Golden Shadow, suspect fake dial.

Beverly · Mar 21, 2017

Hi Everyone,

I purchased this Universal Geneve "Golden" Shadow on ebay, I found the listing from a seller with 100% positive feedback and the price was a third of a similar Shadow model I was looking to buy, so I hastily bid, all be it a low number. Soon after, I realized I had had maybe made a mistake, a few things didn't look right about it. More people bid after me but in the end I was still the highest. The watch arrived today and works quite nicely, the movement seems correct, and quite beautiful, but the dial seems very suspect. Here are some photos:

I feel pretty dumb about this, my assessment is that it's a White Shadow with a repainted dial (why?!). The sigma marks seem especially inappropriate. I was hoping on getting some second opinions from all of the knowledgable folks on this forum.

Thanks.

Modest_Proposal · Mar 21, 2017

No worries - I believe it is indeed an original dial.

Rman · Mar 21, 2017

Modest_Proposal
No worries - I believe it is indeed an original dial.

Second that.

Beverly · Mar 21, 2017

Thanks for the replies. I don't know a lot about Universal. I've read that the Golden Shadows came in a gold case, and the White Shadow in a stainless steel case. This case appears to be stainless steel:

That's the foundation of my suspicion. Acier Inox = Stainless Steel, but dial says Golden Shadow. How come?

Carlton-Browne · Mar 22, 2017

I have no reason to believe that the dial isn't completely original but is it more likely that somebody has re-cased a Golden Shadow (presumably from a scrapper) movement and dial into a White Shadow case? I can't say that I've spent a great deal of effort tracking these on Ebay as I am only interested in this (to me Patek Ellipse-like) case-shape with lugs that would allow a leather strap but I'd have a good trawl to see if this case shape has also been made in gold.

Nice watch nonetheless if not entirely what it seems.

Carlton-Browne · Mar 22, 2017

If I've found the listing it would seem that the seller is suggesting that the dial is re-finished but I'm not sure I agree - probably a bit of @rse-covering. To be fair he does state the watch is stainless steel.

Looking at these two watches I would say there's a good chance this shape was also made in gold and somebody has done a swapsy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-U...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

gop76 · Mar 22, 2017

That dial doesn't belong to that case. That's for sure.

Mapearso · Mar 22, 2017

That's a nice Sigma dial .. It may be all wrong for the case and nothing a true 'collector' would buy but it's still a nice piece and sounds like you didn't get caught out there price-wise... so enjoy (or if it drives you crazy that it's not correct and original then just send it back ...)

Beverly · Mar 22, 2017

Thank you guys, I really appreciate your help.

WatchVaultNYC · Mar 22, 2017

Looks good to me. Lots of price variation on the "Shadows", steals are out there

LouS · Mar 22, 2017

Who in heck could be bothered to fake a Golden Shadow dial?

gop76 · Mar 23, 2017

The dial looks good but doesn't belong to that case. A Golden Shadow should have the reference 166xxx if YG or 366xxx if WG. A case with the reference 866xxx is a White Shadow case

Beverly · Mar 23, 2017

gop76
The dial looks good but doesn't belong to that case. A Golden Shadow should have the reference 166xxx if YG or 366xxx if WG. A case with the reference 866xxx is a White Shadow case

That makes sense, guess I'm in the market for a white shadow dial at some point. At any rate, the watch was still a bargain and works great.

Golden Shadow, suspect fake dial.

Beverly

Modest_Proposal

Rman

Beverly

Carlton-Browne

Carlton-Browne

gop76

Mapearso

Beverly

WatchVaultNYC

LouS

gop76

Beverly

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