Universal Genève’s return to watchmaking reached a decisive moment with the revival of “The Nina,” the Tribute to Compax chronograph that has won the 2025 Revolution Award for Best Revival Watch. The category recognizes a historic model of near-legendary status brought back either as a regular production piece or a limited edition. In this case, the award goes to a watch whose original identity was shaped as much by its design as by the woman who wore it: Nina Rindt, wife of champion driver Jochen Rindt, whose presence at race circuits in the late 1960s helped transform a functional chronograph into a cult object.

Nina Rindt wearing her Universal Genève Compax

The new Tribute to Compax aims for fidelity rather than reinterpretation. The 36mm case, pump pushers, twisted lugs and panda dial all echo the watch Nina wore. The red chronograph hand, reportedly chosen by her for better visibility, returns as a defining detail. What gives this revival particular weight is that it is not merely external: Universal Genève has restored and reintroduced its own Caliber 281, a manual-wind, column-wheel movement drawn directly from the maison’s archives. Each one is disassembled, rebuilt and hand finished in Meyrin, signaling that the revival is rooted in watchmaking substance rather than surface nostalgia.

Universal Genève Tribute to Compax

The dial work reinforces this approach. Each of the six watches, three in white gold and three in red gold, is fitted with a grand feu enamel dial. Fired at high temperature and produced in small numbers, these dials provide a level of depth and longevity that aligns with the brand’s ambition to revive craftsmanship long associated with its mid-century output. The pieces are delivered on a bund-style cuff strap handmade by Japanese leather craftsman Satoru Hosoi, adding a functional, period-appropriate element that also serves as a design signature. The choice of a bund strap, rather than a bracelet or conventional leather band, quietly nods to the way Nina wore her watch.

This revival also marks the first major public statement from Universal Genève since its acquisition by the owners of Breitling, whose backing gives the project the resources, stability and ambition required to rebuild a dormant maison. Production is deliberately limited: two sets of three watches will be available, with proceeds supporting apprenticeships at the Geneva Watchmaking School. It ties the reissue to the regeneration of skills the brand will rely on as it moves forward.

What distinguishes the Nina revival, and what secured its award, is the completeness of the effort. This is not a cosmetic reissue, it is an attempt to restore a brand’s identity by beginning with one of its most recognizable watches and rebuilding it according to the standards that first earned it respect. The result is a chronograph that acknowledges its cultural past yet points to the renewed ambitions of Universal Genève under its new ownership. It marks the start of a modern chapter where its storied past forms its future foundations.