Horological Meandering

Let's first give back to Cesar what belongs to Cesar.

Ervin PIQUEREZ gave birth in the 60ies to a new family of Diving watches, the Super Compressor Cases, with his invention patended on the 15th May 1956.

He was not a watch maker, but a case manufacturer.

To fully understand the interest and importance of Mr Piquerez invention, I made a search on the net and found AT LEAST 15 ( !!! ) brands which used this case:

Benrus, Bulova, Lip, Droz, Sandoz, Fortis, Edox, Enicar, Wittnauer, Hamilton, IWC ( the Ref 812, but it came with a 37mm case ), Bucherer, Longines, Jaeger Lecoultre, Vulcain and Universal Genève, with the Polerouter Sub.

Some examples:

The Sandoz Super Compressor:



Enicar Super Dive:



One of my favourite, the Bulova ( don't know who to credit for, sadly ):



It may be taken as a biased view, but to me, if the Polaris is the King of the Super Compressor watches, some are nice Princes, like the Longines Diver or the U.G Polerouter Sub.



What is the D.N.A of a Super Compressor case?

Basically, an enhanced water resistance due to the special conception of the case and of the sealing gasket, a round ( and in the seventies it may also have been a cushion ) shaped case, with 2 crowns and an inner bezel, ( one ofr the movement, one which is used to turn the bezel ) sometimes 3, like on the JLC Polaris ( the third crown being used for the alarm )..

This said, let's speak about one of these Super Compressor Cases, the U.G Polerouter Sub.

This is certainly a very elegant Diving Watch, with a quite thin case, compared to the Longines or to the Polaris, a domed plexy ,and a nice, simple, legible and strong looking dial.

Here, you can see the relative thinness of the case, the 2 impressive crowns with the characterisitic gridwork, and the whole volume of the watch ( the case is 42mm, by the way ) :



The shape of the lugs and of the case is very close to other Super Compressor watches, but we always look at them with great pleasure.

A strong, clean, simple even sensual look, due to these sweet curves:











Which is specific to this watch is the dial, first, then the movement.

As the eyes are the mirror of the Human Soul, we could say that the dial is the soul of a watch, and it is particularly exact with this U.G Polerouter, don't you think?

.

You will notice the rough but exciting finish of the dial, these Gilt writings, and the gorgeous patina of the indexes.

While the minute and hour hands are always the same, I noticed some differences with the second hand, which was sometimes white and a bit short, white and and bit longer, or silver, thin, but normally sized.

Here are the pics I found here and there ( which leads me in the impossibility to credit them, sorry, except Steve's G pics, which I know by heart ):

Normally sized White Second hand, and beautiful patina of the dial, which looks like " grainé " and turning a bit brown.



Another Polerouter Sub I took in pic, with a short white Second Hand and a matter black dial which fades to grey:



An exceptional Polerouter Sub which turns to burgundy ( partially ), coming with its original SS Bracelet.



Some macros to admire the Finish of the dial, the golden writings and the exceptional patina ( you will also notice the particular " U " of " Sub ", designed like a Trident ) :


:


And here a Macro of the whole dial...

Don't know how to desricbe this patina, Stardust, grainé, pailleté, whatever you call it, it is just gorgeous!



The 2d sepcifity of this watch is certainly the movement, a nice and iteresting Micro Rotor, which was ( and still is ) not that current.

If I got it well, the first Polerouter Sub came with a Caliber 215, while the later ones housed a derived movement of the 215, the Cal 69.

Here it is , cased:



And now, some macros to have a deeper look on this special micro rotor movement, whose plate and bridge are quite nicely finished, with Geneva Stripes, and anglages.



A view on the Micro Rotor:



You will see that the part of the plate which is located just above the micro rotor is shaped like this last one.



In a Diving Watch, I think that the use of a Micro Rotor is unique...At least, to my knowledge.

Wearing it is a pleasure.

The watch is perfectly centered on the wrist, not that heavy, and quite thin, with a domed plexy, but not as thick as the Polaris or Longines Diver.

Actually, it has a great presence on the wrist.



I will end this post by adding that this watch which was also used by the US Navy, in the Sixties, which certainly represents a kind of recognition.

One of the nicest Super Compressor diving watches, for sure.



Hope you will enjoy the post,

Best.

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-07-07 13:23:27 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2009-07-08 07:29:18

Wow, Nicolas... What a post!

Simply a great work made, for us pleasure and watches's learn.

I must say that the compressor case watches are one of the most beautiful families ever made... Some Hits in this family like the jlc, the LOngines, Iwc, or the same Universal Sub.

A easy recognice case with lot of charm.

Congrats and thanks for this great work my dear friend!

Best

EMILIO

It is my personal taste, but I love this round shape, the sexy plexy, and this characteristic design from the 60ies.

Therefore, for once, they are, for most of them, very affordable.

So you don't have to sell your house to get one.

Thanks for your nice words, my friend, this was just a pleasure to dig a bit the topic.

Best,

Nicolas

Very interesting post, far beyond my horological knowledge, but I appreciated reading it.

Thanks !

Emmanuel

Just the pleasure to learn and to share!

You know the saying: " When something is nice and interesting, you have no merit to speak about it "...

Thanks for the nice words.

Best,

Nicolas

I am wearing my Legend Diver today while I read and admired your presentation on this UG vintage beauty. Great pictures and perhaps the perfect strap (wrist pic) to complete the vintage look. I find the thinness of this particular compressor case quite intriguing.... a sleek presentation on the wrist. Best,

What's not to love?

Yes, you're right when you point out the thinness of the case, much thinner than on the Plaris or the Longines!

You can proudly wear your Longines Diver, this is another great example of these Compressor Case watches!

Best, my friend, and thanks for your nice words.

Nicolas

Nicolas, you have opened my eyes to a whole new style of watch.

J.

I'm afraid i still feel a little bit unsure about throwing great eulogies at this family of watch. Looking in the back of nearly all the 42mm variants leaves me with the feeling the cases were purposefully sized to ensure that one size fitted all and that look leaves me with a feeling that drowns any wannabe diver notions (do you know what i mean?). I guess that was my point first time around....the watches would have actually been worthy of further/more merit had they actually not been so big (leaving aside the waterproffing design never worked very well).

Was the use by the Americans actually confirmed....i know i read conflicting reports on some fake engravings but cannot recall if the fakes were beside versions that were officially used or simply that somebody had chanced militarizing some for an edge (£'s)?

Best Regards.

Catherine.

This message has been edited by C.vallely5 on 2009-07-07 17:18:03

...somebody within UG had similar thoughts, in a very short space of time (even in a short model run length) the company decided to sack the design and reduce the size in one sitting. Schaffhausen came to the party a little later and may have had by then more clout in instructing case manafacturers exactly what size they required (perhaps also tieing in to some product recognition within thier lines). UG could have solved leaking cases by useing different crowns but chose to reduce size dramatically at that point. The size thing may well have been just simply by proxy by dint of a case manafacturer switch, though it's worth mentioning because it's part of the models history and not something that is often seen in so short a time from a model opening up for sale.

You're a difficult client, indeed!



There are several points:

1/ As for the " uniformity " of the 42 mm cases, yes, you're right, but the sources are to be find on the Piquerez Patent ( 1956 ), if I got it correctly.

2/ Does this " architecture " work for Diving watches?

That is an interesting point of discussion.

I saw several compressor case watches which had " seen " the water, but what does it mean?

That the watches have some flaws in their conception?

That this is due to the " construction " of the watch?

That the watches weren't properly serviced?

Honestly I don't know, but I also saw some water resistance problems on solid diving reputation watches like, Rolexes, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms or Omega SM 300.

I also read some curious things about screw in crowns or not:

If you read the TR 900 Story, it is written that the 5508 didn't pass with success the military tests, while it has a screw in crown, and while the TR 900 which doesn't have a screw in crown didn't fail...

3/ The size of the Compressor case watches:

Their 42 mm have to be compared with watches which came with the same size or almost ( Blancpain FF: 41,2 mm, Omega SM 300: 42 mm if I'm not wrong ) and which are not compressr case watches.

My guess is that the more the watch is big , the easier it is to read time...

And I don't even speak of the Vintage Pannies, whose size was between 47 to 60 mm!

So, yes, you also have smaller watches, but I don't see the problem here, honestly.

Or do we have ot say that these " big " watches are not great watches, just because they are ..." big " ?

On another side, I do agree with you on your previous example: The IWC Ref 812 is a real nice watch, as well as the JLC Master Mariner Deep Sea which is also a 37 mm diameter watch.

Beuaty is not neccesary in the size, but the size doesn't exclude the beaty of the big watches.

It's all about harmony, design, smooth curves, etc, don't you think?

4/ If you speak about the engraved words " Ordonnance Corps ...1960 ", yes, I totally agree with you, this is a faker BS, and a bad jocke, indeed.

But, once again, unless I'm totally wrong with the topic, some of these U.G Polerouter Sub were used by some armies...

Without this precise engraving, AFAIK.

I hope I answered to all of your question,s, because my fingers are now very tired ...



Best,

Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-07-08 05:40:20

...."Client" before Nic...least not on a internet forum. Not sure about difficult either, afterall i'm here to chat watches and this is a watch forum not the shopping channel (wink).

I perhaps have got you too legged into my point because my opinion in the big scheme of things matters very little, however people who know a thing or two (UG) decided to drop the design and the size...for a reason....thats not even an opinion. My whole point/opinion was that i do not put great store in a a good in-house movement simply surplanted in an off the shelf case simply because it's got a long F on the dial or such like. Thankfully i'm not own my own.. i bit my lip once upon a time when a customer asked my watchmaker was his fifty fathom a fine watch and he replied "no...it's a piece of generic pressed out crap"....he had the advantage over me though in that he was more than capable of making such a statement after being documented (doing a 72 page Walt) in once telling Omega the very same....with them choosing to fly in and visit him with a proposal/offer due to his thoughtfull/accurate and honest assesment of thier product. I guess the internet changes many things. 

 

I have no idea Nic if the military markings are legit....though it's better to find out first than state they were... else they'll become an internet thing thats difficult to reverse and thats simply the reason i asked.

Best Regards

Catherine.

 

This message has been edited by C.vallely5 on 2009-07-08 07:04:44

"  Good Client " in French means  "easy to convince ".

A Great watch may have also different meanings:

It may be great for its aesthetic, for the level of finish, for the originality / Innovation, and also because it became an iconic watch.

Yes, the FF are not perfectly finished, but they may be consiered as great watches under other factors, too, like a Vintage Panerai, a watch or watches with History.

As for military engravings on the Polerouter Sub case back, I was speaking of " Ordonnance corps ..1960 " which aqre not legit, not other engravings.

Best,

Nicolas

 

...i like the styling of UG product....they remind me of Citroen cars for some reason.

Take care fella

Catherine.

To discover and learn new things, every day.

These one may represent an interesting and original alternative to the most known Rolex Subs, Fifty Fathoms or Omega SM 300.

Enjoy, and thanks for your enthusiastic comment.

Best,

Nicolas

Excellent post, Nicolas.

. . . and very likely the most intriguing of the lot . . . cordially, Art

May you tell us ore about this one?

More pics, too?

I was secretely hoping that some, here, would feed this thread with more compressor watches, and you didn't deceive me!

Best,

Nicolas

This watch is not mine, but was sold some time ago by a dealer from whom I have bought watches. I found the dial to be very interesting, but never researched its exact use.

Best regards,

Tony

i'm not a diver so cant tell you a lot, but its intended to match depth with time stops so you know how long to stop for at which depth.

the new Vulcain Cricket nautical has it on as well.

Graham

. . . much appreciated. Cordially, Art

a great report

Compressors are impressive cases

Thanks

Cheers

I don't know if the report is great, but the watches are...At least!



Best,

Nicolas

usually are...

Cheers

. . . for their compact integrated planetary bi-directional rotor, but also because they had exceptionally long power reserves for a single barrel design. I've been drawn to the UG (and Buren) micro-rotors for quite some time now, and as much as Nicolas admires the subject of this review for it's interpretation of the compressor case genre, my admiration is just as deep for it's sterling movement technology . . . cordially, Art

I'd be pleased to learn more about the movement.

Is it unique to UG or is it based on something else.

I'm of course familiar with the more modern Patek and LUC movements with micro-rotors but know nothing about this movement.

It looks interesting.

Thanks in advance for any wisdom.

Vernon

All the Polerouer, Sub, or not: Cal 215, 218, 1- 69, and 72 used this special configuration.

The first movement used in the Polerouter was the cal 138, it didn't have the micro rotor, but a bumper system.

It seems that Buren also worked on a micro rotor, but I don't have any other infos about an hypothetical precedent, about micor rotors...

Let's see what the others think or know...

Best,

Nicolas

I'm rating its accuracy and the first results are really awesome!

Best, my dear friend.

Nicolas

no text

. . . they are more similar than not, starting with dimensions (both 12.5 "', movement height was shallower in the UG 215 by .10 mm at 4.10 mm vs 4.20 in the Buren 1000A) and with very similar bidirectional winding systems that were the subject of a patent dispute (of which Tony C knows in depth). Some minor technical differences include the additional shock mounting of the escape wheel in the UG, the use of a screwed balance in the Buren as opposed to a ring balance with UG, and tuning differences (UG came in both 2.5 Hz and 3 Hz varieties, Buren at 2.5 Hz) - also, some UG models had whiplash regulators. I found a reasonably priced UG Polerouter a few weeks ago at a local second-hand watch store that came with my favorite iteration of the UG series of movements, the 218-9 with whiplash regulator, but it had a second set of springbar holes drilled in the lugs so I decided to pass . . . it was otherwise in quite decent shape, with original dial, hands, and crown, and a respectable amount of wear on it's gold-capped case. Cordially, Art