The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

Iconic watch art prints. Made in Switzerland, lifetime guarantee

Here's my Avigation BigEye in titanium, a watch with a retro look but cutting-edge engineering and performance. It's currently the most accurate watch in my collection, with an accuracy of -1 to +1, and yet it's not COSC certified. The column chronograph is very smooth to operate. I love the deep blue dial with its smoky, grained finish that gives it a beautiful depth. The raised crystal case further enhances this effect.

The lightness of the titanium and its 41mm diameter make it very comfortable to wear.

Longines chronometric precision 🤩

I've wanted a GMT for a while now, but a truly premium piece. Having many blue dials in my collection, I was immediately drawn to this magnificent opaline dial that takes on all sorts of silvery reflections in the light. This watch has been criticized quite a bit for its thickness; admittedly, it's certainly not for every wrist, but try it on before eliminating it from your shortlist.

The quality of the finish and the precision are worthy of Tudor.

The sporty woman who loves to travel

I've wanted to add a Speedmaster to my collection for a while now, but with all the different models and price ranges, choosing one isn't easy.

It was somewhat by chance that I stumbled upon the Mark II while delving deeper into the history of the Speedmaster.

Initially, the first Mark IIs I saw seemed interesting, because of their differences from the Moonwatch, the story of the Alaska project, the fact that it almost became a Moonwatch... But it was only when I came across my Japanese example, with its perfectly preserved radial polishing of the tonneau case and a magnificent tritium patina, that my heart truly sank.

The Moonwatch's closest cousin

In 2025, my interest in vintage watches really took off after seeing the prices of new ones. I discovered the Shadow while watching a video by the YouTuber Urban Gentry and was immediately captivated by its design. But as I researched and learned more, I also discovered that this watch is a small technical marvel with its 2-66 micro-rotor caliber.

After a lot of searching (initially for the integrated bracelet version), it was difficult to find. I finally managed to stumble upon an even rarer version with standard lugs and a bracelet in NOS (New Old Stock) condition. I added a beautiful burgundy cordovan strap, but I think eventually I'll put it on a coral lizard strap, as it's almost too classic in its current configuration.

The tech class of the 70s

I was immediately drawn to this striking blue skeleton watch and was fortunate enough to acquire it at a very attractive price.

I kept it on its black alligator strap for a long time before recently deciding to give it a fresh look with this beautiful azure blue strap from Atelier Romane.

Seeing the result, I wondered why I hadn't done it sooner... This color really highlights the blue skeletonization so much better.

Assertive skeleton

My first review here of this beautiful German watch.

I'd been eyeing the 417 ES for a while, so when this special edition came out, I couldn't resist.

In this special edition, the watch comes with a gorgeous chronograph whose dial perfectly matches the watch.

I left it on its blue suede strap for about six months before deciding that this beautiful dial deserved to be showcased better with something more contrasting.

The watch is very well finished, the proportions are ideal for my 16.5 cm wrist, the AMT 5100 flyback/column movement is magnificent, and the accuracy is spot on.

It's a watch that puts a smile on my face every time I wear it, and it's so much fun to see the dial play with the sunlight.

Sunshine that brings a smile

Universal Gen&egrave;ve, founded in 1894, is a Swiss watch manufacturer renowned for its innovations and iconic designs. Over the decades, the brand has marked the history of watchmaking with flagship models and significant technical advances.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Beginnings: 1894-1930</h2>
In 1894, in Le Locle, Switzerland, Numa-Emile Descombes and Ulysse Georges Perret founded the Universal Watch company, specializing in the production of movements for pocket watches and wristwatches. After the premature death of Descombes in 1897, Perret joined forces with Louis-Edouard Berthoud, and the company was renamed Perret &amp; Berthoud. In 1919, the company moved to Geneva, thus strengthening its Swiss identity. During this period, Universal distinguished itself by the creation of chronograph wristwatches, a notable innovation at a time when pocket watches dominated the market.
<h2 dir="ltr">Expansion et Innovations : 1930-1950</h2>
In the 1930s, Universal Gen&egrave;ve became known for its high-quality chronographs. In 1936, the brand launches the &ldquo;Compax&rdquo;, the first wrist chronograph with two subdials, followed in 1944 by the "Tri-Compax", incorporating complications such as the complete calendar and the moon phase. These models met with international success, strengthening the reputation of the brand. In 1937, the company officially adopts the name Universal Gen&egrave;ve, symbolizing its attachment to the city and its commitment to watchmaking excellence.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Polerouter and Microtor Era: 1950-1970</h2>
In 1954, Universal Geneva presented the "Polerouter", designed by the young designer G&eacute;rald Genta. This model, initially named "Polarouter", celebrates the inaugural flights of the Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) above the North Pole. The Polerouter is equipped with the micro-rotor caliber 215, an innovation that reduces the thickness of the movement while maintaining optimal performance. This period is marked by the introduction of the "Golden Shadow" series in 1965, equipped with caliber 66, then the thinnest automatic movement in the world with a thickness of only 2.3 mm.
<h2 dir="ltr">Challenges and Adaptations: 1970-1990</h2>
The 1970s brought major challenges with the quartz crisis. Universal Gen&egrave;ve, like many Swiss manufacturers, must adapt to this new technology. The brand introduces quartz models, but this transition affects its position in the market. In 1989, Universal Gen&egrave;ve was acquired by the Hong Kong group Stelux Holdings International Ltd., also owner of the Cyma brand. This acquisition aims to revitalize the brand by combining Swiss heritage with a strategy oriented towards the Asian market.
<h2 dir="ltr">Renaissance and Future Perspectives: 2000 to Today</h2>
In the early 2000s, Universal Gen&egrave;ve attempted to reconnect with its heritage by relaunching iconic models and emphasizing innovation. In 2007, the brand presented a new collection based on Microtor, a technology it had initially developed in 1955. This initiative aims to attract fans of classic watches while integrating modern elements.
In December 2023, Stelux Holdings sells Universal Gen&egrave;ve to Breitling SA, marking a new stage in the history of the brand. This acquisition by Breitling, another renowned Swiss watch house, raises hopes of a renaissance for Universal Gen&egrave;ve, with plans to revive the production of new models by 2026.
<h2 dir="ltr">Impact and Legacy</h2>
Universal Gen&egrave;ve has played a crucial role in the evolution of watchmaking, particularly through its innovations in chronographs and automatic movements. Collaboration with renowned designers, such as G&eacute;rald Genta, has allowed the brand to create timeless models that remain popular with collectors. Despite the challenges encountered over the decades, the legacy of Universal Gen&egrave;ve endures, and the recent acquisition by Breitling offers a promising outlook for the future of this historic brand.
In conclusion, Universal Gen&egrave;ve embodies the innovation and elegance of Swiss watchmaking. With a history rich in iconic creations and technical advances, the brand has left an indelible mark on the world of watchmaking. The new era that is coming under the aegis of Breitling is impatiently awaited by enthusiasts and collectors, hoping for a renaissance to match its prestigious past.
To choose the Universal Gen&egrave;ve model that best suits you, the Dialicious owners&rsquo; reviews are an essential resource for evaluating different models through real customer experience
(Updated November 2024)

As a collector passionate about vintage watches,
my recent encounter with the elegant and ultra-thin Universal Genève White Shadow designed by the great GENTA has completely transformed my perspective on Swiss manufacturing of the 70s and the quality of the product of one of the best watches.
The undeniable appeal of this elegant and dressy piece struck me once on my wrist!
A real treasure in my eyes 🤩


Ultra slim

I discovered this watch by chance while looking for a watch that I have always loved, the Patek Philippe Ellipse which remains inaccessible due to its price. Gerald Genta designed this watch in the 1965s before the fantastic Ellipse in 1968. I was born in 1968, I don't know if that's what makes me love this watch with its unique design, breaking away from everything we see today. The shape of the dial is unique and its design is very pure, not to say simple, there is not even a second hand. The Milanese mesh bracelet was not to my taste at first but it has a unique style and above all comfort. You don't feel it, especially since it is small (finally a watch for small wrists). It is a pleasure to wear it, you enjoy being able to look at the time on your wrist without feeling handcuffed. And more surprisingly for those who discover it, it immediately wins over people with its design and simplicity.

White Shadow, original and drawn by Gerald Genta

La marque&nbsp;Serica a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 2019 par J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Burget et 3 amis &agrave; Paris, en France. Le nom Serica vient d'une r&eacute;gion perdue au bout de l'Extr&ecirc;me-Orient que les Grecs et les Romains avaient baptis&eacute;e ainsi. Ce lieu fait &eacute;cho &agrave; la gen&egrave;se de la marque, qui vise &agrave; concevoir des montres m&eacute;caniques de qualit&eacute; au style n&eacute;or&eacute;tro, pr&ecirc;tes &agrave; vous suivre aux confins du monde.
La gamme comprend des montres telles que la <a title="Page Serica 4512" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/4512">Serica 4512</a>, la <a title="Page Serica 5303" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/5303">Serica 5303</a> et la <a title="Page Serica 8315 GMT Chronom&egrave;tre" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/8315">Serica 8315</a>. L'une des particularit&eacute;s de cette marque est que son nom n'appara&icirc;t nulle part sur le cadran, afin de pousser le passionn&eacute; &agrave; acheter un design, des finitions et des proportions, et pas seulement un nom. En juillet 2023, Serica a lanc&eacute; la Serica 5303 COSC une version chronom&egrave;tre certifi&eacute;e par le Contr&ocirc;le Officiel Suisse des Chronom&egrave;tres.
Leur avant-dernier mod&egrave;le est la <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/6190">Serica 6190</a> surfant sur les bases de la 1&egrave;re r&eacute;f&eacute;rence de la marque, la Serica 4512. Cette 6190 &eacute;pouse les codes stylistiques de la marque, des anses lyres, un choix de cadrans diff&eacute;rents et la possibilit&eacute; de choisir la position de la couronne &agrave; 3 heures ou en mode "Destro" &agrave; 9 heures. Cette Serica 6190 est &eacute;quip&eacute; du calibre Soprod M100 certifi&eacute; COSC (Contr&ocirc;le Officiel Suisse des Chronom&egrave;tres) &agrave; l'intar des productions actuelles des autres mod&egrave;les 5303 et 8315.&nbsp;
Depuis le 21 novembre 2024, Serica propose une nouvelle collection tr&egrave;s audacieuse...&nbsp;Une montre habill&eacute;e sortant des sentiers battus nomm&eacute;e "Parade" sous la r&eacute;f&eacute;rence 1174. Ces 4 chiffres, comme toutes les autres r&eacute;f&eacute;rences Serica, propose une symbolique issue du nombre d'or ou divines proportions dont le ratio entre la longeur et la largeur sont de 1,174... Une nouveaut&eacute; propos&eacute;e en pr&eacute;-commande &agrave; 1,490 &euro; pour une livraison pr&eacute;vue en Mars 2025...
<h2>Quel est le prix d'une montre Serica ?</h2>
Les prix des montres Serica &eacute;voluent et diff&eacute;rent selon les mod&egrave;les. La plupart co&ucirc;tent entre 990 &euro; et 1,890 &euro; selon les mod&egrave;les et finitions. Le mod&egrave;le GMT de la marque, Serica 8315 GMT Chronom&egrave;tre co&ucirc;te 1,890 &euro; tandis que le dernier mod&egrave;le lanc&eacute; par Serica, la r&eacute;f&eacute;rence <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/6190">6190</a> est propos&eacute;e &agrave; 990 &euro;.
Serica est ind&eacute;pendante et produit environ 5,000 montres par an, tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Serica fait partie du <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_francaises">Top 10 des marques de montres fran&ccedil;aises les plus populaires</a>, ainsi que du <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_micro_marques_de_montres">Classement des meilleures micro-marques de montres</a>. Pour choisir le mod&egrave;le Serica qui vous correspond le mieux,&nbsp;les avis clients Dialicious sont une ressource essentielle pour &eacute;valuer les diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients
(Mise &agrave; jour Novembre 2024)

The brand Serica was created in 2019 by J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Burget and 3 friends in Paris, France. The name Serica comes from a lost region at the end of the Far East that the Greeks and Romans named it like this. This place echoes the genesis of the brand, which aims to design quality mechanical watches in a neo-retro style, ready to follow you to the ends of the world.
The range includes watches such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/4512">Serica 4512</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/5303">Serica 5303</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/8315">Serica 8315</a>. One of the particularities of this brand is that its name does not appear anywhere on the dial, in order to encourage the enthusiast to buy a design, finishes and proportions, and not just a name. In July 2023, Serica launched the Serica 5303 COSC, a chronometer version certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute.
The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">Serica 6190</a> surfing on the bases of the brand's first reference, the Serica 4512. This 6190 follows the stylistic codes of the brand, lyre lugs, a choice of different dials and the possibility of choosing the position of the crown at 3 o'clock or at &ldquo;Destro&rdquo; mode at 9 o&rsquo;clock. This Serica 6190 is powered with the Soprod M100 caliber COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Certification) certified, like the current productions of the other 5303 and 8315 models.&nbsp;
Since November 21, 2024, Serica has been offering a very daring new collection... A dress watch off the beaten track called &ldquo;Parade&rdquo; under the reference 1174. These 4 figures, like all other Serica references, offer a symbolism derived from the golden number or divine proportions whose ratio between length and width is 1.174... A novelty offered for pre-order at &euro; 1,490 for one delivery planned for March 2025...
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Serica watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Serica watches change and differ depending on the model. Most cost between &euro; 990 and &euro; 1,890 depending on the models and finishes. The brand's GMT model, Serica 8315 GMT Chronometer costs &euro; 1,890 while the latest model launched by Serica, the reference&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">6190</a> is offered to &euro; 990.
Serica is independent and produces around 5,000 watches per year, all models combined. Serica is part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://preprod.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands">Top 10 most popular French watch brands</a>, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_micro_watch_brands">ranking the best micro watch brands</a>. To choose the Serica model that best suits you, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/5303">Serica 5303 reviews</a>, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/4512">Serica 4512 reviews</a>, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">Serica 6190 reviews</a> or <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/8315">Serica 8315 reviews</a> are an #1 resource for evaluating different models through real customer experience.
(Updated December 2025)

Universal Genève White Shadow Owner Review : Classy, historical and fine

The tech class of the 70s

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Universal Genève White Shadow Owner Review : Classy, historical and fine

The tech class of the 70s

Where to buy your Universal Genève?

YOU ARE :

Other reviews published by swiss_tic_tac_collector

LonginesAvigation BigEye

TudorBlack Bay GMT

OmegaSpeedmaster Mark II

Maurice LacroixMasterpiece Skeleton

Hanhart417 ES Red x Blue

Customize your Universal Genève with our selection of accessories:

Eagle Eye Watches

Iconic Switzerland

Longines
Avigation BigEye

Tudor
Black Bay GMT

Omega
Speedmaster Mark II

Maurice Lacroix
Masterpiece Skeleton

Hanhart
417 ES Red x Blue