Universal tre tacche "Colonial" wristwatch

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Mido used a number of different manufacturers for their base ebauches in those days, including Felsa, AS and Peseux. The movement shown does look similar to some Mido movements, but I am not certain that there is any connection, at least direct. No doubt, though, that the Taubert cases was used by both manufactures, and, as Syrte pointed out, the dial design is also straight out of Mido's book.

Very cool watch!
 
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Lovely piece with the history to match, this is why we like vintages !
 
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This thread is the richest time-only UG ‘Colonial’ one I could find on the forum. I hope my nifty little watch belongs amongst such esteemed company.



The serial places this piece to around 1939. The hulking case is in fine shape considering it is over 80 years old and was presumably no safe queen, particularly when evaluated alongside its original battered bonklip bracelet.



I think the condition of the dial alone attests to the engineering ingenuity of these everything-proof cases. I have watches from the late 60s containing dials and movements with more moisture damage than this one. The case back stamps certainly check out!

Edited:
 
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This thread is the richest time-only UG ‘Colonial’ one I could find on the forum. I hope my nifty little watch belongs amongst such esteemed company.



The serial places this piece to around 1939. The hulking case is in fine shape considering it is over 70 years old and was presumably no safe queen, particularly when evaluated alongside its original battered bonklip bracelet.



I think the condition of the dial alone attests to the engineering ingenuity of these everything-proof cases. I have watches from the late 60s containing dials and movements with more moisture damage than this one. The case back stamps certainly check out!


gorgeous, I love it !!
 
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This thread is the richest time-only UG ‘Colonial’ one I could find on the forum. I hope my nifty little watch belongs amongst such esteemed company.



The serial places this piece to around 1939. The hulking case is in fine shape considering it is over 70 years old and was presumably no safe queen, particularly when evaluated alongside its original battered bonklip bracelet.



I think the condition of the dial alone attests to the engineering ingenuity of these everything-proof cases. I have watches from the late 60s containing dials and movements with more moisture damage than this one. The case back stamps certainly check out!



NICE! Futile dibs!
 
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@Woops What a lovely watch!! Thanks for posting it and congrats!
 
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gorgeous, I love it !!

aap aap
NICE! Futile dibs!

@Woops What a lovely watch!! Thanks for posting it and congrats!

Warm thanks for the kind words as always, gang. I love that these obscure little watches have so many fans out there.
 
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Woops, huge congrats for adding this beauty to your collection. The condition of the dial is fantastic, but I really love the outer caseback. Enjoy it!
 
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This thread is the richest time-only UG ‘Colonial’ one I could find on the forum. I hope my nifty little watch belongs amongst such esteemed company.



The serial places this piece to around 1939. The hulking case is in fine shape considering it is over 80 years old and was presumably no safe queen, particularly when evaluated alongside its original battered bonklip bracelet.



I think the condition of the dial alone attests to the engineering ingenuity of these everything-proof cases. I have watches from the late 60s containing dials and movements with more moisture damage than this one. The case back stamps certainly check out!


This Universal Sport reminds me of yours, condition not as good, and it was missing the same type double bayonet caseback that yours has, which I finally gave up any hope that I could ever find....
 
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This Universal Sport reminds me of yours, condition not as good, and it was missing the same type double bayonet caseback that yours has, which I finally gave up any hope that I could ever find....

Ah yes, I remember this project. The fonts used to sign the movement are so cool.

Did many other 'Sport' branded UGs turn up in your research for comparison? I've never seen another.
 
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This thread is the richest time-only UG ‘Colonial’ one I could find on the forum. I hope my nifty little watch belongs amongst such esteemed company.

Congratulations and welcome to the Colonial Club. If that came from a recent auction in a UK regional auctioneer I believe I was the under bidder. I didn't feel I could go any higher because I bought this a couple of weeks prior.

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Yours is in lovely condition.
 
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Congratulations and welcome to the Colonial Club. If that came from a recent auction in a UK regional auctioneer I believe I was the under bidder.

Yes, it is the very same watch. I was very surprised at the high level of interest at the auction; proof, if any were needed, that nothing Universal Geneve stays under the radar at all these days. I am sorry that this one did not go to you.

I didn't feel I could go any higher because I bought this a couple of weeks prior.

The case on that one is special and what beautiful numerals too! Congratulations, that is a beauty.
 
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Ah yes, I remember this project. The fonts used to sign the movement are so cool.

Did many other 'Sport' branded UGs turn up in your research for comparison? I've never seen another.

I feel like maybe either @Mazoue or @CafeRacer found one other Universal Sport at some point, but it's so buried in messages or maybe on another platform, not sure I can easily find the details.....
 
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This thread is the richest time-only UG ‘Colonial’ one I could find on the forum. I hope my nifty little watch belongs amongst such esteemed company.



The serial places this piece to around 1939. The hulking case is in fine shape considering it is over 80 years old and was presumably no safe queen, particularly when evaluated alongside its original battered bonklip bracelet.



I think the condition of the dial alone attests to the engineering ingenuity of these everything-proof cases. I have watches from the late 60s containing dials and movements with more moisture damage than this one. The case back stamps certainly check out!

Fabulous condition ! Superb timepiece, congrats !
 
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I feel like maybe either @Mazoue or @CafeRacer found one other Universal Sport at some point, but it's so buried in messages or maybe on another platform, not sure I can easily find the details.....

I had this one. The movement (Cal 255) needed some attention and I didn't have the appetite for that, so gifted it to a friend with more patience.

 
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This turned up recently in a mixed bag. It is quite tiny at 28mm and once I get round to doing something with it I suspect it will need to go on some kind of bund-like strap like my other one.
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Cal 260.
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There are faint numbers visible on the case back (I can see a 2 and a 5) but I suspect the amount of brushing will mean I will never see all of them (my feeling is 5 digit rather than 4 digit, before anybody asks 😀).
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I'll try to take some more pictures later in the month.

The major negative is a chip on the dial at 10.
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And I'm of the opinion that UG don't do syringe hands so the minute hand isn't original unless someone thinks differently.

There was a NOS Zentra tank and a scrap 14k gold case in with the bunch so I'm quite happy, all in all.