What's the jury's view on this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIVERSAL-G...555584362?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item5aeeed476aPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

I'm not sure why someone finger-painted the bezel markings from 0 to 20 minutes, but apart from that (and the price tag) I kinda like it at first glance.

 

Respectable Member Gavin

In this link
http://timeout.watchprosite.com/?show=forumpost&fi=17&pi=3244261&ti=532321
we see the real thing.

The real stuff is indeed very attractive and uncommon.

Thank-you.

 

Respectable MMMD

I did not realize the finger-painting, till you pointed it out. Are the luminous dots on the hour-markers an add-on?

Getting a factory-original example is not that easy, since there are too many 'specialists' around.

Thank-you.

 

I am not sure, but I suspect the luminous dots creating a fried-egg appearance on the hour markers may be replacements of an original feature. Here is an example with the same arrangement of luminous dots, blackened with age:

http://forumamontres.forumactif.com/t92330-petite-revue-de-mon-universal-geneve-polerouter-sub

Interestingly enough, each of these watches has a UG-signed crown at 2:00 and a cross-hatched crown at 4:00.

 

That case is razor sharp, but is that price anywhere within the realm of reason?

 

I like it, but not to the tune of $6k. Probably the best one I've seen in a while, though. Agree Seamonster's example has some Australian features . Will wait for the jury foreman's verdict.

 

Respectable Member LouS

There are more SM 300s appearing on the market, compared to the UG Polerouter diver watch. As a result of this, it is easier to see the authenticity of the Omega diver watch against that of the UG's.

The real thing I am referring to are the sub-divisions from 0 to 20 minutes. The original ones are clean and even, while that found on the watch in question are uneven.

Thank-you.

 

Given the relative (seeming) rarity of the first execution models, it would seem that they'd warrant a steep premium to the second execution models. Thinking out loud here, but it's possible that we're seeing the market for vintage dive watches appreciate. 5-6 years ago a Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms could be had for the same prices that these Universal subs are fetching now. Now you're looking at 6-10k for a nice example.

 

The lume on the inside bezel certainly looks to be a later modification. If that supposition is correct, then based on the perfect matching of the lume dots and the bezel, I'd guess that the original lume dots were probably picked off and redone during a watch servicing.

 

I agree with Lou that I've seen these little dots of lume on too many examples for [the style] not to be original. Anyone have a clear pic of the lume dots on the dressy polerouter models? The size and overall appearance looks very familiar.

I still don't like the bezel lume, it looks very amateurish, especially compared to the precision of the dots. But I've seen some sloppy lume on some 100% real vintage pieces before. Some of the JLC divers, in particular, come to mind.

 

There's the dots that I was recalling:

 

Will this work?

 

Yes, beautifully.

Not that this one will be flying off the shelf at that price, but I'm going to copy over a few of the auction pics. (Always annoys me when you follow a great thread discussing a watch on a 3rd party site and then can't retrieve the pics).

Hope that's allowed around these parts.

 

As someone who has worked with lume kits before, I can say that it is much much easier to play paint by numbers and simply color in the circles than it would be to create uniform little lume blob or dots like this freehand. It would almost be easier to stamp out the dots from a mold, allow them to dry, then glue to the dial. Another tick box on the authentic side for me.

 

One thing I do NOT like is the look of the serial number on the caseback. I haven't bothered yet to look up the actual number that is marked, but the digits look like there were done freehand. We know Universal possessed a nice, uniform set of punches that they used for serial and reference numbers and they sure didn't involve that "8" even if this case has (clearly) been polished and resulted in some distortion to the numbers.