Classic watch from another time.
This is an old watch by Hermes, but one that still gets a lot of attention, combining classic style, functionality and fashion (it was sold by Hermes, after all).
Yes, this one has a micro-rotor, and was sold alongside Patek Philippes in the U.S. watch market. These were and are considered a sort of inexpensive version of the Patek watch. Today, they are very rare, as far as watches go.
Universal’s popularity with the chronographs caught the attention of high-ranking government officials throughout Europe, including the Dutch Royal Family, who granted the Swiss brand a Royal Warrant in 1939 to issue a military watch for the nation’s army, with then-Queen Wilhelmina’s initials embossed on the dial. The Dutch army utilized this watch up until Nazi Germany sacked Rotterdam in May of the same year and occupied the Netherlands until 1944.
Like a lot of other watches that did well in the early 20th century, the rise of Quartz put a damper on things, and that includes these Universal Geneves.
