I acquired a rose gold 1940s UG with original paperwork.

The Cal 128 is not marked "unadjusted" and is stamped with the number 85349.

In addition to a US army sales slip, I have this certificate, referencing the movement number, which certifies the results of the testing.

Is this paperwork the certification that this movement meets chronometer standard?

 

The certificate states 86349

Discrepancy?

 

I see now that it has both numbers, so it was probably just a clerical error.

And to answer your question, yes, it is a chronometre.

 

Great, thanks for your help.

On the larger certificate, it is actually a "5" if you look really closely.

 

Thanks. Very cool to have the certificate, especially for an early watch.

Congratulations.

 

Thanks. It is not a watch that I have any interest in keeping so if anyone is interested, please just message me as I will otherwise list on eBay.

 

Still it is odd that the number 1349675 written on top left is a different handwriting and even more curious, it was written by someone who is not swiss, the number 7 doesnt have the - in the middle, like americans write the 7...

 

I am not one to explain exactly how chronometer tests were made in the day, but couldn't the various sections have been filled out at various work stations and/or at both the factory delivering the watch and the institute testing them? If anything, I'd wonder if the whole thing had been written in the exact same manner (unlike, say, a warranty slip written out at a sales outlet).

 

Ok but everything written on a chronometer certificate is written in switzerland only. So why the U.S. number 7 ? The dealer never writes anything on the certificate, I was just wondering, it's odd...

 

The certificate is original and correct.
As Universal movements usually aren't numbered, the number indicates that this movement was at least intended for a chronometer certification.
Anyway the dial is probably refinished

 

Interestingly, the serial number on the certificate looks to me like it was written in the same hand as the person who completed the US Army Sales slip (pic below).

I don't have any doubt about the authenticity of the certificate, which includes the movement number twice as well as the correct case reference but for some reason it does look like the serial number was completed later. Who knows why?

Anyway, all that rose gold, history and mystery can be yours for only £500.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382432502847Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

I'm puzzled.
Is there anything special about this cal?
Why would someone get it certified as a chronometre? Neither the dial nor the movement identify it as such.
The "chronometre" issue seems to be full of pitfalls.

 

I agree that the chronometer issue is puzzling. I've seen watches before without "Chronometre" on the dial where the movement was numbered and it was not stamped "Unadjusted" that did not appear to be anything special. The only reason I flagged this one as potentially interesting is because the paperwork included the certificate.

Perhaps a proportion of the movements were certified as a matter of course but few of the certificates survive? Perhaps you paid a slight premium for a watch with a movement that had been certified?

 

Since the dial appears to be refinished as Bubba48 said, I suppose that the original one had the "chronomètre" inscription...

 

Good point, that's a possibility.

 

I thought it was for sale? maybe not anymore?