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Is this Universal Geneve Medico-Compax authentic? First watch, please help.

N
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Howdy,

I have included the link to a UG Medico-Compax I am interested in acquiring. This will be my first watch! While the first watch is exciting, I do not want to be "burned" with getting a fake.

I attached some photos, but more can be found at the link below.

https://www.chrono24.com/universalgenve/medico-compax--id17091601.htm

Things I notice are:
1) No Swiss stamp on movement
2) Second hand looks to have been replaced
3) crown looks to have been replaced
4) UG stamp is very faded, but does appear to be authentic.

I can tell this watch has had the dial restored, but it appears to be professionally done. I personally prefer restored dials, etc as I think it makes the watch more wearable. I am a professional and people would be turned off if I had a watch that looked like it had been left outside a few days.

This watch was previously sold on WatchestoBuy and they stated it appeared to be well done and the pictures show no large irregularities. I am hoping to make an offer in the next 24 hours, if everything checks out.

I greatly appreciate any help

-NWG
 
17091601-ksijcj79tmr230m0743eyyl4-Zoom.jpg 17091601-qxouxvtrziks0wmtqg7fnt5l-Zoom.jpg
Larry S
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No lume on the dial, late 40’s case, relumed hands, i don't know where that chrono hand came from, so I’m calling BS. These Medicos are problematic. I’ll stop there. Took about a minute.
 
Dan S
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N nguess19
I can tell this watch has had the dial restored, but it appears to be professionally done. I personally prefer restored dials, etc as I think it makes the watch more wearable. I am a professional and people would be turned off if I had a watch that looked like it had been left outside a few days.

OK professional, buy the watch. It's not "fake". 🙄

But do us a favor and don't post any more photos here. Why would you even mention the crown when the dial looks like that?
Edited:
 
N
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Larry S Larry S
No lume on the dial, late 40’s case, relumed hands, i don't know where that chrono hand came from, so I’m calling BS. These Medicos are problematic. I’ll stop there. Took about a minute.

BS as in the watch is not an authentic UG?
Or is that difficult to tell in photos?
 
N
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Dan S Dan S
OK professional, buy the watch. It's not "fake". 🙄

But do us a favor and don't post any more photos here. Why would you even mention the crown when the dial looks like that?

Haha. So does this look like a fake to you and its super obvious? If so, what gives it a way to you?
 
N
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Are there any websites that you all trust for authentic UG timepieces?
 
Dan S
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N nguess19
Haha. So does this look like a fake to you and its super obvious? If so, what gives it a way to you?

I said it's not fake. Buy it if you like it.
 
Larry S
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N nguess19
Haha. So does this look like a fake to you and its super obvious? If so, what gives it a way to you?
Did you read my comments? I trust the UG forum and a couple of watch brokers.
 
Larry S
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Look ... As @ Dan S says, “If you like it buy it.” However my view is laying out thousands for a redial is a waste of cash.
 
N
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Dan S Dan S
I said it's not fake. Buy it if you like it.

You had fake in parenthesis so I read it as some sarcasm. For my future knowledge, what did you mean by "mentioning the crown when the dial looks like that"?
 
N
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Larry S Larry S
Did you read my comments? I trust the UG forum and a couple of watch brokers.
Apologies, I meant to post that to Dan. Thank you for the very clear and concise summary of what you found as questionable.
 
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Larry S Larry S
Look ... As @ Dan S says, “If you like it buy it.” However my view is laying out thousands for a redial is a waste of cash.

Is it called a redial if a whole new, non-UG (ie fake) dial is replaced, as well as, if a later version of an actual UG is swapped? I hear the term redial a lot and I just thought it meant that the dial is in fact a UG dial, but maybe twenty years newer and in better condition. Again, I am a newby and trying to learn so I can be better informed and not sound stupid on future forums
 
Dan S
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N nguess19
Thanks Dan! Looking at this time piece, does that dial look to be from a later Compax or a completely new painted one?

The old dial was completely repainted.
 
N
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Larry S Larry S
Now you are in safe territory. Great seller. I have been doing business with him for years.

Awesome. Thanks for all of your help Larry. Out of curiosity, why do some photos show a ton of little dots and in other pictures it looks near flawless?
 
Dan S
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I'm personally not a fan of plated cases, but the watch looks honest.
 
Larry S
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N nguess19
Awesome. Thanks for all of your help Larry. Out of curiosity, why do some photos show a ton of little dots and in other pictures it looks near flawless?
Its the light angle. Nice even patina. No question of authenticity.
 
Dan S
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N nguess19
Awesome. Thanks for all of your help Larry. Out of curiosity, why do some photos show a ton of little dots and in other pictures it looks near flawless?

Probably degradation to the lacquer that is more apparent from certain angles. There are spots on the dial. The chrome plating is also degrading on the case. Make sure you look at all the photos.
 
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