extreme tropical dial and replaced crown. How much should it be? I’m negotiating at about $550-600. Am I in right track?

 

This dial has gone way beyond tropical for me and would be of no interest to most collectors I would have thought.

Add to that the dirty movement (probably from another later watch), rotor marks inside the case back, replacement crown, replacement crystal (Loupe wrong shape) and wrong hands (wouldn’t the dial and hence hands have been lumed?) then I think you be wise to look for a better example whatever the price.

 

That's one tired looking dial and I certainly wouldn't describe it as tropical, more like just knackered. The applied Universal logo looks like it is about to actually fall off! A big pass at any price to me.

 

+1 ... too far gone. You need to have a watchmaker with a great parts network. I have a good tropical and it was fortunate that my watchmaker was able to source the parts it needed. He also did not charge me what he could have. The service on that will not advance the watch value. Then there is that terrible dial.

 

I wouldn’t use tropical as description for this dial. Quite heavy patina.

 

This is also too much patina for me. I wouldnt call it tropical. Too bad because the case looks very sharp!

 

Add to all that mentioned above, the balance has been replaced with one from a later 218/69 caliber.
I guess someone at the Polerouter chop shop has been working overtime...

If there is a reference number, it will be on the caseback like on the 204610 example here:
https://universalgenevepolerouter.com/guide-to-locating-model-reference-and-serial-numbers/

 

I happen to love the all-original, well-worn look of the dial, and the unpolished case. As you have already discovered, it is not a great investment piece, and it is not going to wow any vintage UG collectors, but who cares? Assuming it runs and tells time, put a nice leather strap on it, wear it with your favorite pair of worn-in jeans, and you will have one cool-looking watch there; and one that you won't have to worry about too much if you put a new scratch in it!

 

Judging by the low-rez movement photo, I would not bank on it running very well. At least not for very long.

 

Keep in mind servicing costs too