UNIVERSAL GENÈVE POLEROUTER JET ADVERTISEMENT, CA. 1960

A unique and very rare small promotional postcard from Universal Genève advertising custom versions based on the Polerouter Jet.

Universal Genève directly manufactured and marketed “custom-made” factory versions for these three organizations, intended almost exclusively for the North American market, without any aftermarket modifications.

For Rotary International, this is the most common form of official collaboration. Universal Genève incorporated the 24-tooth gear directly into the dial during the screen-printing process at the factory; these watches were often given by the club to honor an outgoing president or commemorate a charter anniversary. 

The Masonic version was also common, featuring emblematic elements such as the interlaced square and compass in the center, accompanied by the blue letter“G” in the background—a symbol of geometry, the Great Architect of the Universe, or Gnosticism.

As for the Shriner versions, the models supplied by Universal Genève featured the official factory multicolored emblem: the red fez and the scimitar crossed with the crescent. These pieces were generally ordered in bulk by the Temples for their leaders or for large gatherings.

On these factory-certified versions, the alignment of the emblem, the typography of the Universal Genève logo, and the patina of the dial are perfectly uniform, unlike the additions made later by a local jeweler. Rare.

Manufacturer: Universal Genève
Year of publication: Circa 1960
Dimensions: Height 8.9 cm, Width 13.9 cm