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Universal Geneve FS, the "other” railway watch

MattF
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The faceted case was made by CB and is a much better quality case. The metal is significantly better and less prone to pitting, etc which was very prevalent in the second series pieces. That said the second series is a much chunkier watch and wears bigger.
 
one eyed Jack
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aap aap
Great write-up, @Rman I've been curious about this watch for quite some time now. I even posted a thread here asking for more info, but it seems not a lot are knowledgeable about it. So, it's cool that you did this. Thanks!

Is the first generation version harder to find?
I have a case and face for the earlier FS watch and asked my local watch repairer to transfer the contents of a cushion case FS in to it but he said it was very difficult and didn't want to do it. I'm glad he didn't as the cushion case has grown on me
 
one eyed Jack
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Carlton-Browne Carlton-Browne
Many thanks for posting this - I think this is now the official Universal Geneve FS thread in English.

I have one and the first feature that everybody remarks on are the way the numbers on the dial are punched from behind; a feature that is also present on the Perseo variant. Does anybody know if (and indeed how) these design element might have been stipulated in the spec?

In my opinion there's a good chance that this variant is somebody being a little creative.
368904-03e4685e7d4b5e1230ad8fb425ceb597.jpg

I think it's a Perseo where somebody has scrubbed the original logo and over-printed. God only knows where the case comes from.

$_57.JPG

Does anybody have a link to the, presumably expired, auction?
the UG watches are stainless steel, this Perseo watch appears to be chrome plated brass
nickw nickw
Great OP and thread.

Can anyone share what the lug size on the 36mm cushion case is?
19mm, the earlier case examples are 18mm
 
one eyed Jack
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bgrisso bgrisso
What do u mean, strap size? Or lug to lug? My smaller 34mm case takes a 19mm strap, but I don't know details on the larger 36mm c case...
my small case 34mm has 18mm lugs, and my cushion case FS watches arew 19mm
 
one eyed Jack
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R3D9
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one eyed Jack one eyed Jack
These are on ebay, quite pricey but the only ones that I can see at the moment
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNIVERSA...820519?hash=item1ca4ca86e7:g:geYAAOSwxo9aqkI3
and this one
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1970-UNIVERSAL-Geneve-Swiss-Ferrorie-Dello-Stato-Watch-Ref-864-107-UG-Cal-64/232718097336?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=2&asc=49129&meid=ea8f8d4317cb41a7aa79ea143a97bcca&pid=100005&rk=2&rkt=12&sd=123023820519&itm=232718097336&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

It'll be interested to see if either sells for the BIN price... seems very high, although I would say that, in good condition, these watches are a great value if you can get them under $500 USD.
 
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bgrisso
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even though they are smaller, I prefer the earlier case and the radial sub seconds dial....
 
ekel
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one eyed Jack one eyed Jack
I have a case and face for the earlier FS watch and asked my local watch repairer to transfer the contents of a cushion case FS in to it but he said it was very difficult and didn't want to do it. I'm glad he didn't as the cushion case has grown on me
What do you plan to do with the case and dial?
 
one eyed Jack
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ekel ekel
What do you plan to do with the case and dial?
At some point I'll get around to putting them on ebay
 
Carlton-Browne
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Case only though. And I don't think that picture represents what it is you are getting.

Still, plenty of donors available from Ebay.
 
one eyed Jack
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Omega were putting quirky cases on their Cosmic watches at much the same time, not sure I like them or this example either, but each to his own. 19mm lugs?
 
Carlton-Browne
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The missing FS is easily explained; somebody trying to disguise the fact that they've stolen it from work. The way the tops of some of the remaining numbers are polished is a bit of a giveaway. I can't explain the dial although the way the numerals are inked make me think it's a redial. It's definitely not worth the asking price!
 
stevec14
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Carlton-Browne Carlton-Browne
The missing FS is easily explained; somebody trying to disguise the fact that they've stolen it from work. The way the tops of some of the remaining numbers are polished is a bit of a giveaway. I can't explain the dial although the way the numerals are inked make me think it's a redial. It's definitely not worth the asking price!
I thought as much. Thanks for your help
 
one eyed Jack
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stevec14 stevec14
There is one on eBay now. It doesn’t have the FS inscription however, and the seconds subdial has no numbers.

For those more experienced, what are your thoughts?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60-s-Uni...409932?hash=item2f257cf84c:g:UDgAAOSwW4ZbmnoN

possibly a repaint, strap should be 19mm, its clearly been trimmed to fit, too clean for my taste as its over 50 years old it should have some patina
 
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