Hi all,

I came across this piece..



While walking around my hometown in Sicily.. it’s in consignment to this vintage shop, and the shopkeeper is asking 700EUR for it.

I don’t know much about UGs, but for the little that I managed to find on the web, it would look like this dial belongs to the ref# 884-420, and not to the ref# 884-425 as per the case back on this watch..

Furthermore.. the crown is not signed UG, which, it would indicate the watch being a 884-425, as the 884-420 has a signed crown.

I’m a bit confused, and unsure whether I should buy it, as, tbh, I really like the look of it.. but I wouldn’t want to own a Frankenstein’s watch.

Please, any advice is welcome.

Best Regards, Claudio

PS: from this link I’ve drawn my conclusion about the watch being a possible re-dial

https://www.watchpatrol.net/listing/743126/

 

Later model from the logo. 1988 or later. Not from the classical / collectible era.

 

The diference between 884.420 and 884.425 is the bezel not the dial.
Black dial is posible on both references. I've seen signed and unsigned crowns on both references.
The central chrono hand has lost his lume.
Not a colectible piece these days but is a quality watch

Here is my 884.420

 

How does that work? Same references being so different from one another? Isn’t that a bit confusing?

Anyhow, is it worth the asking price (700EUR) in your opinion? I understand that it’s very subjective to attribute a value to something.. but I’d like to hear from you on the ‘worth’ subject

 

Maybe but that's part of the UG charm

Imo, worth the 700. Is a good movement (lemania 1873) on a solid ss case from a prestigious brand. And, more subjective, i think it has good classic design

 

+1 On the value. Its still a nice watch.

 

Same era…My 698.400 ………An accurate, and beautifully constructed Chronograph

 

I think that is a fair price for that reference. It may be worth a tad more but not that much ... Later UGs are not as sought after and have not reached the collectible status ... yet !

 

I think €700 is a very fair price. Irritatingly I have an original brochure for this model reference and I couldn't find it last night when I was looking for it; if I find it I'll scan it in.

 

I’ve found the brochure and promise to scan it in later. The watch is a 884.425/9150, the chrono central seconds has not lost any lume and I think you’re OK on the signed crown. All good.

Sorry it took so long.

 

Thanks Carlton, no rush

The watch is still in Sicily as the chrono did not reset properly, so the watchmaker/shopkeeper is looking at it

 

This catalog is awesome. What year is it from. I own an 884.420 (blaze it), and it's one of my favorites to wear. I don't particularly care it's not from the classic era of UG, it's a really beautiful watch.

Sure they also made some really ugly watches too in this time period, but there are definitely some stunning pieces still out there at a fraction of the cost of the classic era.

I am glad the catalog shows the super polished and rounded lugs too - all the photos I found on the web were like this too, but great to see the original watch had this too (and didn't have sharp square lugs).

 

basically the same as @Carlton-Browne 's brochure, just in ad-format

so i guess that black-dialled one will be called the "max biaggi", once it’s collectible?

 

Ahah the Max Biaggi Compax... I would buy it only for the nickname

 

Unfortunately I only have the no numerals Max Biaggi Compax.

Let's call it the Innumerate Max Biaggi Compax...

 

I’m now seriously considering one of these

 

What you see is all there is - no date.