Ug Tri-compax - For Your Comments Please

All,

looking for honest appraisal of my watch - I think I know what its good points and bad points are, but always good to get the experts view on things.

Picked this up last year at a high end vintage and antiques fair, I was approaching a significant mid- life birthday, and even though I was a diehard Omega guy, I was drawn to this, new to me, brand. I deliberated overnight, went home and researchd UG all night - as many members have pointed out, not a lot of information out there on this under appreciated brand. My girlfriend really liked this watch, said it was distinctive, but then ruined it by saying "at least it doesnt look like all your Omega's, which all look the same to me !"

Anyway, I digress, here is some information on the watch itself :
Case ref = 12554
Movement number = 1,189,601 - dating it to 1944-5
18K gold 3 part case, bevel and press fit case back - made by Gindraux SA in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Hammer head 119), early UG wheel logo inside, and Helvetia symbol with c = assayed at La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Cal 287, 17 jewel movement - immaculate inside (dont have photo at the moment)
case diameter = 37 mm
19mm curved down lugs
leaf hands and dial markers - presumably 18k gold also

Many thanks, good points - I'll try and take some natural light photos this morning and repost - as the harsh flash has rendered this piece almost featureless.

I agree about it being a redial - during my long night of research before purchase, I could only find 1 example of the horizontal tri-compax, and that also looked a redial. The most "annoying" feature in my eyes, are the day and month wheels - they looked to have been touched up by a previous owners young child - not sure what I can do about this, apart from trying to find 2 nos day and month wheels, or buy a donor parts watch.

But, as you mention, the case is in great shape, all the hands are totally original, all the functions work, and it keeps time to within +/- 4 s per day.


Cheers, Paul