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Universal Geneve Compur 1. generation at Christie´s

Mlafra
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These 1st Series Compur are uber rare and historically very important as most likely the first chronographs with 2 pushers (or among the first, not 100% sure yet).
They are finally getting the attention they deserve. The fact that this example was in steel and with a black sector dial definitively also helped 😀!
FYI, these early Compurs actually work like a mono-pusher (start-stop-reset via the pusher at 2 o'clock) with the addition of an extra pusher at 4 o'clock to temporary stop and restart the chrono second hand while in use.
They were only produced for about 1/1.5 years back in 1934, then the "standard" Compur with Martel caliber 285 came out and they work as any normal 2-pushers chronographs that we see today (pusher at 2 o'clock start and stops and pusher at 4 resets).
 
Modest_Proposal
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Mlafra Mlafra
These 1st Series Compur are uber rare and historically very important as most likely the first chronographs with 2 pushers (or among the first, not 100% sure yet).
They are finally getting the attention they deserve. The fact that this example was in steel and with a black sector dial definitively also helped 😀!
FYI, these early Compurs actually work like a mono-pusher (start-stop-reset via the pusher at 2 o'clock) with the addition of an extra pusher at 4 o'clock to temporary stop and restart the chrono second hand while in use.
They were only produced for about 1/1.5 years back in 1934, then the "standard" Compur with Martel caliber 285 came out and they work as any normal 2-pushers chronographs that we see today (pusher at 2 o'clock start and stops and pusher at 4 resets).

What does the movement of that watch look like? Does it have a designation?
 
Mlafra
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No designation yet, as Universal (or shall i say Martel, the movement producer for Universal) only introduced movement designation, in the form of numbers, from the Compur second series, i.e. from caliber 285.
I have no picture at hand but I'll try to find some at home tonight. It looks very similar if not identical from the movement side to the previously used mono-pusher movement, the difference is on the dial side of the movement where there is sort of a second column wheel (kind of) that is needed for the added pusher functions.
The Universal Geneve book by Sala explaines it all in great details and pictures 😀!
 
Mlafra
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Thank you doctor steel and thank you Nicola (I did not realise that you posted your wonderfully researched discussion on 1st Series Compurs also here!)
 
nicola1960
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Mlafra Mlafra
...
FYI, these early Compurs actually work like a mono-pusher (start-stop-reset via the pusher at 2 o'clock) with the addition of an extra pusher at 4 o'clock to temporary stop and restart the chrono second hand while in use.
...
x1irkk.jpg
 
Diabolik
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@timjohn - that is a jewel regardless of condition. Very unusual with the "nodo di savoia" on dial. worth a small fortune when restored !
 
valjoux72
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I guess there is a poor example with a lot of patina for sale at Chrono24 in Rome.
38mm, Olive pushers. But take a good look at the movement first and ask the seller how it works!
Needs more than a TLC, but as said, extremly rare...😉
 
bgrisso
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Can this still be correct 1st series, even without the "Compur" on the dial? This one is serial 552XXX
 
s-l1600.jpg
valjoux72
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Not 100% sure. Maybe the enamal dial is a bit earlier. There were pre Compur onepusher models with Valjoux 22gh movements...
 
bgrisso
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The example posted above by @nicola1960 looks like a very similar enamel dial, but it has the "compur" text, and the one I just posted doesn't, hence my question.

Also does anyone know if most or all of the gold cases for these 1st series Compur are Jeaneret ? Because the last two I randomly looked at are both 166 hammers, and that seems an unlikely coincidence?
 
toesfreaky
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Rare 1934 Universal Geneve 1st series COMPUR chronograph with special featurel Dead Link/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com.sg/ulk/itm/163235762049

Nobody caught this? I had it on my watch list, but it was gone fast.
 
bgrisso
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toesfreaky toesfreaky
Rare 1934 Universal Geneve 1st series COMPUR chronograph with special featurel Dead Link/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com.sg/ulk/itm/163235762049

Nobody caught this? I had it on my watch list, but it was gone fast.

I grabbed it just on principle, not sure if I can afford to keep it, we will see....
Edited:
 
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