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Universal Geneve compax. Opinions

bgrisso
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Wow, that's weird Larry, I've seen numerous examples of this case as a 22430. And I've never seen that case shown in the archives photo as a 22430. I think that archive photo might actually be wrong, based on known examples on the ground?! (I don't have my Sala around so I can't see the section you have referenced).
Of course with the OP watch we don't know the case ref, but I would bet anything it's a 22430.
The radium dots are a known configuration. Here's a few quick examples of 22430 below. (It does kind of look like the 22531 archives pic? Maybe the 22430 and 22531 archives pics got their numbers swapped?)

Universal-Geneve-Compax-22430-1.webp 2_007.webp
Edited:
 
Larry S
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bgrisso bgrisso
Wow, that's weird Larry, I've seen numerous examples of this case as a 22430. And I've never seen that case shown in the archives photo as a 22430. I think that archive photo might actually be wrong, based on known examples on the ground?! (I don't have my Sala around so I can't see the section you have referenced).
Of course with the OP watch we don't know the case ref, but I would bet anything it's a 22430.
The radium dots are a known configuration. Here's a few quick examples of 22430 below.

Universal-Geneve-Compax-22430-1.webp 2_007.webp
We may have found another blip in Sala. Or not. The archive photos are from the factory. Fun stuff.
 
Diabolik
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Dial has been touched. Looks like lume dots (definitely not radium) have been added. Shame as it would have been far better to leave it as it was. Probably trying to look like a 31 ...
1757499229946.webp


The 22430 should look like this, and yes, early oversize compax did have serial and reference inside case back Goring's compax).
1757499500713.webp


I have no doubt that dial is genuine and would evaluate whether it is possible to restore it to its original condition (removing lume). It has lost much of its value due to lume and I would not pay an extortionate price for that one.
 
Larry S
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Diabolik Diabolik
Dial has been touched. Looks like lume dots (definitely not radium) have been added. Shame as it would have been far better to leave it as it was. Probably trying to look like a 31 ...
1757499229946.webp


The 22430 should look like this, and yes, early oversize compax did have serial and reference inside case back Goring's compax).
1757499500713.webp


I have no doubt that dial is genuine and would evaluate whether it is possible to restore it to its original condition (removing lume). It has lost much of its value due to lume and I would not pay an extortionate price for that one.
So …Sala factory pic is wrong then.
 
Wlcutter
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For the record: the watch sold through Goodwill, just in case anyone's curious whether or not incredible watches can wind up there still.
 
bgrisso
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Diabolik Diabolik
Dial has been touched. Looks like lume dots (definitely not radium) have been added. Shame as it would have been far better to leave it as it was. Probably trying to look like a 31 ...
1757499229946.webp


The 22430 should look like this, and yes, early oversize compax did have serial and reference inside case back Goring's compax).
1757499500713.webp


I have no doubt that dial is genuine and would evaluate whether it is possible to restore it to its original condition (removing lume). It has lost much of its value due to lume and I would not pay an extortionate price for that one.
What about the lumed hands, do you feel those are not original either?

Do you feel the two different examples with identical lume posted in this thread were both separately modified in exactly the same way?

Anyhow I’ve seen multiple examples with this exact type lume plots. IMO it’s factory original lume paired with the lumed hands.

There’s other (regular) sized UG with these type lume plots as well.
Edited:
 
Mark020
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Wlcutter Wlcutter
For the record: the watch sold through Goodwill, just in case anyone's curious whether or not incredible watches can wind up there still.
Couple of weeks ago they sold a 5699 Sommatore…
 
bgrisso
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Here's a third example of the 22430 with identical dial, case, lume plots,hands, etc

Screenshot 2025-09-11 133231.webp
 
bgrisso
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Here's a fourth identical 22430. I think that should resolve any questions on the case/dial/lume configuration.

PB173256-scaled.webp PB173261-2048x2048.webp
 
bgrisso
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Interestingly, here's an example of a 22531, which case matches the archives pic that Larry posted, but I'm having a hard time telling if there is a difference in the case on this one, compared to the other 4 white dial examples already posted? It sure looks similar, or same? I have no idea what that case is that is pictured in the 22430 archives pic, as I said, I don't think I've ever seen it before. Anyhow, don't have time to research, but would be interesting to see all 22430 and 22531 known examples? @Mark020 to the rescue !! 😀

46.webp 46_2.webp Screenshot 2025-09-11 134057.webp
 
Mark020
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22531:
1757570130967.webp

22430:
1757578826854.webp
Edited:
 
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