WHY WE CURATED IT:
NOT a rip-off of Patek’s Ellipse, but more the other way around! You might know our love for vintage UG. Once a high-end brand, decimated by quartz, but poised for revival under new Breitling ownership. Beyond the usual UG suspects, this White Shadow is UG’s true unsung hero. It’s been said that Gerald Genta designed Patek’s 1968 Ellipse. But in fact, Genta himself confirmed that to be false, crediting Jean-Daniel Rubeli (who also penned a similar shape for AP). The Patek was inspired by this watch right here, launched in 1966, and actually designed by Genta! With the beautiful legendary UG microrotor Calibre 2-66, the world’s thinnest automatic at the time (Patek’s 1968 Ellipse was manual, but followed 9 years later with a microrotor Cal 240 on a somewhat “familiar” architecture). A fantastic specimen with the coveted blue dial, zero brown/orange patches/worms/filigree patina and with the less common two-line dial. Requires a wrist 15.8cm or larger due to the limited bracelet articulation.
CONDITION:
9/10, with minimal signs of use/aging for the age. Crystal is scratch-/nick-free, with some microscopic specks. Indices and hands are mostly clean. Dial is Bracelet excellent with zero stretch. Simply stunning after half a century! Movement in excellent health with above-spec power reserve, strong amplitude, low beat error and accurate to ±10 secs/day averaged from 6 timegrapher positions.
DIMENSIONS:
31.7mm width excl. crown
34.5mm case length
6.2mm thickness
21mm bracelet width tapering to 15mm
Visual dial width ~26.5mm
Wrist in photos is 15.8cm in circumference
CRYSTAL:
Mineral glass
CASE:
Steel
WATER RESISTANCE:
Assumed none, as per vintage watches
STRAP:
Integrated tapering steel mesh with UG-signed free-adjust tuck clasp (no cutting needed)
CALIBRE:
Universal Genève Cal. 2-66, 2-hander microrotor automatic
COMES WITH:
Watch, original UG bracelet
TERMS OF SALE:
Please see our stories Highlight entitled “Terms” on our Instagram profile. Thanks!
