{"product_id":"montre-universal-geneve-white-shadow-micro-rotor-date-1970","title":"Universal Genève White Shadow Watch — Micro-Rotor Date (1970) ","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe thinnest micro-rotor in the world, designed by Gérald Genta\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Universal Genève White Shadow watch, reference 867102, can be worn equally well by a man or a woman, with a steel \u003cstrong\u003eC-Case\u003c\/strong\u003e case — a cushion shape without an added bezel, whose curved sides come directly into contact with the Crystal. The design is by \u003cstrong\u003eGérald Genta\u003c\/strong\u003e, who had already given the maison the Polerouter and would later deliver the Royal Oak and the Nautilus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cream dial bears only the essentials: twelve applied baton hour markers, the \u003cem\u003eUniversal Genève\u003c\/em\u003e signature above \u003cem\u003eWhite Shadow\u003c\/em\u003e in cursive script, the word \u003cem\u003eAUTOMATIC\u003c\/em\u003e below the center, the date window at three o'clock, and \u003cem\u003eSWISS\u003c\/em\u003e at six o'clock. Only two hands, with no seconds hand or lume: that is the rule throughout the Shadow line, and an immediate identifying feature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeneath this dial lies what made the model's reputation. The \u003cstrong\u003esolid gold micro-rotor\u003c\/strong\u003e caliber measures 2.5 millimeters thick and was considered the thinnest automatic movement in the world from 1966 to 1978. Universal Genève had abandoned the central rotor in favor of a miniature mass integrated into the thickness of the movement — the process that Patek Philippe would later adopt for its Ellipse. The movement has 25 jewels and two adjustments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Shadow line was presented at the Basel Fair in 1966. The steel version bears the name White Shadow, the solid gold version that of Golden Shadow. The date variant, like this example, appeared in 1968 and was probably the thinnest automatic date watch in the world when it was released — which places this piece between the late 1960s and the early 1970s. The bracelet is the \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Gay Frères\u003c\/strong\u003e, from the Geneva manufacturer that supplied Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThree points to note\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSolid gold micro-rotor\u003c\/strong\u003e — 2.5mm thick, considered the thinnest automatic movement in the world from 1966 to 1978.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eC-Case signed Gérald Genta\u003c\/strong\u003e — a cushion case without an added bezel, by the designer of the Polerouter, the Royal Oak, and the Nautilus.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Gay Frères bracelet\u003c\/strong\u003e — the Geneva manufacturer that supplied Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy choose a vintage manufacture watch?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuying a \u003cstrong\u003evintage watch\u003c\/strong\u003e from a manufacture rather than a contemporary model means gaining access to technical solutions that today's market no longer offers at this price point. The micro-rotor is a perfect example: now reserved for haute horlogerie pieces at Patek Philippe or Chopard, it here equipped a \u003cstrong\u003epre-owned luxury watch\u003c\/strong\u003e that remains accessible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUniversal Genève holds a special place among \u003cstrong\u003evintage watches for men and women\u003c\/strong\u003e: a historic Geneva maison, it produced the Compax and Tri-Compax before disappearing from the market, which long kept its values low. Its \u003cstrong\u003evintage dress watches\u003c\/strong\u003e have seen a marked revival among collectors in recent years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike all our \u003cstrong\u003evintage mechanical watches\u003c\/strong\u003e , this one has been opened and inspected by our watchmakers: verification of the calibre and its consistency with the reference, checking of the serial number, examination of the dial, hands, and case. Each \u003cstrong\u003epre-owned Swiss watch\u003c\/strong\u003e we offer comes with an invoice Atelier Victor serving as a certificate, a twelve-month mechanical warranty, and guaranteed lifetime authenticity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e→ \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/montres-vintage-collection-occasion-luxe\"\u003eDiscover all our luxury vintage watches\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e→ \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/montres-vintage-2000e\"\u003eView our watches from €2000\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Universal Genève\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e White Shadow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReference:\u003c\/strong\u003e 867102\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSerial number:\u003c\/strong\u003e 28806••\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstimated year:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late 1960s to early 1970s\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Switzerland\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGender:\u003c\/strong\u003e Men's and women's watch (Unisex)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMovement:\u003c\/strong\u003e Automatic with solid gold micro-rotor, calibre Universal Genève 2-67 (25 jewels)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFunctions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hours, minutes, date\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stainless steel, C-Case shape, screw-down caseback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 35mm (36.6mm with crown)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLug to lug:\u003c\/strong\u003e 37.4mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8.8mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLug width:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrown:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steel, fluted, original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cream, applied baton hour markers, no lume, original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHands:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steel baton hands, no lume, original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrystal:\u003c\/strong\u003e Acrylic (condition 8\/10)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBracelet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steel Gay Frères, original, fits wrists from 17.5 to 20cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuckle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Universal Genève, original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCondition and warranty\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOverall condition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very well preserved condition. The cream dial is original, even, and free from alteration; the applied hour markers and hands are intact. The steel case shows light signs of wear on the sides. The original Gay Frères bracelet is in very fine condition, with the exception of one cut pin on one of the links, replaceable by a watchmaker.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not guaranteed (vintage watch)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthenticity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lifetime guarantee\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMechanical:\u003c\/strong\u003e Serviced movement, guaranteed for 12 months\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded:\u003c\/strong\u003e Invoice Atelier Victor, travel case\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot included:\u003c\/strong\u003e Original box and papers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a micro-rotor?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn a classic automatic movement, an oscillating weight covers the entire calibre and rotates above it, which adds its thickness to that of the movement. The micro-rotor is a weight of reduced diameter, integrated into the thickness of the calibre itself rather than mounted on top. Universal Genève was a pioneer of this process, which enabled it to achieve a total thickness of 2.5 millimetres — a record held from 1966 to 1978. Patek Philippe and Chopard use it today on their thinnest pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho designed the White Shadow?\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eGérald Genta, who had already designed the Polerouter for Universal Genève and would later create the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. The so-called C-Case stands out for the absence of an applied bezel: the curved sides of the case come directly into contact with the Crystal, eliminating any visual break and contributing to the overall slenderness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is there no seconds hand?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a characteristic of the entire Shadow line, without exception: only two hands, and no luminous material on the dial or hands. This choice contributes to the pursuit of thinness — a seconds gear train adds thickness — and to the purity of the design. It is also an immediate point of recognition for authenticating a Shadow dial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a Gay Frères bracelet?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGay Frères was a Geneva bracelet manufacturer founded in the nineteenth century, supplying Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. Its bracelets are now sought after in their own right, independently of the watches they accompany. Finding a White Shadow with its original Gay Frères bracelet is significantly more difficult than finding the watch alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan the bracelet be adjusted?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt fits wrists from 17.5 to 20 cm, with fine adjustment made on the clasp. Removing links remains possible but delicate on this type of construction, and we do not recommend it unless necessary. If your wrist is below this range, please let us know before purchase: we will check with our watchmaker what can be done, or guide you toward another piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the cut bracelet pin a problem?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. It is one of the pins connecting two links, severed during the bracelet's lifetime. We chose to leave the bracelet as is and point it out rather than intervene without consulting you, as the link is otherwise in very fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Universal Genève","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54660249813329,"sku":"867102 2880695","price":2467.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0703\/8576\/2597\/files\/montre-universal-geneve-white-shadow-micro-rotor-date-1970-atelier-victor-1.jpg?v=1787525574","url":"https:\/\/ateliervictor.co\/en\/products\/universal-geneve-white-shadow-watch-micro-rotor-date-1970","provider":"Atelier Victor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}