A RARE MEN’S UNIVERSAL GENEVE 18K YELLOW GOLD MANUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH
Dato-Compax.

Brand: Universal Geneve
Model: Dato-Compax
Case reference: 124959
Date: Circa 1940's
Movement: Manual chronograph, cal. 285
Dial: Silvered, black outer minute division, gilt leaf hands, blued centre seconds hand for the chronograph, subsidiary dial for seconds at the nine o'clock position, subsidiary dial for chronograph minutes at the three o'clock position, subsidiary dial for the month of the year at the six o'clock position, subsidiary dial for the day of the month with a red hand at the twelve o'clock position
Material: 18k yellow gold
Bracelet/Strap: Generic brown leather, generic gilt buckle
Signed, dial, movement, case
Size: 34.5mm

Introduced in the early 1940s, this model was one of the first chronographs to incorporate a full calendar function, making it a highly practical and advanced wristwatch for its time.

A Revolutionary Chronograph with a Full Calendar

The Dato-Compax is distinct for its multi-function dial layout, seamlessly integrating a triple calendar into a manual-winding chronograph. This was a groundbreaking achievement in the 1940s, as most chronographs of the era focused solely on timekeeping and stopwatch functionality.

Its dial design is both complex and highly legible, featuring:

• A date indicator at 12 o’clock, displayed via a red-tipped hand pointing to a 31-day scale.
• A continuous seconds subdial at 9 o’clock for standard timekeeping.
• A 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock for precise timing.
• A month display at 6 o’clock, providing an additional calendar function.

This configuration allowed wearers to track the time, measure elapsed intervals, and stay aware of the date—all within a single elegant wristwatch.