Swiss 18K gold hunting cased watch with day and date Circa 1990

Gold gentlemen’s watch
–
A very fine Swiss 18 carat gold hunting cased pocket watch with day and date made by Universal in Geneva, circa 1990. The quartz movement with caliber 1-53 and 15 jewels. Decoratively engraved yellow and white gold dial with black Roman hour numerals, an aperture at 3 o’clock for indication of the days of the week and the date, and black hands. The case is richly engraved and has a snap off back, the inside monogrammed J.L.B. Case and movement signed.
–
Diameter: 45 mm
–
Weight: 70 g
–
Signed: Universal Genève
–
It is assumed that a movement conversion from mechanical to quartz was previously performed.
–
Universal Genève SA is a Swiss luxury watch company, founded in 1894 as Universal Watch by Numa Descombes and Ulysse Perret, two horology students living in Le Locle. Along with neighbouring Geneva companies Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux, Patek Philippe and Rolex, Universal was internationally regarded for its style of craftsmanship. Right from the start, the company produced complete watches with in-house movements and it is known for creating the first ever chronograph in 1917. Tragically, in 1897, Descombes passed away suddenly, leaving Perret to partner with Louis Berthoud, with whom he relocated the company to Geneva in 1919. Although the brand thrived domestically under the leadership of Perret and Berthoud, its global presence had yet to be established. Following Perret’s death, his son joined the firm, bringing in a variety of investors who helped to expand the reach of the Universal Genève manufacture and turn it into the industry leader recognized today. Nowadays, it is a subsidiary of Breitling SA.