Universal Geneve Compax oversized chronograph

Universal Genève launched the Compax in 1935, and with it the first chronograph wristwatch made in series with both a minute and an hour counter. That three-register layout, seconds at nine, minutes at three and hours at six, became the template almost every chronograph has followed since. This reference 224105 dates from the mid-1940s and comes in the 37mm water-resistant case, a big size for the time. Collectors call these the oversized Compax, and in that period Universal was alone in offering a three-register chronograph this large with a water-resistant case. The cream dial is a beauty: gold Arabic numerals at 12, 10, 8, 4 and 2, gold dots for the other hours, gold leaf hands and a blued central chronograph hand sweeping over the tachymeter scale. Condition is excellent. It comes on a taupe suede strap. A real piece of chronograph history, in the size that makes it easy to wear today.