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  1. IPSC Aug 6, 2017

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    Greetings. Allow me to share my Universal Geneve story...and also to post my question. The watch I'm showing here was gifted to me as a new purchase way back in 1988 by my thoughtful wife. It is a Golden Shadow with date, 2 hand model without second hand, apparently a caliber 66 movement. See pictures. Since that time I have worn it occasionally to work and also for some formal dress occasions. Some years back I lost the crown and therefore the watch sat for all this time thereafter not being used. I am now getting back into this hobby and will try to get this piece back to life again. Frankly.....at the time of purchase, I had some knowledge of the better brands of watches such as Rolexes and Omegas, but was totally unaware of the UG brand....it was purchased by my wife solely on the recommendation by our long-standing jeweler. Accordingly, I find myself in the somewhat awkward position to ask people here about details on a watch that I already own !

    My first question is this....has anyone seen a model quite like this? I have scoured the net and also this forum and have not come across a dial face quite like this one. Also....the serial number is 060471/1...can someone identify the year it was built? I vaguely recall our jeweler saying the watch was sitting in his inventory for quite some time, at the time of purchase.

    Next....can someone recommend a source for the missing crown?. I would dearly love to get this piece cleaned, oiled and operational again, but I would need a crown.

    I have all the paperwork and receipts for this watch, so I know what my wife paid for it. I doubt if it has retained its value over the years, but would welcome commentary of today's worth, just as a point of curiosity.

    Her are some photos, .....would welcome any commentary.

    UG1.jpg UG5.jpg UG6.jpg UG9.jpg UG11.jpg UG2.jpg
     
  2. Vitezi Aug 6, 2017

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    Welcome to the forum! And a nice watch!

    As you can tell, lots of love for UG here. The company made many different variations of the Golden Shadow model. Your research has probably already uncovered these threads:
    https://omegaforums.net/threads/golden-white-shadow-help.55688/
    https://omegaforums.net/threads/ug-golden-shadow-18k-wg-help-please.52048/
    https://omegaforums.net/threads/father-in-laws-golden-shadow.50512/
    https://omegaforums.net/threads/universal-geneve-white-shadow-vintage-866101-pi402.48704/

    These late-model UG watches aren't quite as collectible as earlier watches from the 1940s and 50s, especially their lovely chronographs, so less is known about them. The "quartz crisis" of the late 1970s killed off (or nearly did so) a lot of Swiss watch manufacturers, including UG. Based on the dial style and logo, your watch would have been produced during that time. The struggling company was bought out and rebooted in the late 1980s if I recall correctly.

    Any watchmaker specializing in vintage swiss watches would be able to fit a crown for you, and service your watch at the same time. Finding a specific UG crown may be very difficult. Search the "sold listingsPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network" on eBay for Golden Shadow automatics to get a feel for value.
     
  3. IPSC Aug 6, 2017

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    Thank you very much for the kind reply...... lots of good information and suggestions. Is there a list of models and/or serial numbers available somewhere....that may help to better pinpoint build date?.