With roots going back to 1894 in Geneva, Universal Genève built its reputation on exceptional chronographs and complicated timepieces that rivalled the very best Swiss watchmaking had to offer. The Ferrovie dello Stato — Italian for State Railway — represents a fascinating and entirely different chapter in that story: a purpose-built instrument watch commissioned by the Italian State Railway for its workers, produced in three distinct series between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, and today one of the most cherished and collectable vintage watches among serious enthusiasts worldwide.

The Universal Genève Ferrovie dello Stato MK2, is a beautifully characterful 36 mm cushion-shaped stainless steel manual wind watch with a stunning white enamel dial — the detail that collectors consistently fall for — featuring stamped Arabic numerals in deep contrast against the creamy enamel surface and a subsidiary seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock. The cushion case with its soft, rounded proportions wears remarkably well on the wrist for its modest size, and the engraved FS logo on the solid caseback tells the full story of its origins. At its heart beats the Universal Genève Calibre 64, a manually wound movement that requires daily winding — a ritual that enthusiasts of vintage horology will find deeply satisfying. The watch is fitted on a stainless steel mesh bracelet.

This Ferrovie dello Stato MK2 is in very good condition and comes in our generic QW box. The watch was serviced by Ron Sonders in March 2023.