Looking through the sala book I see case sizes for Tri Compax ranging from 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 mm.

Is this the full range on case size?

Can any dial hand combo exist for any of the case sizes, or are they more likely to be examples like in the book? I.E. For the 38mm case size the book shows baton hand examples, but could they just as well be alpha, leaf, etc?

Relative to movements, am I correct in thinking all the Tri Compax movements are similar, with different size "spacer" plates (don't know correct term) around the outside to fit the different case sizes?

Lastly I usually see a case thickness of 14mm for Tri Compax. Is this the same across all case sizes, and if so, I assume the thickness vs diameter ratio feels more balanced on the larger case sizes? My current exp II feels pretty thick at just under 13mm on a 42mm case size, so these Tri compaxes have some pretty substantial thickness. What are they like on the wrist ?

Thx

 

Great questions.

 

I don't have the Sala here with me but I'm pretty sure I read it there: calibers 281, 481, and 287 are different sizes, the plates themselves are different, it's not just spacers.

 

A general breakdown of case size to movement correlation:

32-33mm: 283
34-35mm: 281/481
37-38mm: 285/287
All of the 60's waterproof Tri-Compaxes (36mm) use cal. 281
*edited for clarification

All of these movements have varying diameter and thickness - from the smallest 283 (13 lignes and 5.5mm thickness) to the biggest 287 (14 3/4 lignes and 6.05mm thickness) - resulting in different case sizes and dial layout. Normally a case and dial would be built around a given movement, but it doesn't seem to be the case here for UG. It was a tremendous undertaking for Martel to create movements of different size just for the sake of dial porportion. *In cases where a cal 285 is used in the larger Tri's, there are thicker movement rings.

Regarding the hands, there are many different combination possibilities as you have gathered. A few rules - a lumed dial is generally paired with lumed hands and gold markers w/ gold hands - but it's free for all otherwise. There is an evolution in the types of hands used by UG during the 40's, 50's, and 60's respectively, but I won't go into that here.

A 13mm modern case feels very different to a vintage one. The domed acrylic crystal makes it much thicker than it looks and the smaller lugs make it wear smaller than it is. It's a matter of taste, but I personally think the 35/37mm vintage watches look perfect on the wrist. I have 7 1/4 inch wrists as a guide.

Hope that helps!

 

Thanks Jordn, great info.

Another question, are there more and less desirable features within the Tri Compax range or is it purely a matter of taste. For example I'm looking for the larger case sizes, I like stainless over gold, I prefer dials with partial or full Arabic numerals, and I like the alpha hands. I imagine those might be common trends, and could affect availability and price. (Also there are applied vs painted numerals, etc).

Seems like what little I can see on eBay is heavily picked over and mostly bottom of the barrel. Not a lot of Tri Compax for sale on the various watch sales forums. I guess they are not particularly easy to find these days....

 

We need some pictures in this thread. This is one of my favorite combos. I LOVE this dial. Haven't seen it anywhere in the sala book, what's the story on the stylized Arabic numbers?

 

I only have contentious ones

 

Awesome, love both of those.

I just saw a version of the coat hanger 7 dial in the sala book on a calendar model on page 406. I think it's the only example in the book.

 

The stylised numerals remind me of the dials used on some Excelsior Park EP40 watches. Big fan of those numerals. Photo taken from WUS via Google Images.

 

Yes, and here's mine...your UG looks great @bgrisso !

 

Mine has the same numerals - comments welcome!


and what is this?

 

Love those numbers, bad photo though. Try to get a better shot in natural light so we can appreciate the dial.

 

Called coat hanger seven !

 

While we're on the subject of odd numbers. Anyone ever seen this variant?

 

Very cool, love it. Offhand seems like an original dial?

 

It seems odd that the 5's have two different styles from one register to the next, and three different styles if you count these fun hour markers. The tachy seems to bring in a squished version of the one seen in the chrono register too, perhaps a fourth variation.

 

Vintage Universal moonphases definetely rock!!!!