Universal Genève Split Seconds Chronograph

About this reference

The Universal Genève reference 22560-26 is a split-seconds chronograph produced during the 1940s, with most examples dating to approximately 1945. Collectors prioritize this reference for its 38mm stainless steel case and the Valjoux 55 VBR movement, a high-grade rattrapante caliber featuring a column wheel and a 24-hour register. The dial typically includes a tachymeter scale and three sub-dials, often found with a silvered finish and radium Arabic numerals. Production was extremely limited, with estimates suggesting fewer than 100 units were manufactured. On the secondary market, these watches occupy a high-tier price bracket, generally transacting in the low-to-mid six-figure range depending on condition. A notable auction result occurred at Phillips in 2016, where a well-preserved example sold for over 150,000 CHF. Its rarity is attributed to the technical complexity of the split-seconds complication and the brand's limited output of oversized steel chronographs during that era.