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Watches of Knightsbridge Auctioneers: did NOT win the UNIVERSAL GENEVE TRI-COMPAX

  1. luzer Mar 15, 2014

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    hope one of you guys did


    A RARE GENTLEMAN`S STAINLESS STEEL UNIVERSAL GENEVE TRI-COMPAX MOONPHASE TRIPLE CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH CIRCA 1945, REF. 22250 D: Silver dial with Arabic numerals, four sub-dials recording hours, minutes, continuous seconds, and displaying date with moonphase aperture, day & month apertures, outer base scale. M: 17 jewel manual wind movement signed Universal Watch Co & numbered, calibre 481. C: Circular case with "bombay" lugs, signed Universal Geneve & numbered, case diameter approx. 34mm. S: Black leather strap.


    CONDITION REPORT D: Original dial in very good condition, showing signs of age with some small marks and dents to the surface. M: Working at present, all functions working and resetting. C: In excellent condition, with some light scratches due to general use. S: In excellent condition. D: Dial / M: Movement / C: Case / S: Strap / B: Bracelet.
    [​IMG]
     
  2. luzer Mar 15, 2014

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    went for 2400 GBP + 21% Buyers Premium
     
  3. ELV web Mar 15, 2014

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    May have been a blessing to not win. The ink looks very thick.... Also font alignment for "tri-compax" looks a bit off. Also subdial fonts look off and the date hand doesn't look red (could have been lighting). My guess would be a redial which at 5k USD, that is really quite a premium. But again, just a guess from someone who missed the mark on his first 2 UGs :p. The veterans shall be joining in to comment soon.
     
  4. SpikiSpikester @ ΩF Staff Member Mar 15, 2014

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    I was at the auction & spoke to the winner. A nice young Asian guy who was there with his gf. He's collecting one example from each major manufacturer & it was his first UG.
     
    luzer likes this.
  5. luzer Mar 15, 2014

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    Or 2600
     
  6. SpikiSpikester @ ΩF Staff Member Mar 15, 2014

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    Yes, £2600 + 21.6% premium.
     
  7. woodwkr2 Mar 15, 2014

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    Redial. That's an example of a European redial, for the cognoscenti.
    Something looks off on that moonphase wheel too. I haven't pulled out the references, but strongly suspect it's either a replacement or was repainted (incorrectly).

    Hands are original. Looks like the red in the date hand has just faded, and could easily be spiffed up. Crown may be a replacement.

    The real draw here are those fantastic spider lugs. While they've been polished, there's still some definition there.

    The UK/Europe seems to demand a premium over US and Australian pricing, but even so, that's an expensive Tri-Compax that will need an expensive servicing.
     
    Hijak likes this.
  8. rspace Mar 18, 2014

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    Redial, really? It was my first time bidding at an auction and my laptop decided to hang on me just before i could bid on this one! But that would mean the description given is wrong. Does that happen at auctions? I would think they have experts in the area as well!
     
  9. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Mar 18, 2014

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    Does it happen? Frequently, some auction houses are better, most aren't, but they all get it wrong from time to time. They are extremely unlikely to have a Universal Geneve expert, where as we have many of them here.
     
  10. LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Mar 18, 2014

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    This happens often at auctions. Expertise is one of the things you are supposed to be paying for when you buy from an auction house. But I would suggest you bring your own. There will never be a substitute for your own judgement, simply because no one has as much invested in a given purchase as you do.

    That said, you do have a reasonable case for a refund from an auction house if you can prove that its description was misleading.
     
  11. aglinz Mar 21, 2014

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    I could imagine proving (beyond doubt) that it's a redial might be difficult?
     
  12. blackwatch wants tickets to the HyperBole. Mar 21, 2014

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    And unprofitable