Question about Universal Geneve Caliber 85

I am sorry to say that I agree with you and that the bridge on your Space Compax is incorrect. I believe that it belongs in a late Big Eye Uni-Compax movement.



On a more general point of order, it would seem that in 1965 Universal Geneve re-badged some chronograph calibre numbers, and much more besides, in what appears to have been a wider re-organisation at the manufacture. Many of us have noted numerous classification changes over the course of this year at the factory level.

Regarding the Big Eye Uni-Compax specifically, Cal. 125 and later Cal. 84 are the UG codes for Valjoux 23. Like yourself, I have documented multiple late-batch Big Eyes (the serials dated all watches to ‘65) fitted with Cal. 84. Cal. 84 Big Eyes are rare, but, in my opinion, correct. Good call on this.

To take another reference as an example, we see a similar pattern with the Nina Compaxes. Cal. 130 and later Cal. 85 are the UG codes for Valjoux 22. Here we see the reverse distribution owing the later introduction date of the Nina. Early iterations are all Cal. 130 but later Mk II and Mk III models carry Cal. 85 as the factory-fitted standard. 1965 seems to have been the pivot year in this model line too.