Hi all,

I know UG these days is primarily known for their Polerouters and Compaxes but, as I am looking for a dressier and more minimalist design, I find myself being inexorably drawn towards their White Shadows.

THE WATCH:
I am looking at what appears to be an ultra slim White Shadow ref. 867102. My main concern is the correctness of the dial/case combination.

From my humble research, I was able to gather 3 things: 1) the case seems correct for ref. 867102, but it should have a dial with the slimmer “U” with “white shadow date” under it or “white shadow ultra-slim” near the 6 o’clock; 2) the dial seems correct for ref. 867103, but it should be in a C-shaped case; and, 3) i have seen this dial/case combination on a golden shadow (from google, so I don’t know what to make of that) but not on a white dial such as this.

I do like the GF bracelet though and think the bracelet is at least the real deal?

THE SELLER:
The seller says that the watch was his grand uncle’s and has been in the family for some time. He says the movement is either the cal. 1-66 or 1-67 but he cannot open the caseback as he doesn’t have the tools to do so. However, I think he can be swayed otherwise if it’s the only way standing between him and a sale.

It may also be worth mentioning that this seller prefers his pieces looking new/clean and without patina. I had bought a King Seiko 5626-7000 from him before and one side of the crystal had been so polished that it was noticeably uneven viewed from the side, while the dial lost the minute tracks between 1 and 2 o’clock due to cleaning. While he might prefer to clean his pieces, he does not appear to restore/redial them.

Anyway, did UG mix parts between references? Or am I looking at a restored/cobbled piece?

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

Pics are from seller’s ad. He is asking $800 for it.

Thanks.

-LE

 

Hard to tell the dial printing quality from the photo quality, but on first glance it looks fine to me.
It should have a cal 67 inside, thats what the 67 in 867102 means.
The early serials of these had the earlier logo you describe (2 mill serials), but these dials appear in the 3 mill range like yours.
GF bracelet looks correct, and should have a gold U applied on the steel clasp.

 

The challenge (and fun!) of vintage watch collecting is that you may never find another example identical to yours. In those situations, you have to rely on your research of similar models - just as you have done - and make a judgment call. While I am always extra suspicious of black print on white dials, the fonts and logo seem consistent with other dials of the same period. The case is also consistent for the period. Some similar watches for your further research:
https://www.watchpatrol.net/listing/625526/
https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f255029193
https://aucview.aucfan.com/yahoo/t650309927/

 

Thanks! Now I know what to expect when I get a look under the hood.

I asked the seller for a pic of the clasp, but he sent me a video instead. It does not have the applied older “U.” Although that would have been weird given the later dial according to, as you’ve pointed out, the 3mil SN. Here, the stamped newer “U” matches the dial.

 

Thanks I’ve seen those ads while I was doing my own research. I also saw the post about serial numbers but they didn’t reach up to the 3mils. And the end links were an unknown as well, with them being marked with UFM.

This forum is where I take my 75-80% to become 100%. The amount of accumulated knowledge here is amazing.

 

Sorry, forgot to post the video stills. Here they are.

Also, the seller has agreed to meet me at a watchmaker’s shop so we can open the back and see the movement.

If everything turns out correct and clean, do you guys think this package is worth the asking price?

 

I have always wondered why these White Shadows don’t garner that much interest and, after some deeper digging, I think I found the reason why.

https://wornandwound.com/bulova-used-universal-geneve-get-moon-can-get-one-today/

As the article above says, UG was acquired by Bulova in 1967, which then used the tech in their Compaxes to design the Bulova Moon Watch. This indirectly says that the White Shadows carrying the 1-67/2-67 calibers, like the one I posted above, were produced at a time when UG was already a subsidiary of Bulova.

I like the watch and don’t really care about these things too much, if I could get it at a price that wouldn’t result in too much of a loss in the event of a resale. $800 is a bit too much, though.

 

I think it's a bit simpler than this; White Shadows are typically too small and are therefore excluded from being the next thing. The same goes for the Golden Shadow, which has the potential to bask in all of the usual Genta hagiography, but are typically 32mm.

 

Thank you kindly for clearing that up.