Universal Geneve “Prototype” Compax

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Well the two examples just on this page are....

ref 22410 serial 828758
ref 22499 serial 1174XXX

so that's not a good sign in terms of suggesting a cluster 🙄

that being said I LOVE these dials and would happily own one, regardless of if it's a factory configuration, but not for what I assume are the very high prices being asked
 
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Well the two examples just on this page are....

ref 22410 serial 828758
ref 22499 serial 1174XXX

so that's not a good sign in terms of suggesting a cluster 🙄

that being said I LOVE these dials and would happily own one, regardless of if it's a factory configuration, but not for what I assume are the very high prices being asked

Agree - Probably just dials were sent - not the whole watch - and the dials were installed by the dealers into the cases they had on hand at the time.
 
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or put into cases much more recently. or a bit of both
 
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or put into cases much more recently. or a bit of both
Agree. My feeling is some were constructed back in the era and they looked good in the spillman case and people got hold of the dials and copy cat'd what already had gained some precedence as we saw in the Menta example that originated this thread.
 
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(Avec cadr[ant] different) which means 'with other dial' Can't recognise the first word

i read : Amérique, avec cadran déficient »
come to think of it those are unusual hour/minute hands as well
i read « Amérique avec cadran différent »
 
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Are these both identical Spillman cases, and if so, it is normal to have two different reference numbers for the same case in the same model line?
They are not identical! Look carefully
 
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FOR POSTERITY AND SADISTIC AMUSEMENT ONLY! The last prototype thread.
https://omegaforums.net/posts/646541/

Did you just link to this same thread?
giphy-downsized-large.gif
 
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Prototype dials aren't a bad thing. Look at both the Daytona ones that have surfaced in recent years in the collection of Philipp Stahl (blue and various other variants, made purportedly by Singer but never commercially offered) or the Speedmaster one's owned by William of Speedmaster101 (again, blue and originally found by Adam from Menta in Italy). They are appealing both for their pristine condition (because most were never "in use") but also for the absolute uniqueness of their look (making them almost a 1 of 1 rarity).

The thing about this particular UG compax is how contemporary it looks. It's beautiful but its hard to date it by just looking at the dial (unlike the bulk of dials we usually see from the 40's through the 60's). Again, that in itself is not a problem but it stirs suspicion and debate.

If I were Breitling, I would try to use and position this as one of the modern day re-issues with some variation to keep it distinct and fresh. I think it would be an absolute hit, not just because there would be nothing else in anyone (or most collector's) possession, but also (and especially) given how much fanfare this has received online, not just from collectors of vintage UG (which is the bulk of us) but also those who have only a passing interest in the brand. This would also be a great nominee for said modern day reissue (think what Omega did with the gorgeous 60th anniversary trilogy) because it would not mess with or taint the heritage of a more established model (like a polarouter for e.g.).

Just imagine the Hodinkee self referential, long form articles about the lore of this dial, complete with mythmaking "history" about it's discovery and eventual usage for creating a regular circulation release from a long lost, since discovered prototype. I can't help but chuckle at the thought of it.
Edited:
 
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Did you just link to this same thread?
giphy-downsized-large.gif
No the old thread on this dial. … Oh shit….Zombie thread reborn…..
 
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Prototype dials aren't a bad thing. Look at both the Daytona ones that have surfaced in recent years in the collection of Philipp Stahl (blue and various other variants, made purportedly by Singer but never commercially offered) or the Speedmaster one's owned by William of Speedmaster101 (again, blue and originally found by Adam from Menta in Italy). They are appealing both for their pristine condition (because most were never "in use") but also for the absolute uniqueness of their look (making them almost a 1 of 1 rarity).

The thing about this particular UG compax is how contemporary it looks. It's beautiful but its hard to date it by just looking at the dial (unlike the bulk of dials we usually see from the 40's through the 60's). Again, that in itself is not a problem but it stirs suspicion and debate.

If I were Breitling, I would try to use and position this as one of the modern day re-issues with some variation to keep it distinct and fresh. I think it would be an absolute hit, not just because there would be nothing else in anyone (or most collector's) possession, but also (and especially) given how much fanfare this has received online, not just from collectors of vintage UG (which is the bulk of us) but also those who have only a passing interest in the brand. This would also be a great nominee for said modern day reissue (think what Omega did with the gorgeous 60th anniversary trilogy) because it would not mess with or taint the heritage of a more established model (like a polarouter for e.g.).

Just imagine the Hodinkee self referential, long form articles about the lore of this dial, complete with mythmaking "history" about it's discovery and eventual usage for creating a regular circulation release from a long lost, since discovered prototype. I can't help but chuckle at the thought of it.

I would love to see a modern re issue of this if they kept it vintage proportions/accurate
 
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I would love to see a modern re issue of this if they kept it vintage proportions/accurate

Imagine if this was the first to be released under the Breitling-era UG? That would be something!
 
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If I were Breitling, I would try to use and position this as one of the modern day re-issues with some variation to keep it distinct and fresh. I think it would be an absolute hit, not just because there would be nothing else in anyone (or most collector's) possession, but also (and especially) given how much fanfare this has received online, not just from collectors of vintage UG (which is the bulk of us) but also those who have only a passing interest in the brand. This would also be a great nominee for said modern day reissue (think what Omega did with the gorgeous 60th anniversary trilogy) because it would not mess with or taint the heritage of a more established model (like a polarouter for e.g.).

Just imagine the Hodinkee self referential, long form articles about the lore of this dial, complete with mythmaking "history" about it's discovery and eventual usage for creating a regular circulation release from a long lost, since discovered prototype. I can't help but chuckle at the thought of it.

100% Need to get this idea to Breitling bigshots 😀
 
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100% Need to get this idea to Breitling bigshots 😀
And give us some free semples, because of that idea.

😁
 
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There is an article in the Swiss architecture magazine Das Werk from 1946 titled Formgebung in der Industrie (Design in the Industry), which features images of products presented at the Basel fair 1945. Among them, it also includes an image of a Ref.12392 with the dial in question.
https://doi.org/10.5169/seals-26327
 
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Since the watch was featured at the 1945 Basel fair, I think it is likely that this was also the year when the dial design was first released.
 
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The IWC and V&C shown on the next page of the article are also pleasant to look at 😀

 
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Since the watch was featured at the 1945 Basel fair, I think it is likely that this was also the year when the dial design was first released.
Thanks for posting. Some very nice designs in there. Especially the New York Central train
 
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Since the watch was featured at the 1945 Basel fair, I think it is likely that this was also the year when the dial design was first released.
Extremely interesting research