Universal Genève Enters the Flight Test Phase With Three Tribute Polerouter SAS Watches (With Live Photos)
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) flight over the North Pole from Copenhagen to Los Angeles in 1954, Universal Genève is releasing three 35-mm tribute Polerouter SAS watches ahead of the highly anticipated revival of the brand in 2026 (but only one of them will be auctioned off to a collector in the coming year).
But let's start with a pre-flight briefing: SAS turned to Universal Genève to create a watch that could support pilots flying over the North Pole for the first time. The inaugural SAS flight on November 15, 1954, significantly reduced travel time between Copenhagen and Los Angeles, trimming approximately 1,600 miles from the journey.
The resulting watch, aptly named Polerouter, met the challenge with both style and safety in mind. Its two-part dial construction was designed to be resistant to shocks, magnetism, and moisture, as well as to handle any climate from the pole to the equator. A watch "that proved not only functional but also beautiful in its simplicity," created by none other than a young Gérald Genta at just 23.
Initially, 170 pieces were produced, which obviously are much sought after by collectors today, also because many of these initial timepieces were gifted to SAS pilots.
