Polerouter: Celebrating a dress watch from the Jet Age

When it comes to classic mid-century vintage watches, few have the aura of the Universal Genève Polerouter

- Bibek Bhattacharya

When it comes to the world of wristwatch designs, every watch enthusiast has their favourite. Many would go for the more robust sports watch designs—solid stainless steel cases, big, legible, lume-filled hour markers, attached to robust stainless steel bracelets, and boasting of at least 100m of water resistance.

A bit more of an acquired taste (at least these days) is that of the classic dress-watch design. These are typically more demure in the looks department, more classically proportioned, perhaps constructed of cases made of gold or other precious metals. These are typically three-hand watches that slip unobtrusively beneath a shirt cuff.

Since such watches are meant for non-adventurous situations, their water resistance ratings are not much to write about, at the most "splash proof" with a rating of 30m.

My personal design preference certainly leans towards dress watches. It's not as if I don't enjoy wearing sporty watches, like dive watches, everyday GADA (go-anywhere-do-anything) watches or chronographs and GMTs. But there is something indescribably aesthetically appealing about a simple, seemingly-nondescript and understated watch that only reveals its beauty under closer inspection.