{"product_id":"universal-geneve-tri-compax-eric-clapton-as02156","title":"Universal Genève Tri-Compax \"Eric Clapton\"","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEric Clapton's skill as a guitar player is absolutely legendary, and so is his taste in watches. Known for once owning a Patek Philippe \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/monochrome-watches.com\/eric-claptons-patek-philippe-perpetual-calendar-chronograph-ref-2499\/\" title=\"Eric Clapton's Personal Patek Philippe Ref 2499\"\u003eplatinum chronograph\u003c\/a\u003e that sold at auction at Christie's for $12 million, it's not surprising to find that his love of watches runs deep. Photos snapped of the blues legend during his tenure with the band Cream show him wearing a distinctive and highly desirable chronograph.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe mean, of course, a Universal Genève Tri-Compax that's become so associated with him that collectors refer to it by name--his name, that is. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut Universal Genève's history runs deep as well, and the \"Clapton\" Tri-Compax is only one (highly-recognizable) example of an excellent chronograph. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFounded in Le Locle in 1894, Universal Genève\u003c\/span\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\u003cspan\u003eGenève's\u003c\/span\u003e supremacy in the development of complicated watches into the 20th Century. The Compax line of chronographs--first launched in the 1930s--quickly attracted the attention of some of Europe's elite. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut the Tri-Compax is perhaps the most iconic variation of the Compax, which has gained a kind of reverential reputation that very few other chronographs have attained.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDebuting in the 1940s, the Tri-Compax features a full calendar--day, date, month--and a moon-phase complication in addition to the registers requisite of chronographs. On paper, a dial with so much information on it may come across, initially, as being unnecessarily busy, \u003cspan\u003ebut the beauty of the Tri-Compax is how aesthetically pleasing and legible a watch it is. The registers are perfectly balanced on the dial, among the dart hour indices surmounted by luminescent hour plots. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's truly one of the most advanced chronograph wristwatches of the era, and certainly one of the highest quality, deserving of the reputation it's gained over the past few years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany early Tri-Compaxes came in gold or were gold plated, and attracted the appreciation of people like President Harry Truman. However, it's the later sports models of the Tri-Compax with their handsome and sturdy steel cases and distinctive \"panda\" dials that have entered the pantheon of horological icons. One such Tri-Compax, the reference 881101\/01, is often referred to by the name of the famous person who wore it: none other than celebrated guitarist (and watch aficionado) Eric Clapton.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \"Eric Clapton\" Tri-Compax was introduced in 1967. It's powered by the Caliber 281, which ranks among the most important chronograph calibers, in that it was the first to feature a calendar complication. Aside from that milestone, the Reference 881101\/01 was the first reference of Tri-Compax to feature an external tachymeter on the bezel, an addition which updated the old-fashioned case and made it look sharp and new. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Clapton is among the earliest executions of the Reference 881101, and bears a first execution dial with red calendar and second hands. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Universal Geneve","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37161600001,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/Universal_Geneve_Tri_Compax_Clapton_AS02156_1.jpg?v=1502736143","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/universal-geneve-tri-compax-eric-clapton-as02156","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}