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

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.

went for 2400 GBP + 21% Buyers Premium

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 😜. The veterans shall be joining in to comment soon.

Or 2600

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.

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!

I could imagine proving (beyond doubt) that it's a redial might be difficult?

And unprofitable