Been watching this one on eBay, http://www.ebay.com/itm/17165384527..._trkparms=gh1g=I171653845270.N7.S2.M84.R2.TR6Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network and I'm starting to come to the conclusion this is not genuine. I can't find any information regarding a caliber 261, a 15J movement that matches up, or a military type or 24-hour type dial with a 261 in it. I see some with 267 or 263, but when I search for 261 I get a mixed bag of images and a bunch of dead end links.

Additionally, the "Universal Watch Co" struck me as odd as compared to "Universal Geneve". Being that I'm now pretty suspect of this particular watch, I thought I'd try and turn it into an educational lesson. When searching for info on these old pieces, if you're not turning up any matches, is it typically safe to say it's franken or fake? The dial and hands to me look decent, but the rest is not matching up to turn up any results in the google machine, which I'm guessing is a dead giveaway?

 

That, sir, is as genuine as they come. Completely original. Even the crown is correct.

You can read up on the 261 movement, which comes from the 260 family of calibres, here.

 

In the future, please consider including pictures in addition to the eBay link. It adds to the utility of the search function around here. The next person who gets the idea that a Universal 261 is fake because they don't turn up any hits on google image search will get a hit in this forum and be able to review the pictures even after the auction has been removed.

For documentary sake:

 

Thank you for the reply, and my apologies on the pictures, I will include them in the future.

Funny story on that listing- I told myself to pass since I just wasn't sure. I searched links and images for the better part of the morning on that dial, that movement, comparison movements, 263's, 265's, 267's, and I just wasn't turning up good info on the 261. I see now that it is basically a variant on the sub second 260. Well, half paying attention, and not expecting to win at all, I impulsively bid and won. I've spent the last 30 minutes in disbelief that I was actually that impulsive and actually did bid, and then rationalizing that even if it is a franken watch, I could probably still get some utility wear out of it, I like the patina on the dial, and probably get close money back if I should sell in the future.

Well, I now feel a lot better about my day, and am looking forward to this arriving. Thanks again for your response and help!

 

Nice looking watch and nice purchase! You will find the impulse becomes easier with each purchase you make.