22 Universal Geneve A large and rare, Compur 30, military chronograph manual wristwatch in steel, made for the German Luftwaffe, with black dial, reference 22409.
Estimate: € 5.000 – 10.000
A 20% import VAT is due on the final price including premium, only if it is delivered within the EU.
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- Model Compur 30
- Year Circa 1940s
- Reference 22409
- Case Material Stainless steel
- Case Number 805'007, caseback furher engraved RLM-Nav. and issue number 5537
- Bracelet Material Leather strap
- Movement Manual, cal. 386, jewelled
- Dimension 38mm Diameter
- Signed Case, dial and movement
For a chronograph born in the late 1930s, with its 38mm, the case of the Universal Genève Compur feels startlingly modern. Broad lugs, muscular profile, and functional pushers define a watch conceived for duty rather than display. On the back, the narrative sharpens: the engraving “RLM” confirms delivery to the Reichs luftsfahr ministerium, the German Ministry of Aviation active between 1933 and 1945. The additional number, 5537, is widely understood to be an issue designation, linking the watch to military allocation rather than civilian sale.
The dial is where restraint meets authority. Matte black, printed in silver, with luminous Arabic numerals that have aged into a warm, restrained tone. The twin registers sit perfectly balanced, their scales crisp and legible. “Compur 30” printed above six o’clock signals the respected column-wheel chronograph architecture within, reliable, precise, and engineered for pilots who required timing without compromise.
Condition is everything with military chronographs. Here, the case retains strong lines and defined edges, suggesting minimal polishing and, perhaps, limited time in active service. The pushers remain well-proportioned, the crown appropriately sized and functional. Even the engraving on the caseback is clear: a small but crucial detail for the serious collector.
What makes this piece compelling is not merely its Luftwaffe association, but the synthesis of scale, rarity and presence.
Condition Report
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