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Nice UG on chronocentric... What's the consensus on "prototypes"?

Larry S
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Honestly ... I respect the opinions of both Diabolik and LouS . Go to the bay and see the franken garbage currently on sale. Then look at this. No I don't think the price crazy.
 
kreyke
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Larry S Larry S
Honestly ... I respect the opinions of both Diabolik and LouS . Go to the bay and see the franken garbage currently on sale. Then look at this. No I don't think the price crazy.

ELV web ELV web
Baton hands from 815xxx serial (1941). I don't think the watch You want to buy is a prototype but the dial is very pretty and not one I have ever seen before 馃槈


Yeah. I've been looking on eBay and it's... haha.

What about it having no serial numbers? Any plausible explanation since the general consensus is that it isn't a prototype?
 
Larry S
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Do you have a shot of the inside of the case back?
 
ELV web
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kreyke kreyke
Yeah. I've been looking on eBay and it's... haha.

What about it having no serial numbers? Any plausible explanation since the general consensus is that it isn't a prototype?
Just one of those days where the engraver kind of forgot. I really won't rule this out with UGs from that period.
 
ELV web
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Larry S Larry S
Do you have a shot of the inside of the case back?
Also possible it is on the inside.
 
Larry S
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Serviced three times in 5 years? So according to the bible this means that the case is from between 37 and 53. Cal 281 stamped where it is supposed to be. 22267 is a Compur reference.
Edited:
 
kreyke
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Larry S Larry S
Serviced three times in 5 years? So according to the bible this means that the case is from between 37 and 53. Cal 281 stamped where it is supposed to be. 22267 is a Compur reference.

I don't have the bible and I've tried googling 22267 but nothing comes up.

It is stamped 283 and nothing much comes up for cal283 either.


Are you saying that these are irregularities?
1) it's a compur case and not a uni-compax?
2) it's meant for cal281?
 
Larry S
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283 is a slightly wider variant on 281 so no worries. Meant 283. Was digging in the book on last post.
IMG_4795.JPG

Compur and Uni Compax existed at same time and then became uni Compax only. (As I understand it) Case reference is 22267 is in the Compur section. But.... same movement, basically the same watch. Reference calls out what is in the case. Dials are not linked to reference. Reference is correct and documented. Still intriguing watch.
 
kreyke
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Larry S Larry S
283 is a slightly wider variant on 281 so no worries. Meant 283. Was digging in the book on last post.
IMG_4795.JPG

Compur and Uni Compax existed at same time and then became uni Compax only. (As I understand it) Case reference is 22267 is in the Compur section. But.... same movement, basically the same watch. Reference calls out what is in the case. Dials are not linked to reference. Reference is correct and documented. Still intriguing watch.

Sorry, just making sure I understood you correctly, you're saying that case and movement checks out but then the dial typically in this case is a compur text?

Could this watch have left the factory with the compax dial or could someone have swapped it in when they found the prototype dial?
 
Larry S
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Correct except all I know is where Sala put it. "Typically" is a strong word for UG I'm finding. Movement is UG but not typical. Could have started life as Compur yes. So many scenarios.
 
kreyke
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Larry S Larry S
Correct except all I know is where Sala put it. "Typically" is a strong word for UG I'm finding. Movement is UG but not typical. Could have started life as Compur yes. So many scenarios.

If it didn't leave the factory that way then.. it is a franken? Haha. It's going to be like the menta's UG.

So many scenarios. So many doubts whether to pull the trigger.

After seeing the caseback, do you think it's still a decent purchase?
 
MaiLollo
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My gut feeling was that the guy is honest since he would do a face2face and the piece looks great. Honestly, if no one here can say if it is kosher or not, it's already a good thing
Just enjoy it for what it is and if one day you sell it be clear on provenance 馃槈
 
LouS
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Time to mention that this business of committing to the purchase, having the seller believe the watch is sold, and then doing your research is a peeve of mine - poor play. Put yourself in his position.
 
kreyke
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LouS LouS
Time to mention that this business of committing to the purchase, having the seller believe the watch is sold, and then doing your research is a peeve of mine - poor play. Put yourself in his position.

I know. I was surprised he changed it to sold. All I did was to ask for his PayPal email to check the conversion rate. I suppose he took that as a confirmation.

And when I saw that the listing was changed, to sold,I told him I needed time to think about it. I said I would appreciate if he holds it for me but I won't have any hard feelings if he decides to sell to the next seller!

I'm not that evil I promise [emoji17]
 
michael22
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In days gone by, when a company took over a manufacturer as a going concern, they often used the parts in stock, without fussing about the branding & so forth. They were all the same company now, & the same warranty applied & so forth. I doubt they worried about collectors making sense of it 80 yrs later.
If the numbers date it to a time of merger/takeover, & the branding is a bit mixed up but all of the time period, I would think it genuine. But not a prototype, just a normal production piece from a time of merger.

It doesn't happen that way anymore. Companies merge, & then they close half of it.
 
Larry S
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MaiLollo MaiLollo
My gut feeling was that the guy is honest since he would do a face2face and the piece looks great. Honestly, if no one here can say if it is kosher or not, it's already a good thing
Just enjoy it for what it is and if one day you sell it be clear on provenance 馃槈
+1 .....couldn't put it any better.
 
Diabolik
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A case without a serial number could have a number of provenances some explainable and some not. The fact that the case is present and documented on compur models (pre uni-compax) in the UG bible, rules out the prototype banner altogether.

I find it hard to believe that the watch left the factory, destined for a retail outlet without a serial number. It could be that the case left the factory via the back door ! It is a production model and an interesting one at that. The dial points to around 1950. Although perplexed, I doubt there is anything special about this one. It is pretty striking and quite attractive. It ticks all the the right boxes but the lack of serial number concerns me.

I would see it as a key piece in my collection, more of an oddity and something to lubricate a conversation at the dinner table rather than something historic.
 
Oku
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kreyke kreyke
I checked that the typical uni-compax sells on the bay for about 1000 euros. Given the condition of the case and uniqueness of the dial, I'm sure it commands a premium. I'm not sure if it commands a premium of 1500euros.
Seriously, show me any UG chrono in good condition that sells for 1000 Euros. I will buy it at once.
 
Diabolik
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Oku Oku
Seriously, show me any UG chrono in good condition that sells for 1000 Euros. I will buy it at once.

Agree ... the bay is a great place and you can occasionally pick up some great bargains. However, beware as the stuff that ends up there has usually done the rounds and the bay is the last resort.

1000 euro for a ug chrono ?

You would be lucky to find a parts watch for that if you want something nice you will need to double that at least and then, you would be looking at the lower end of the desirable UGs . Sorry, but those days are long gone.
 
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