Universal Genève Unveils Tribute to “The Nina” Compax

In a move that bridges watchmaking heritage with contemporary craft, Universal Genève unveils the Tribute to “The Nina” Compax, the legendary chronograph immortalized by fashion muse and racing figure Nina Rindt. Available in two sets of three models crafted in 18K white or red gold, the launch signals a confident expression of this historic brand's new philosophy–watchmaking as métiers d'art. Each one combines the brand’s vintage charm with contemporary craftsmanship and artistry, marking a defining moment in Universal Genève’s rebirth. They are available exclusively on request. Proceeds will support the Geneva Watchmaking School, the oldest in Switzerland and historically linked to Universal Genève. 

When photographs of Nina Rindt, the wife of champion driver Jochen Rindt, wearing her Compax trackside began circulating in the late 1960s, they transformed a practical chronograph into a style statement. She had  transformed this watch, a gift from Jochen to keep track of his races, into a cool, effortless look by putting it into a wide leather cuff she had spotted in Paris. This trick turned the watch into an icon, and collectors later dubbed the Finnish model's adaption simply “the Nina.” More than half a century later, Rindt, now in her eighties, has joined Universal Genève to revisit that story.

The Tribute to Compax line celebrates craftsmanship beyond horology. Its distinctive bund straps were designed by Japanese master leather artisan Satoru Hosoi, marking his first collaboration with a watch brand. Known for his work with Hermès and Moynat, Hosoi approached the project with a couture sensibility, reimagining the traditionally utilitarian bund strap as a seamless construction of interlocked calfskin.

Each strap bears both the Universal Genève and HOSOÏ-PARIS signatures, offered in a palette that pairs fashion-driven hues with classic restraint: brown or black for the white-gold watches, taupe or olive for the red-gold versions. Made in Paris, where Nina first transformed her Compax into a symbol of personal style, these straps close the circle of her story.

Each watch features a grand feu enamel dial—one of the most demanding decorative techniques in watchmaking. Fired multiple times at over 800°C, the enamel achieves a lustrous, enduring surface that will never fade. Available in opaque white or black and translucent blue or brown, the dials are punctuated by a red chronograph seconds hand, recalling Nina’s own customized timepiece.

At the core of the Tribute to Compax lies the resurrected Universal Genève Caliber 281—a manual, column-wheel chronograph that once embodied the brand’s technical prowess. Restoring these movements reconnects the new pieces to their original era while hinting at Universal Genève’s renewed commitment to in-house movement making.

To learn more, visit Universal Genève, here.