Universal Geneve Tri-Compax and Compax estate find

JimJupiter · Sep 11, 2020

Hey guys,

having the feeling that my Omega and Enicar knowledge is good enough, I am a total noob in regard to UG. I had the opportunity to get some watches cheap out of an estate and those two were among them.

First is a UG Tri-Compax Ref. 42406, SN 1.026.699. The watch has a nice size with 36,5mm and a UG Cal.287, but when I showed the watch to a friend, he was suspicous about the dial. Missing the "Swiss" at 6 for example and the weired markers. Although there are some things typical UG, like the 31 to 1 looking like a 311 at the date window at 12 o'clock. Maybe you have an idea what this kind of dial is, any help appreciated.

The second is a solid gold 18k Ref. 12494 Compax with a Cal. 285. It has some dial damage (or strong patina 😉 ). All in all it looks genuine to me, or am I wrong? I really like the hands how they change color in the light. Something I dont have seen before.

Would love to hear your thoughts,

Nico

Tempus · Sep 11, 2020

Hi Nico...the Tri Compax is a redial I'm afraid. Rounded tops of 3's is usual giveaway.

Larry S · Sep 11, 2020

Tempus
Hi Nico...the Tri Compax is a redial I'm afraid. Rounded tops of 3's is usual giveaway.

Should have open 6 as well. Compax is fine. Price should reflect dial issue, but it’s a good watch.

ajn3323 · Sep 11, 2020

Hey congrats on the find. But yes I vote the Tri is a redial. No open 6 or 9 on the hour sub. The Compax looks better but like the Tri above it the word compax doesn’t appear even and is awfully close to the subdial.

JimJupiter · Sep 11, 2020

ajn3323
The Compax looks better but like the Tri above it the word compax doesn’t appear even and is awfully close to the subdial.

So you think the Compax is a redial too?

Thanks so far everyone.

ajn3323 · Sep 11, 2020

JimJupiter
So you think the Compax is a redial too?

Thanks so far everyone.

I’m going to vote original but Im just unsure about the font and placement on the COMPAX. Admittedly I look at way more Tri’s so my eye is not as keen when it comes to Compax.

bgrisso · Sep 11, 2020

As Larry already said, the Tri is redial and the Compax is good. Also the Tri date hand, hour, crown are wrong, and the lower left lug looks seriously bent. There’s still valuable parts there.

JimJupiter · Sep 11, 2020

Ok, I had some hope, but I guess I knew that it’s not fully correct. What is the Tri-Compax worth in parts? Maybe I can at least break even and fund the other ones 😉

JimJupiter · Sep 11, 2020

Btw this one was also in the lot and it’s a beauty <3

jumpingsecond · Sep 11, 2020

Awesome find. The compax looks nice to me- I don't mind the patina / age - it's still beautiful in the light. A treasure trove all in all.

Diabolik · Sep 11, 2020

JimJupiter
Hey guys,

having the feeling that my Omega and Enicar knowledge is good enough, I am a total noob in regard to UG. I had the opportunity to get some watches cheap out of an estate and those two were among them.

First is a UG Tri-Compax Ref. 42406, SN 1.026.699. The watch has a nice size with 36,5mm and a UG Cal.287, but when I showed the watch to a friend, he was suspicous about the dial. Missing the "Swiss" at 6 for example and the weired markers. Although there are some things typical UG, like the 31 to 1 looking like a 311 at the date window at 12 o'clock. Maybe you have an idea what this kind of dial is, any help appreciated.

The second is a solid gold 18k Ref. 12494 Compax with a Cal. 285. It has some dial damage (or strong patina 😉 ). All in all it looks genuine to me, or am I wrong? I really like the hands how they change color in the light. Something I dont have seen before.

Would love to hear your thoughts,

Nico

I am in complete agreement with Larry. The tri-compax is a redial but the compax is good. I was a little worried it may have been a later dial on an early case but it is not. A very nice lot !

kip595 · Sep 11, 2020

I would've been just as confused and enthused - just getting into UG a bit - that Compax looks great to me though; I actually like how it has aged...looks like the sort of thing an 'Indiana Jones' type would still be wearing to remind him of the good old days when he and the watch were both young! 😀

From the little bit I've seen, there should be a pretty ready market for the Tri as a parts piece/s

Thanks for showing us!

Oku · Sep 11, 2020

bgrisso
There’s still valuable parts there.

kip595
From the little bit I've seen, there should be a pretty ready market for the Tri as a parts piece/s

I kindly have to disagree on the assessment as a parts watch. The reprint is not bad. It is an old one with thin printing, the alignment of subdials and scales is well done, nothing that is really ugly. So although it is not a collector's piece, it should still attract many people who are interested in a Tri that looks nice and who are not chasing for the perfect original watch.

JimJupiter
What is the Tri-Compax worth in parts?

I would not disassemble the watch and sell it in parts. I agree that the hour hand doesn't look very nice so I would try to replace it and list the watch for a reasonable price. There are so many ugly redialed UGs out there that I am confident it is possible to sell this watch with a quite nice redial.

JimJupiter · Sep 11, 2020

Don’t worry, I won’t rip the watch apart 😉 . I am just not sure what a fair value would be.

Oku · Sep 11, 2020

JimJupiter
Don’t worry, I won’t rip the watch apart 😉 . I am just not sure what a fair value would be.

I think there was a discussion in an another thread recently.

Oku · Sep 11, 2020

Here it is:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/universal-geneve-watches-on-ebay.3584/page-253#post-1584544

JimJupiter · Sep 11, 2020

Thanks Oku, that’s helpful!

bgrisso · Sep 11, 2020

For the record, I have referenced several redialed Tri's as parts watches recently, but I am not suggesting to physically part out the watch, I would list it for .99 cents auction on ebay and let nature take its course. By saying it's a parts watch, I just mean, the value there is in the various parts. Physically parting out a watch is much more involved. You can make more money potentially, but its takes more work and time, and helps to have connections to people looking for these parts. Anyhow that's my experience. I could be wrong.

Dan S · Sep 11, 2020

bgrisso
For the record, I have referenced several redialed Tri's as parts watches recently, but I am not suggesting to physically part out the watch, I would list it for .99 cents auction on ebay and let nature take its course. By saying it's a parts watch, I just mean, the value there is in the various parts. Physically parting out a watch is much more involved. You can make more money potentially, but its takes more work and time, and helps to have connections to people looking for these parts. Anyhow that's my experience. I could be wrong.

I agree, calculating "value as parts" (VAP) is just one way to put a value on a watch that is otherwise difficult to appraise because of condition issues. That doesn't mean it actually should be sold that way. The value as a watch could be higher or lower than the VAP.

alkearl · Sep 11, 2020

Issues aside with some of these pieces, still a pretty great thing to stumble upon as an estate find. I'm clearly visiting the wrong places looking for gold... congrats on the compax.

Universal Geneve Tri-Compax and Compax estate find

JimJupiter

Tempus

Larry S

ajn3323

JimJupiter

ajn3323

bgrisso

JimJupiter

JimJupiter

jumpingsecond

Diabolik

kip595

Oku

JimJupiter

Oku

Oku

JimJupiter

bgrisso

Dan S

alkearl

Similar threads

Universal Geneve Ref 12253 Tri-Compax - legit?

Universal Geneve Tri-Compax (Ref 52218)

Universal Geneve Tri-compax 222100/2 for sale thoughts

Universal Geneve Uni Compax 124116-2

A Universal Geneve Microtor (cal. 1-69) Estate Sale Project

RARE Universal Genève Dato-Compax (1930s) with Mismatched Breitling-Signed Caseback