Stories Community
Forums Latest Members
Forums > Other Watch Brands > Universal Genève Watches >

UG & Vintage Watch Newbie

  1. waXology

    waXology Jan 9, 2014

    Posts
    220
    Likes
    289
    Hi all,

    I'm a newbie to vintage watches but have been eyeing off the vintage UG's and think I'm getting closer and closer to a purchase.

    I'm trying to learn as much as I can about these watches but apart from the Hodinkee article from last year I don't know too much. So i'd like to know are these old watches difficult to keep serviced? and are they expensive to service?

    I'm resigned to the fact I probably won't find a nice Hermes compax version (like the one in that article) but something like THIS seems affordable and really appeals to me.

    Can anyone give advice, other places to look, what to look out for etc.

    Apologies if this has all been asked before.

    Thanks
     
  2. gatorcpa Ω 2

    gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member Jan 9, 2014

    Posts
    12,200
    Likes
    15,706
    I wouldn't say "difficult", but you need to find a watchmaker with experience with these older UG chronos and who has access to parts. Any vintage chronograph is going to be expensive to service. There are several times more parts to disassemble, clean and re-assemble than in most standard 3-hand watches.

    Craig Bergsma is a chronograph specialist, although Al Archer in Canada and others can do the job as well:

    http://www.chronodeco.com/

    Hope this helps,
    gatorcpa
     
  3. ulackfocus

    ulackfocus Jan 9, 2014

    Posts
    25,983
    Likes
    26,973

    +1 on that recommendation. He did an Autavia for me that came out really nice.
     
  4. styggpyggeno1

    styggpyggeno1 ΩF Enforcer ....and thread killer Jan 9, 2014

    Posts
    3,832
    Likes
    43,906
    A little bit under the influence of alcohol but I will make a try... (thursday, but a friend had a birthday party).

    I am not that well informed about UG chronographs but in general, and looking at Polerouters and other non "sportsmodels", I would say 50-ies and 60-ties UG are extremely good value for money.
    For some reason I cannot see your link - so I do not know what watch you are interested in. UG: s of above mentioned era are high quality watches and as a newbie you are more likely to find good stuff among UG - if you spend some time researching - than trying to start collecting/buying more widely appreciated brands. Hang around here and read as much as you can and you will see that UG is a rewarding path. The saying (in Swedish and maybe strangely translated) - "better to be a large fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big lake" is very much true when it comes to watches. There are fewer UG: s but there are also fewer who will fight you for them.

    When it comes to chronographs I do believe this fora has the largest collected knowledge around - and there are a lot of watches out there that has been altered and it is wise to ask the guys here before buying.
    UG Sub: s are a hornets nest and - again - ask here before buying.
    Polerouters and other non complication watches are not widely copied or falsified and there are a lot of nice untouched watches out there (the normal caution about overly polished watches - of course).

    Parts are scarce but not impossible and often you will afford a parts watch or two - you can buy two or three UG: s for the price of one vintage Omega.
    "Real" watchmakers are a dying breed. Find one and he has no problem servicing an UG. They are quality watches but/and not more complicated compared to others.
    regards
    JE

    These I bought - under the value of the gold content. If they would have been Omegas or Rolexes (similar quality) there would have been a big fight over them - now I just bought them. And I enjoy them immensley.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Maybe I should not write in English when drunk...or not at all...::beer::
     
  5. ulackfocus

    ulackfocus Jan 9, 2014

    Posts
    25,983
    Likes
    26,973
    Pretty good for PWI and not being a native English speaker. :thumbsup:

    Thirsty Thursday! ::beer::
     
  6. gatorcpa Ω 2

    gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member Jan 9, 2014

    Posts
    12,200
    Likes
    15,706
    The man speaks the truth, drinking or not.

    Just got this one, all 18K gold including the dial:

    [​IMG]

    Another one for right around melt value, maybe even a little less.
    gatorcpa
     
  7. LouS Ω 2

    LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Jan 9, 2014

    Posts
    6,713
    Likes
    18,260

    -1. He's the guy who relumed my sublimely patinated Excel-O-graph with puke green lume without even speaking to me about it - no effort to match color at all. I just opened to package and wept. Last watch he ever saw from me. Fairly amateurish casework on a friend's Primero too. The forums love him - never understood why.


    Service for a simple chronograph (as opposed to a Tri-Compax) should run you about US 400-600, and you will have to look for a watchmaker that has experience with these, but that's not an impossible quest. Parts can occasionally be problematic, as the production lines shut down in 1960. If the watch is being worn daily, you'll want to budget for a service every 4-5 years.

    The Tri-Compax, on the other hand, is a special problem, as many a perfectly good watchmaker won't touch it, and parts are even more problematic. There are a few people on the forum who can give you good recs on Tri-Compax repair should the occasion arise.

    As for where to find the watches, the answer is everywhere - eBay, auctions, estate sales, etc. Beware of redials, of which there are plenty. Difficult to generalize beyond that, as these watches come in dozens of case and dial variations.
     
  8. gatorcpa Ω 2

    gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member Jan 9, 2014

    Posts
    12,200
    Likes
    15,706
    He did a bang-up job for me on a gold Landeron Chronograph Suisse where the case was just about falling apart. Bailed me out of what could have been a disaster for a very reasonable price.

    [​IMG]

    Replaced the hands (which were mismatched anyway) cleaned the dial and tuned the movement to keep almost chronometer grade time.

    Still in great shape six years later.

    Sorry you had such a bad experience, but glad that you reported it here.
    gatorcpa
     
  9. waXology

    waXology Jan 10, 2014

    Posts
    220
    Likes
    289
  10. omega67

    omega67 Jan 10, 2014

    Posts
    61
    Likes
    232
    Chrono24 is just a platform for seller - private or dealer. You have to find out, what references the dealer have. This from Switzerland got lots of nice Vintages, good impression for me. Next: check the website: http://www.lorologiese.com/us/about-us?___from_store=us - looks good for me as well. You can mail and fone them before, try to get a warranty and perhaps they offer a return and refund?!

    to the watch: you can ask some with experiences for that kind of watches - try to ask Craig (Chronodeco), could be he can give you advices per email. He is a very nice guy! you have to find some is specialized in that kind of watch, the collectors mostly got their own specialisations. You can´t be a hero in all fields...

    Cheers!
     
  11. waXology

    waXology Jan 13, 2014

    Posts
    220
    Likes
    289
    Legend thanks mate.

    Just noticed the watch from Chrono24 is actually from lorologiese. The look quite reputable. Will reach out to Craig as well before I decide to pull the trigger.

    Cam