Universal Geneve Compax "Nina Rindt"

Why We Love It

If you’ve been sniffing about the watch space the last five years or so, chances are you saw the meteoric rise of the Universal Genève Compax “Nina Rindt.”  You’ve most likely heard the story behind the watch — donned by the Finnish model Nina Rindt, who wore it trackside whilst her husband, Jochen Rindt raced — and seen the black and white pictures of Mrs. Rindt and her panda-dial chronograph on a leather Bund-style strap.

But at the end of the day, one of the things least discussed is the merits of the watch itself.  To begin, the 36mm steel case, which while weighing in on the smaller side by contemporary standards, wears like a dream, its twisted lug design and black tachymetre bezel calling to mind the iconic look of the Omega Speedmaster.  Under the hood, beats the Valjoux 72, likely one of the most venerated movement outside of the Caliber .321 by Lemania.

To top it all off, you have the stunning aesthetics: the soft eggshell white dial is punctuated with three black sub-dials and a shining applied logo at 12:00; the luminous Dauphine minute and hour hands provide balance and stability, allowing the blued-steel chronograph sweep hand to stand out without feeling overblown. 

The best part is that piece is, well, broken in.  While pristine examples are knee-buckleingly beautiful, they have grown so valuable that they’re hard to enjoy.  This piece shows some honest wear — the dial and sub-dials have some wear and the luminous material on the hour markers has been removed (likely to stem flaking or degrading lume), and the bezel is missing some paint — but wears it well.  It’s the kind of watch you could wear trackside without feeling bad about it.   

We think Nina would want it that way.

The Story

This Universal Genève chronograph originally known simply as a Compax, is now referred to as the "Nina Rindt" among collectors. Already a stunning vintage sports watch, this model was catapulted into the collector's periphery after being worn by the famous model Nina Rindt, nee' Nina Lincoln, who was married to the legendary Formula One driver Joachim Rindt in 1967. Although Joachim died in a crash during a practice run for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Italy in 1970, he went on to win the Formula One World Driver's Championship posthumously, which has never happened before or since. 

These spectacular chronographs are exceptionally rare (one for every 100 Paul Newman Daytonas is probably a reasonable guess) and the few that have come to market in the recent past are well known.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.