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My latest find ... 1934 Universal Watch Compur, First Generation !

  1. Florent Mar 4, 2018

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    Hello Collectors,

    Did you know that the first two buttons chronographs were created by Willy Breitling in 1934? Probably yes! ;)
    Chronographe_breitling.jpg

    Just after this revolution in the watches industry, a large number of manufacturers used this concept for their chronographs.

    Our favorite brand, Universal Watch, also produced this first generation of two buttons chrono.

    The movement was equipped with a two columns wheel in order to give the user the opportunity to restart the Chrono again after stopping it, without resetting it to zero.

    The upper button was used to :

    1) Start
    2) Stop (without the possibility to restart again if you push this one a second time after start)
    3) Then Reset

    The lower button was used to :

    1) The usual setting, Chrono is running if started by the first button
    2) Temporarily stop the Chrono (if already running), restart by pushing this button again

    x1irkk.jpg

    I had the opportunity to find an extremely rare UW first generation Compur, only produced in very limited quantity between 1934-1935. They are differentiated by their "Olive" pushers, subdials hands, unmarked columns wheel movement and low serial.

    Here are some pictures (please click for higher quality)

    IMG_0248.jpg

    The dial shows a lot of different color with light reflexion. Quite homogeneously patinated, but all inscriptions are still visible.

    IMG_0250.jpg

    IMG_0252.jpg

    Coin case is 38mm without the crown, serial 55***

    IMG_0258.jpg

    IMG_0257.jpg IMG_0262.jpg IMG_0264.jpg IMG_0263.jpg

    Very pleasant to wear on the wrist! :D

    Hope you liked the pics!;)

    Have a great Sunday,
    Florent

    (more info and source : http://orologi.forumfree.it/?t=66408710)
     
    Edited Mar 4, 2018
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  2. Syrte MWR Tech Support Dept Mar 4, 2018

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    Magnifique!
     
    Florent likes this.
  3. bgrisso Mar 4, 2018

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    wow, amazing!
     
    Florent likes this.
  4. PHPHD Mar 4, 2018

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    I’ve always wondered why those particular cases were so prone to corrosion; I’ve owned a similar model that saw the same thing (See left side of case) Perhaps it’s just an early blend of stainless steel that only got improved after the 40s...

    84E736ED-50A0-40A9-AC0D-FE9265B42953.jpeg

    Also I wonder what’s the difference between ‘unversteel’ and ‘enversteel’ - or if it’s the same thing in a different language. Mine had used staybrite though.

    4670D9B0-7DBE-44FF-8A9B-8995EF9EB971.jpeg
     
    Edited Mar 4, 2018
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  5. Florent Mar 4, 2018

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    Maybe Unversteel comes from Universal ? :thumbsdown:
    May I see the dial of yours ?
     
  6. Tuura990 Mar 4, 2018

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    Beautiful watch
     
    Florent likes this.
  7. 10H10 Mar 4, 2018

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    Bravo mon gars ! C'est une beauté !
     
    Florent likes this.
  8. chronoboy64 Mar 4, 2018

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    Fantastic catch und huge thanks for sharing !
     
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  9. Flatfoot Mar 4, 2018

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    Simply stunning! Congratulations, Florent.
     
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  10. Xeer Mar 5, 2018

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    You always find the most beautiful things @Florent !
     
    Florent likes this.
  11. valjoux72 Mar 5, 2018

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    Huge congrats Florent, these 1. gen. Universal Compur for me are simply the best, as they are the very first modern two pushers chronographs in UG history.
    I´m still looking for an 1.gen. Universal Compur, but I already have a 1. gen. Zenith Compur in my small collection.
    The movement and case are different, but the dial looks very similar. That is no big surprise as mine was build by UG too. My watch has a UG serial 579XXX, so it is a little bit later than yours.
    _DSC0011m10x15.jpg
     
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  12. vintagechrono Mar 5, 2018

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    Unversteel:
    Unversteel.JPG

    Really interesting piece!The Compur 1° series was equipped with a second column wheel positioned under the dial.(Sala page 59)
     
    Florent likes this.
  13. Don Bocadillo Mar 5, 2018

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    Stunning watch, a true testimony to precision watchmaking!
     
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  14. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Mar 5, 2018

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    Lovely and more proof that sub overlap is correct for Compur.
     
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  15. 10H10 Mar 5, 2018

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    Here's the one I'm wearing today ;), a 1937...

    IMG_20180305_165013.jpg
     
    jumpingsecond, slique12, aap and 8 others like this.
  16. Florent Mar 5, 2018

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    J’aime beaucoup l’aspect satiné de ces boitiers ... et le cadran argenté est superbe ;)
     
  17. 10H10 Mar 5, 2018

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    Il faudra que l'on se voie un jour pour regarder ensemble nos merveilles :thumbsup: !
     
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  18. Florent Mar 5, 2018

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    Avec grand plaisir :thumbsup:
     
  19. nicola1960 Mar 11, 2018

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    Bravissimo ! :)

    front_1024_arrows.jpg
     
  20. Diabolik Mar 11, 2018

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    oui, je suis d' accord ... où pouvons-nous assembler, France ?
     
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