This UG Compax 884.480 I bought from a store in Switzerland arrived today! All parts seem to be original (crown, strap, case back, etc). Aside from "884.480", the case back also has the following numbers - 4136212 (what do those stand for?). Needless to say, I think this will be one of my favorites!

Would appreciate comments on the watch's history, details, etc.

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Your watch is from one of the last lines of chronographs from Universal Geneve before they were bought out.

It houses a Lemania movement identical to Omega's 861 caliber - a solid and reliable engine.

The number you are referring to is probably a serial number for the watch.

 

Nice watcht. Its dial reminds a little bit those on Omega DeVille (numbers) and Double Eagle...

 

Nice watch and becoming very difficult to find in good condition.

 

You're right, the watch is in very good condition =)

 

It was my understanding that this last batch (with the Lemania movements) were from the post-takeover UG. Maybe it is something of a gray area/period in their history, but I thought that they were bought by Stellux in 1989. These watches came out in the early 1990s. When I contacted them, I was told my re-issue Compax dates from 1990.



Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

I love your watch @danomar !

 

Hi guys, I wrote UG to ask about the watch. It was cool that they replied! Here's what they had to say. Some might be basic info, but what is cool is that they actually replied:

Thank you again for your Email and we really apologize for our late response. The model name of your Universal Genève watch is « Compax 1950 » This watch has been manufactured in 1994 in Geneva.
They make this Universal Genève to commemorate the century of Universal Genève and to do an tribute to the vintage Universal Genève model « Compax » from the 40’s to the 60’.
This watch has an movement calibre UG 84. The movement is an Lemania 1873, manual, chronograph.

Some info :
Stainless steel case, stainless steel bezel. Screw-on back cover. Screw-locked winding button with marker’s logo. Round push-pieces, white dial, bar style hour symbols. Dauphine hands. Chronographics totalizers up to 30 minutes and 12 hours. Water-resistant to a pressure of 10 ATM.

 

Hi there. I know that you posted this back in 2015, but I'm curious if you still have the 884.480, and if not emotionally attached to it, would be willing to potentially sell it? I'm very interested in adding one of these to my collection.

 

Hello, Indy. Welcome to Omega Forums.

This kind of question is best left to private messaging. If you click on his name, you'll see the option of sending him a private message.

 

... nonetheless: the sales-question brought back the pics of this beautiful watch. thanks!

 

Wow, throwback! Sorry @Indy317 this watch has long been sold.

 

Any chance that it was to an individual that I can reach out to? If not, that's fine, I've just been trying to get my hands on a nice example of this reference. Many thanks!

 

Here is an example, though without the fluted bezel.

https://www.lorologiese.com/en/complete-catalogue-brands/942--universal-geneve-compax.html

 

I appreciate your research on my behalf. I've actually looked at this one pretty closely and have determined that the movement has been fully swapped on this particular watch. As such, I'm not interested in this one, but I'll continue the hunt. Kind regards!

 

Hmm. I didn't check the larger movement shot, as the seller's website is really inefficient... (I think it's a problem with the file sizes?) the photos hardly even load for me.

What makes you say the movement is swapped? If it's the fact that the movement is signed Lemania, I have found other examples of such.

https://www.1stdibs.com/jewelry/wat...ss-steel-wristwatch-circa-1990s/id-j_7045112/

 

The movement in the watch that I want should be a Lemania 1873, signed as UG84. For the watch that you mentioned before, it is a 1873, but it is not signed UG84. Also, the set screws for the case (hold the movement in place) are not properly aligning with the markings on the case. This could just mean that set screws have been replaced at some point, but in combination with the unsigned movement, I'm thinking that the movement may have been replaced altogether. It's a small detail since the movement was replaced with another 1873, but one that I personally care about for collecting purposes.

 

I do agree the case screws look replaced.

UG was struggling by this time and I wouldn't be surprised if this combo was the result of desperate times or a factory replacement. There are other examples of this watch/movement combo. But they could also be a replacements. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

Love the panda dial! Congrats.