Why This Watch Matters

The innovative tuning fork caliber and incredibly funky “buzzsaw” dial make this Universal Genève stand out.

The Full Story

Universal Genève advertised the Unisonic as the "...world's first all Swiss tuning fork watches," emphasizing the technological feats of its movement. However, it did not highlight the provenance of its caliber – it was always an Accutron movement that was developed by the U.S. company Bulova, and launched in 1960. Universal Genève had licensed the use of this revolutionary tuning fork mechanism, which replaced the balance wheel at a much higher 360 Hz frequency, thereby increasing the overall precision of the watch. On top of the technological prowess of this example, it's hard to resist a watch with such a unique dial.

The Fine Print

Maker: Universal Genève
Model: Unisonic
Reference: N/A
Year: 1970s
Case No: 2831106
Material: Gold-plated case
Dimensions: 35mm diameter; 10mm thickness
Crystal: Plexiglass
Lume: Tritium
Caliber: Universal Genève quartz caliber 1-52, the Accutron Calibre 2180
Bracelet/Strap: Original Universal-Genève-signed leather strap
Lug Width: 18mm
Box/Papers: Original box and hang tag

What we Love and What You Should Know

The blue and gold "buzzsaw" dial is truly the highlight of this watch, and it is in excellent condition, without any apparent defects. The lume shows a nice patina on both the handset and the lume plots near the indexes. The yellow-gold plating of the case has not flaked, and the deep engravings on the caseback indicate that the watch was likely never polished (or re-plated). The presence of the original strap and buckle further indicates that the watch was rarely worn (if at all); it also comes with its original box and hang tag. The tuning fork caliber works well, and the battery was just replaced.