Thanks!

 

Helpful ... would be great to have a native speaker clean this translation up a bit more. Logo section could use some TLC.

 

Caspiterina: sono diventato internazionale !

Wow: I went international !

 

Hello everyone.

What do people here think of this watch?

The case looks wrong but the dial itself, seems genuine or not really?

Thanks

 

We need to see the case, the reference and SN, back and inside of the caseback. Yes the dial is real as is the moon disc. Decent shape too. It should be a late 1930’s / early mid 1940’s case SN.

 

you should start a separate thread for this watch. Given the french day/month discs it could be a locally cased (non swiss UG) case, the one lug we can see certainly does not look like a UG case that I'm familiar with.

 

Tri was released in 44 but went into production before then. I don't recall the earliest known Tri serial, but would guess only a few years before 44', not as early as late 30s, but I don't know?

@Mark020 to the rescue, whats your earliest reliable Tri serial ?

 

Couple of remarks:
- I only record casenumbers if it has a numbered movement
- I don't record the 'type' so I can't search for 'tri' but I can for 481

However I think references were - generally - produced in a sequential order so lower reference is lower serial (but some references were made in more batches). Sala starts with a 22259 with a 946.xxx serial.

Lowest references in Sala are:
- 12253: lowest serial I have on record is 947k (1943-1945) https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3623161_260-18k-universal-tri-compax-moonphase-chronograph (and for that matter a slighly later 12254: https://dreamwatch.de/marken/univer...nder-mit-mondphase-chronograph-18k-gold-12254)
- 22242: I have one with a 1.034k serial but I assume that is a later batch. 2nd reference in Sala is 22258 946k https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/31983903_universal-tri-compax-full-calendar-ref-22258-around (and 22259 946k
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...x-ref-22259-a-stainless-steel-89-c-b844097ac1)
- 42201: 1.016k https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24233/lot/70/
- 52201: none on record

The oldest 481 I have on record is the 22258 above with serial 946.791. The number 'before' that is a 11301 with serial 946.664 so I assume the oldest Tri Compax must have a serial around 946.700. The highest serial of the 22258 1st batch I have is 946.852. Movement numbers range from 188.135 to 188.278 (and in typical UG fashion the lowest serial has the highest movement number). Tank number suggests 41 made (based on serial) and 95 (movement) so most likely 50-100 produced. It would be very interesting to see whether somebody can find a 22242 - or 22258 - with a serial between 946.664 and 946.791. And: for the avoidance of doubt there is no proof or indication whatsoever that UG started a new reference/batch with a number ending in .000 (but it can't be ruled out either)

 

I'll try to get some better photos, can I ask, what do you mean by locally cased?

Why wouldn't they just use UG cases?

 

Certain countries like france, UK and US had tariffs on Gold.

 

I have a 1961 with french day date. Not necessarily indicator of a french case. Then again this is a watch from a different era.

 

I have seen Tri’s from the late 30’s. Could have been early production.

 

HI guys, do we have a separate thread just on Tri-Compax moon discs? Thanks!

 

Thank you for explaining it.

If I may ask, what is a fair price range for a 18k tri compax in decent condition?

 

Any idea which serial and reference? I was always under the impression that the Tri Compax was introduced in 1944 (which ties in the serials I posted above)

 

Open up a seperate thread for questions like this. And post pics

 

I'm lying here. I have 4 earlier but these are not Tri Compaxes. For instance:
http://www.chronocentric.com/forums/chronotrader/index.cgi?md=read;id=103141

 

Somewhere buried in our archives … there is a discussion of very early models possibly prototypes on the market. One distinguishing feature was protruding port side correctors. That said I think we’ve learned more in the last few years so your research may be more definitive.

 

I have a vague recollection of a supposed early "prototype" SS ribbon lugs 22259 with extended case correctors (left side buttons), but I don't recall where or how early it was supposed to be....

 

If it was this one: https://omegaforums.net/threads/what-do-you-think-about-this-tri-compax.42583/ it was a later one (1.066 serial). BTW: I have my doubts whether this movement started in this case. The other ones in this batch all have a 235k serial.