Strap and buckle sizes for Tri Compax

Dre · Sep 20, 2016

bgrisso
thanks for weighing in drechristian, all we are trying to do here is get accurate information in a transparent way. If you happen to know the original seller or the current seller, and they also happen to be on these forums, I would encourage you to encourage them to provide whatever information they have on this thread. Aside from helping me understand more about UG (I'm a newbie) it also provides a resource for others in the future trying to resolve questions around UG buckles. I just want to see the info here on the UG forum be as accurate as possible.

The original seller is not in this forum, and I don't know the current seller personally or knowing on whether or not he is in this forum. To answer your question,

- Buckle is original
- Made in the early 50s
- As the listing says, with defects
- 19mm lugs width for Tri-Compax sounds about right
- Either 14/16mm buckles should be fine depending on your buckle width from your straps

bgrisso
Here's another version (although this fits a 14mm strap, not 16mm, so it's smaller than the one I purchased)

which seems to be the same as the last one posted above by drechristian but in gold plate for sale here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-RAR...172237?hash=item33bb63318d:g:oNEAAOSwZVlXiG3U

Yep that's from the 60s.

Moahunter · Sep 20, 2016

The OP posted this (from the vendor's description)
Vintage Universal Geneve Yellow Gold Tone (Plaque) Buckle
Fully Hallmarked (see photos)
Doesn't "plaque" mean gold-plated so why Fully Hallmarked?

gop76 · Sep 21, 2016

Here´s an interesting buckle i have one on of my UG's:

ELV web · Sep 21, 2016

Very interesting thread, I can also see @jordn point on the middle of the U being raised and not raised.

bgrisso · Sep 22, 2016

so is there consensus on this buckle? Jordn are you still having questions about authenticity?
seeing the other identical buckle from drechristian makes me think these are authentic, although perhaps rejects or something because they are not in great shape.

LouS · Sep 24, 2016

bgrisso
Searched for a definitive thread on strap and buckle sizes in this forum but couldn't find anything. Am I missing a good thread on this subject? Wondering if there are standard strap sizes for Tri Compax, I assume it depends on case size to some degree. I have a 36-37mm case, and it looks to me like lug to lug is 19mm, and there is currently an 18mm strap with a small gap. But getting accurate measurements down to one mm is tough with a ruler.

Also I just bought this buckle on ebay for $81, hopefully I did OK. Not sure if it's the correct size (it's for 16mm strap) but figured a 19mm to 16mm taper seemed like a reasonable strap combo. Need to start looking for a UG or other brand strap, if these are indeed the correct sizes. (I'm sure 18mm would work as well, but I prefer not to have the gap).

jordn
I'm not sure this is a genuine buckle. A little suspicious of the logo. Any markings or hallmarks? Most tri-compaxes have 19mm lug width and the buckles are either 14mm or 16mm.

Larry S
That is not a UG buckle. They are finely made.

I received a buckle identical to the OP's on an NOS Compax, on an original Universal Geneve-branded strap. The possibility of it having been a put-together always exists, but I doubt it. FWIW.

Severin · Sep 24, 2016

Adding this one to the compendium:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/uni...w-condition---once-in-a-lifetime-chance.9741/

bgrisso · Sep 24, 2016

Can u post a pic of the underside of that one?
Thx

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Severin · Sep 24, 2016

t

bgrisso
Can u post a pic of the underside of that one?
Thx
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wish I could. Unfortunately, the post I pilfered it from did not have an underside shot. Perhaps the current owner might read this and share a pic or two.

Dre · Sep 29, 2016

Might as well adding some of mine. Left to right - steel, rose gold plated, yellow gold plated.

Larry S · Sep 29, 2016

bgrisso · Sep 29, 2016

Nice collection

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Larry S · Sep 29, 2016

I have two very deserving candidates for a steel and YG buckle.

GuiltyBoomerang · Apr 21, 2018

Stumbled into this thread after an impulse buy for my Polerouter 215 - looks like I got the exact same buckle the OP posted!

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Universal-Geneve-gold-buckle-16mm/232741101882?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

(Seller's photo: the U doesn't seem as wonky as OP's one, though the dents and all are the exact same...)

Been hunting for a while, this should fit the bill regardless of defects...

vintagechrono · Apr 21, 2018

My Dato-Compax with its 1945 buckle

rolokr · Apr 21, 2018

bgrisso
Here's another version (although this fits a 14mm strap, not 16mm, so it's smaller than the one I purchased)

which seems to be the same as the last one posted above by drechristian but in gold plate for sale here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-RAR...172237?hash=item33bb63318d:g:oNEAAOSwZVlXiG3U

I REALLY don't feel that somebody is going to go through this much trouble to fake a few buckles ! The amount of time and energy to produce such an item seems a bit far fetched to me ! I have other brand vintage buckles very similar, and IMHO there is very little profit to gain on a vintage UG buckle.

MarktheTime · Apr 21, 2018

I'm certainly not an expert, but lug sizes do vary across tri-compax models. I have three. My 12268 from the late 40s is about 36/37mm, that 19mm straps fit perfectly. I also have two 35mm tri's from the early 1940s (a steel 22258, and a YG 52202), both of which are perfect (lug to lug) fits for 17mm straps. Some 18s might work if really soft (or clipped) at the ends, but more often than not they look "pinched" or the fit is simply too snug. The 17mm straps are admittedly harder to find, or need to be custom ordered since most stores and online strap shops carry primarily 18, 20, 22, etc. - not "odd" widths for smaller watches. All three of my straps taper to 16mm buckles - and original 16mm buckles in good condition are really hard to find, particularly from the early 40s without the "U" (they just say "Universal" on the edge). I've attached photos of the gold 16mm with the "U", and the earlier steel 16mm without the U but with "Universal" on the edge. Hope this helps, since I know the same topic/issue was driving me nuts when I got my first tri-compax.

bgrisso · Apr 21, 2018

vintagechrono
My Dato-Compax with its 1945 buckle

wow rare to see a solid gold buckle, nice !

MarktheTime · Apr 22, 2018

bgrisso
wow rare to see a solid gold buckle, nice !

Thanks. Just to be clear, the two photos on the red background are the steel buckle, which just says “universal” on the edge. No “U”. Sorry if the pic might make it look yellow/gold.

MarktheTime · Jul 12, 2018

Speaking of buckles....I also just posted a few minutes ago in the “WTB” forum, but if by chance anyone has a vintage UG 16mm rose gold buckle that is 18k (not plated YG) and might be willing to part with it at a reasonable price....please let me know. Thanks!

Strap and buckle sizes for Tri Compax

Dre

Moahunter

gop76

ELV web

bgrisso

LouS

Severin

bgrisso

Severin

Dre

Larry S

bgrisso

Larry S

GuiltyBoomerang

vintagechrono

rolokr

MarktheTime

bgrisso

MarktheTime

MarktheTime

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