{"product_id":"universal-geneve-medico-compax-as01556","title":"Universal Genève Medico-Compax","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFounded in Le Locle in 1894, Universal Genève\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003e established itself from its earliest days as a manufacturer of in-house movements of exceptional quality. The acquisition of movement designer and complications expert Louis Eduoard Berthoud in 1897 ensured Universal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGenève's\u003c\/span\u003e supremacy in the development of complicated watches into the 20th Century. \u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy the 1930s, Universal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGenève\u003c\/span\u003e recognized a need for chronograph wristwatches for military and motorsport applications.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe brand answered that need with the introduction of the Compur in 1933 and the popular Compax line in 1936. It's with these chronographs that Universal \u003cspan\u003eGenève\u003c\/span\u003e excelled and gained notoriety, even in exalted circles. Their Compax line of chronographs quickly attracted the attention of some of Europe's elite, including the Dutch royal family, who in 1939 granted a royal warrant to Universal \u003cspan\u003eGenève\u003c\/span\u003e to supply chronographs to the Dutch military.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Compax came in many dial configurations over its lifespan, with two, three, or even four registers. The \"\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/universal-geneve-sold\/products\/universal-geneve-compax-nina-rindt-applied-logo\" target=\"_blank\" title='Universal Geneve Compax \"Nina Rindt\"'\u003eNina Rindt\u003c\/a\u003e\" Compax, with its distinctive black and white or \"panda\" dial coloring, is perhaps the most famous and desirable of these chronographs--especially the later versions with \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/universal-geneve\/products\/universal-geneve-885105-01-evil-nina\" target=\"_blank\" title='Universal Geneve Compax \"Evil Nina\"'\u003ereverse panda\u003c\/a\u003e or even \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/universal-geneve-sold\/products\/universal-geneve-compax-blue-exotic\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Universal Geneve Exotic Blue Dial\"\u003eexotic\u003c\/a\u003e dial coloring. The panda \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/universal-geneve\/products\/universal-geneve-tri-compax-881101-01\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Universal Geneve Tri-Compax Eric Clapton\"\u003eTri-Compax\u003c\/a\u003e, with its association with guitarist Eric Clapton, has attained an almost mythical reputation among vintage chronograph collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut the humble Uni-Compax, with its twin chronograph registers at three and nine o'clock--the register at 3 being the minutes counter for the chronograph--remains a perennial favorite. Perhaps the most interesting of these Compaxes are those with unusual applications. The Medico-Compax, introduced in the late 1940s, features a unique scale on the outer edge of the dial: a pulsometer or pulsograph. Designed for those in the medical profession, a pulsometer measures heartbeats per minute on a scale of 15 to 30 heart beats. To calculate a patient's pulse, the wearer would stop the chronograph at the patient's 15th or 30th heartbeat, and the patient's pulse would then be indicated on the dial without any additional calculations necessary. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePulsometer scales have been appearing on watches in recent years, most notably by Blancpain and Longines. But there's something to be said for the charm of this vintage piece, with its handsome 18k rose gold case at a comfortable 37mm, large for the period, and its dial aged to a handsome patina. Whether you're a doctor or a nurse, or just desire a chronograph with an unusual function, it would certainly be an interesting (and rare!) addition to your collection. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Universal Geneve","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21556393025,"sku":null,"price":4750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/Universal_Geneve_Medico_Compax_AS01556_2.jpg?v=1480099949","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/universal-geneve-medico-compax-as01556","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}