Hi all:

I purchased this Uni-compax dial on eBay. Seller had told me that it had not been refinished and to me it looked okay.

However, now that I am thinking about it, I never seen a uni-compax dial with full numbers on the dial. From what I have seen generally there’s only a 12 and 6 or. Or there is half an 8.

I know there are many different dial variations on these watches. Any thoughts on if this dial is original?

 

I've seen them...Larry S, do yount have the same one?

 

there are many Uni's that have more than the 12 and 6, that is not something to go by. How much the 4 and 8 are cut depends on the dial/case size. Yours looks like a medium sized dial. There are examples in Sala where the 4 and 8 are cut, there are also examples where there is more space between the 4 and 8 and the subdials compared to yours.

offhand I don't see anything wrong with your dial....

 

Great! Now I just have to hope that it will fit my case.

Also, is there any where to source replacement hands that look correct to the reference?

 

fitting a dial to a movement and case is more than just hoping it fits !!! What are you going on so far that suggests it might be a match? Do you know if the dial feet match the movement, and what is the diameter of the case? Do you have Sala ? I would look in there at hand examples, but off the top of my head I would think leaf hands the same color as the numbers (I can't tell if they are silver or gold?), plus blue sub hands and chrono sweep. Not the easiest collection to put together. You don't have any hands now? what are you working off, just a movement and case?

 

I got stuck with this bad noob purchase from eBay. Seller misrepresented a lot. Dial it came with is an awful refinished dial and hands all look to be unoriginal.

From my estimation it looks like it is 36-37 mm, but I don’t have proper tool to measure. The movement is a cal. 281, and according to the eBay seller for the dial - it fits a cal. 281. So I thought movement should match and case size would be the only issue I would potentially run into. However this is all new territory for me.

I’ve heard a bunch of people refer to Sala. Is that a UG book? Where can I get a copy?

 

True, it may or may not fit... but universal dials seem to be going up in value, probably a very good investment.

 

I see, that's quite a bit of guess work. Normally you would take the watch to your watch maker and get precise measurements of the dial (or do it yourself if you feel comfortable). You might want to invest in a pair of decent calipers, they are not expensive. If you are comfortable you could remove the bezel and take a dial measurement, if you don't have experience doing that, leave it to your watch maker. If you are lucky you will get a match on this, but often times it doesn't work out...
Those hour/minute hands can be correct. Possibly even the chrono sweep although a tail would seem more likely. The two sub dial hands are definitely wrong.
Yes Sala is a book, it's a useful reference, I will post a few pics of a similar but not exact match to yours. What is your case ref? I might be able to get a case size for you....

 

Pics

 

My Compax has a full set of applied numerals. My 3 Uni,s just have the 12 and 6. I have no issue with this dial. 100% correct.

 

Thanks for the input all especially @bgrisso your responses are extremely helpful.

Another surprise with the watch was that the reference number on the case back was completely polished away. However this is the inside of it.

The numbers on the dial are gold so I believe they should match the hands.

The dial has been paid for, so I guess I’ll just have to sit and pray that it fits and if not I will deffinetley listen to your suggestions as I continue my search for a dial.

View attachment 612189

 

Ben, as a neutral, I find your patience and insight in so many threads here as the bar. Thank you.

 

You could do either Leaf or Dauphin hands...

 

hope it works out, keep us posted. I would start with the dial swap, then worry about hands. Or you can keep an eye out for the sub dial hands, I wouldn't mess with the rest....

 

thanks, my work has me in front of a computer a lot of the time, and I love watches, and especially UG

 

I think we can narrow the reference down to 1241 and then 03, 08, 18, 50. But then, it should be the cal 285, not 281...

 

good point. plus the 281 would normally be in a smaller case, and that does not look like a smaller case. OP do you have a mvmt shot? Would be nice to know case size, even if you estimate with a ruler in mm.

 

I love reading/learning from threads like this.

 

You guys are too good. Caught my own mistake. My watch is totally a cal. 285... I don't have a picture on me, but I just remember when I first got the watch and I opened the case back it was a cal. 285, although it was being offered as a 281.

Not sure why that slipped my mind when I jumped on bidding on the dial. I must've been seeing what I wished it was. I will post a picture of the movement soon.

Looks like this dial won't fit after all...

 

Also, I did measure it with a ruler and I can estimate it is about 37mm