring-buffers, similar to the system of
John Harwood. On the 12th of August 1933 Georges Perret died. The
management of the company was taken by his son Raoul. Supported by new
investors the company changed to "Universal Watch Co Ltd. Genève"
in 1934. During the same year the first chronograph wrist-watch with two
push-buttons was presented. In 1935 the company moved to 43, Rue du Rhône
with an entrance at the famous Grand Quai, next to Patek Philippe. The
name "Universal" was registered. Parallel to this, a chronograph
with an additional 12 hour register was presented as a world premiere.
With the registration of the
brand "Universal Genève" a new logo was introduced in 1937.
Despite of the world-wide economic depression, the models "Compur"
and "Compax" were such a great success, that the factory in
Geneva could no longer meet the demand. As a result a chronograph factory
was opened in Pont-de-Martel in 1941. The famous "Tri-Compax"
model was presented in 1944. Selling watches all around the world,
Universal was getting a synonym for quality, reliability and good taste.
Louis-Edouard Berthoud died on March 3rd, 1947 just before the
introduction of the new precision automatic caliber 138 with an
oscillating mass with single direction winding. Shortly after the
inauguration of the new factory in Geneva on the 28th of April 1954 the
model "Polarouter", later on renamed to "Polerouter",
was presented. The watch, fitted with above mentioned movement, was used
by the SAS crews during their polar flights. On the 2nd of March 1955
Universal Genève patented the caliber 215 "Microtor", a new
form of an automatic calibre with the rotor mass incorporated in the
movement.
Being the thinnest automatic
movement of its time it was launched in the 2nd generation of the famous
"Polerouter". In the following decade enormous progress (with
several registered patents) was made in developing thinner automatic
movements. In April 1966 the model "Golden Shadow" was
introduced. The used calibers 66 and 67 with a thickness of just 2.5 mm
were designed by Gerald Genta. The first electric watches with a torsion
oscillator were constructed in conjunction with Movado in 1962. The first
electronic watches were presented in 1968 with the "Tuning Unisonic"
system, produced in collaboration with Bulova. In 1975 the thinnest
analogue quartz movement worldwide was presented, which permits Universal
to resist the "Japanese invasion" for a certain time. |
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