Microtor Cabriolet

The Microtor Cabriolet 2008: daring and contemporary.

A case that is both powerful and gentle

While the new Microtor Cabriolet meets specific expectations, its true value lies elsewhere. In addition to being launched 80 years after the original Cabriolet, this timepiece first and foremost houses, as its name implies, the flagship of the Universal Genève range: the Microtor UG101, a mechanical movement automatically wound by an off-centred oscillating weight, launched in 2007 and now well known among brand devotees. Issued in steel, it is also symbolic in terms of its daring design that is both “historical” and contemporary. Measuring 32.5 mm wide, 52 mm long including the lugs, and 11.35 mm thick (complete with the carrier), the rectangular case with its bevelled edges features an extremely structured design. The geometrical profile radiates a sense of forcefulness that is counter-balanced by a softer facet, stemming from in-depth research aimed at achieving optimal comfort of its carrier and lugs. In addition to this sophisticated design, the Microtor Cabriolet also embodies a meticulously detailed watchmaking approach epitomised by the glass which is fitted on a gasket rather than glued in, and the bezel secured to the case middle by four screws to ensure a perfect fit.

A miniature marvel of ingenuity

The case features an extremely ingenious opening and rotation mechanism. It is opened by a shaped pushbutton at 6 o'clock and which is integrated, not into the carrier but into the case itself, thereby ensuring an excellent grip when operated. Moreover, the case is mounted on a rotation arbor fitted with two ball pawls that position it correctly after it has pivoted 180° degrees. This avoids any risk of scratching the inside of the carrier when it is closed. The case pushbutton at 6 o'clock is secured by two side rods that hold the case firmly in place even if it is jarred. The chassis, a private area that only the owner will see, has been left free to enable him to personalise the watch by an engraving of his initials or a motif of his choice. Once the case is turned over again, the back reveals two broad transparent apertures shaped like a leftward-sloping figure 8, a number that also corresponds to the number of screws securing the back to the middle to guarantee perfect readability. Representing a discreet nod to the 80th anniversary of the original model and symbolising infinity, these two amazing apertures are surrounded by a vertical guilloché-patterned surface and enable one to admire the micro-rotor and the escapement from to bottom.