Aero-compax type B check

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ClipperGMT

·Dec 7, 2019

Hello folks,

I've been looking for a nice example 22704/3 for some time and am about to pick this one up. Wondering if any experts care to comment about it? I haven't found much info on these at all (mostly dealer listings and buried in a few threads on OF). Perhaps this thread might blossom into a good resource for the (imo) underappreciated Type B.

I'd like to get the Sala book to reference as well but can anyone confirm if it contains info pertaining to the 22704/3 ?

I have seen both the thick signed crown and thinner signed crown on these...wonder which is original? Also wondering if these were V72 or cal130? I see a different balance bridge on this one: https://wannabuyawatch.com/product/universal-geneve-ss-aero-compax-type-b-circa-early-1960s/

Thanks for any input!

Sorry for the low res

 

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Mazoue

·Dec 7, 2019

I also think they are very handsome watches and look forward to learning more from others.

I can tell you that there is nothing in Sala about this reference.

 

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Larry S

·Dec 7, 2019·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

No alarm bells. Like @Mazoue .. No reference to go from. Just looks good.

 

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ClipperGMT

·Jan 28, 2020

for posterity

 

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CafeRacer

·Jan 28, 2020

is the plexi 34.6mm by any chance? 😜

 

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vacheroyale

·Jan 28, 2020

very unique dial!!

 

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vacheroyale

·Jan 28, 2020

In the Sala book, there isn't any aero compax that comes close to yours. you a very unique piece there, the dial looks almost from the early 70's. pretty rare find. can you post a pic of the rear case?

 

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Diabolik

·Jan 28, 2020

Everything looks good. Yes, they were a caliber 130 (which is a V72-6 21600 a/h also known as the rolex 727 as used in early daytona) not the Caliber 85 (cheaper version). The crown (not a big deal) should be as shown on link ...

I expect the larger signed crown is a replacement a originals are very difficult to find.

 

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jumpingsecond

·Jan 28, 2020

Agree - looks original / beautiful for the pics shown.

 

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ClipperGMT

·Jan 28, 2020

thanks everyone, appreciate the comments and really thrilled to have one of these.

CafeRacer

is the plexi 34.6mm by any chance? 😜

hah i was too impatient and picked up the watch from seller before the UG etched crystal arrived but it is on the way to me now.

vacheroyale

In the Sala book, there isn't any aero compax that comes close to yours. you a very unique piece there, the dial looks almost from the early 70's. pretty rare find. can you post a pic of the rear case?

thank you. the rear case is plain with scalloped edge, signed inside. the model (22704/3) and serial are very worn and mostly polished away but still visible at certain angles. serial 2,35X,XXX dating to '63-'65 depending on which chart is to be believed

a few more:

 

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bgrisso

·Jan 28, 2020

There was just one of these on eBay

Dead Link/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/153806661296

 

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ClipperGMT

·Jan 28, 2020

^^^saw that as well. beautiful example!

 

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Burr

·Jan 29, 2020

Very clean example.. those blue hands are 🥰

 

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fibonacci

·Feb 4, 2020

ClipperGMT

^^^saw that as well. beautiful example!

👍

 

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fibonacci

·Feb 9, 2020

I have been hunting this watch for a good while now and in the process of researching it have kept a list of all the examples I've been able to find on the internet so far. I thought I'd share that in case anyone finds it interesting.

So far I've seen four with extant serial numbers and, I believe, five additional examples with the serials either polished out or not visible in photos. Two of those with no serials are a slightly different variety with no lume.

1.
serial: 2358200
note: @fibonacci's from this thread

2.
serial: 235820x
note: posted to OF in 2016: https://omegaforums.net/threads/post-your-universal-geneves.40710/page-7



3.
serial: 2358228
note: @ClipperGMT's from this thread

4.
serial: 2358253
note: posted in the original OF "Late Aero Compax Typology" thread in 2015: https://omegaforums.net/threads/late-aero-compax-typology.12251/#post-353414



5.
serial: -
note: the example used when assigning (arbitrarily) the "Type B" designation in the original OF thread in 2014: https://omegaforums.net/threads/late-aero-compax-typology.12251/

It has some distinctive wear in the left subdial.


(photo: analog/shift)

6.
serial: -
note: the only one I found in an auction catalog; it sold for $2,640 at Antiquorum in 2010: https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/lot-236-14


(photo: antiquorum )

7.
serial: -
note: unlumed example posted on OF by @Mazoue in 2016: https://omegaforums.net/threads/post-your-universal-geneves.40710/page-7#post-572808

Romain Rea, who currently has this for sale, told me that the serial is no longer present.


(photo: chrono24)

8.
serial: -
note: another unlumed example posted by user mdatta on WUS in 2012: https://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/universal-geneve-aero-compax-240044.html#post4962820

mdatta told me he still has it but the serial is not visible.


(photo: mdatta on WUS)

9.
serial: ?
note: mdatta posted this to the same WUS thread in 2013. It appears to be a distinct example from any of the above.

(photo: chrono24)

Edited: Dec 28, 2020

 

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ClipperGMT

·Feb 9, 2020

Fantastic research and compilation! Thank you for your efforts. I hadn't seen (or noticed) the non-lume dials until now.

As far as the example below, NB: the hand tip drag marks on the 9 and 3 o'clock sub-registers (top of the registers at the outer scale). Also note the scratched lower part of the "S" in UNIVERSAL

I am less sure about the following image. It has something going on between 130 and 140, but also appears to have a correct crown (though the photo appears to have been doctored a bit and I'm not even sure about that). The image is also from 2013, so it's possible that even if the crown is correct it was lost along the way, but it's not clear, and this could actually be a distinct example.

(photo: chrono24; credit: mdatta on WUS)

 

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ClipperGMT

·Feb 9, 2020

more pictures are never a bad thing so another of mine 😀

 

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fibonacci

·Feb 9, 2020

ClipperGMT

Fantastic research and compilation! Thank you for your efforts. I hadn't seen (or noticed) the non-lume dials until now.

As far as the example below, NB: the hand tip drag marks on the 9 and 3 o'clock sub-registers (top of the registers at the outer scale). Also note the scratched lower part of the "S" in UNIVERSAL

Ah, I think you are probably right. I edited to show it as another example.

Edited: Feb 9, 2020

 

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ClipperGMT

·Feb 9, 2020

It's a shame the serial # isn't visible on the non-lume variant (note also the "SWISS" only dial as opposed to "SWISS T" of lumed versions). Would be interesting to see how it fits into the timeline. For what it's worth my serial number is only visible at very specific angles under certain lighting conditions.

This would be an interesting to flip through:

 

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fibonacci

·Feb 9, 2020

I have a copy in flight 😀