Universal Geneve Watches On Ebay

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From the same Antiquorum auction.

Nothing wrong that I can see.

Considering their appealing size, I'm surprised by how low the bid estimate is.
 
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Interesting for sure. That guy is a known frankensteiner often using fake bezels on his dive watches. Caseback looks weird to me too plus the I am 90% sure the dial is not from UG and an aftermarket one (although it is cloissone and it does look very nice).
Besides that: a 163k movement does not belong in a 1.07m case. Furthermore the font of the UG text in the caseback is completely off and a UG logo is missing.
 
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From the same Antiquorum auction.

Nothing wrong that I can see.

Considering their appealing size, I'm surprised by how low the bid estimate is.

So this one sold for Euro 2,800 (without buyers' premium). I only bid as high as 2k Euros. With that hammer price and some additional charges mentioned it would end up at Euro 3620 (without shipping and if delivered outside the EU).

I had asked for additional pics before the auction and considering their size (39mm), rarity and condition I am actually surprised why these don't go for higher. Remind me again what makes them so unappealing?

 
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This is a plated case. Still very nice.
 
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Well, to my eyes it looks like a non original plated case! This explain the low final result.
 
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Well, to my eyes it looks like a non original plated case! This explain the low final result.

yah I'm not seeing any UG markings on the case ? (although I've never studied cases this early. Is that 6 digit number the case serial? If so it would be by far the lowest I have seen if it is a valid UG serial).

also, it looks like all the hands have been painted white? Originally I would think they should be silver, I'm not sure if these were silver, because the hand shape does look correct across the board, perhaps they got oxidized or dark and someone painted them long ago, or perhaps it's a blued set which is wrong, and someone painted white long ago.

anyhow the dial looks nice but with the case and hands issues not surprised it stays low.

additionally these quite early mono pushers I think are perhaps starting to fade towards semi borderline pocket watch territory from a financial point of view? To clarify, what I mean is that as time moves on, perhaps some of the older examples start to fall on the shoulder instead of the middle of what the market values. I could be wrong on that, it's just a subjective gut sense. But this is secondary, I think the main issue on this example is non original condition.
Edited:
 
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Thank you, everyone. Very well explained. I still have to ask - what exactly does "plated case" mean? Should I take it in its literal sense to mean that the case is original but, to counter the weathering effects of time and lack of care, has been replaced (or replated) with a more modern outer shell to prevent it from worsening?
 
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Thank you, everyone. Very well explained. I still have to ask - what exactly does "plated case" mean? Should I take it in its literal sense to mean that the case is original but, to counter the weathering effects of time and lack of care, has been replaced (or replated) with a more modern outer shell to prevent it from worsening?

I think Larry means it's chrome plated instead of SS, just based on appearance. At least with later examples, the interior case back would indicate this (as a chrome case with a SS back), however, again, I've never studied UG cases this early, so I can't speak with authority without researching other examples.
Point being, that plated (chrome or gold) cases are less valued than SS or gold, hence the lower sale price.
However in this example we are not even sure if it's a UG case, aside from if it's plated or not (it does look very shiny).
 
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I think Larry means it's chrome plated instead of SS, just based on appearance. At least with later examples, the interior case back would indicate this (as a chrome case with a SS back), however, again, I've never studied UG cases this early, so I can't speak with authority without researching other examples.
Point being, that plated (chrome or gold) cases are less valued than SS or gold, hence the lower sale price.
However in this example we are not even sure if it's a UG case, aside from if it's plated or not (it does look very shiny).
Yes …plated cases = lower price points. We see very few from this era. The drops wear off from my eye exam this morning. Looking over the literature …Pretty sure this is a re-cased watch as @vujen says. Production of this movement in Brass began 1917. Still, its an interesting watch. At least its re-cased so that it functions.
 
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Is that 6 digit number the case serial? If so it would be by far the lowest I have seen if it is a valid UG serial).
#metoo….
I’d expect UG markings as well. I’m with @vujen on this one: non original case
 
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Absolutely. However: intruiging caseback

 
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