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gatorcpa
··ΩF InvestiGatorA watch dealer from Quebec City had a huge auction sale on eBay a couple of weeks ago. @ulackfocus alerted me by showing an auction for a ribbon lug IWC that he was eyeing (and later won). Started going through the about 500 listings this dealer had and came across a couple of UG Uni-Compax examples. The first one was the 37mm version, but had a wonky dial and broken chrono function, so that was a pass. However, in the next batch, there was a promising watch.
It's the smaller 35mm Ref. 12445, but this one has an original dial and was advertised as fully functional. To my surprise, the winning bid was about the same as the broken example. Better yet, that bid was mine!
Normally, I don't like to post a new acquisition until it actually arrives. Don't want to anger the watch gods. Unfortunately, our friend the squirrel tried to out me here:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/post-your-universal-geneves.40710/page-44
Of course, there were complications with the delivery. Seller was a bit slow to ship (he had to ship 500 watches!). Then it got stuck in Customs for a few days. For some reason, I can get purchases from Germany and Australia cleared in 24 hours, but why does stuff from Canada always get held up? Then today, I received the email that the package was picked up by our office mail room manager, but when she returned...no watch. Tried to call the local PO, but that was an exercise in futility. Finally had to drive over and sure enough, the package was still there.
Here's the official unveiling picture:
A bit of a surprise is that it is rose, not yellow gold. Dial is not perfect, but seems to be a good honest watch. Movement is very clean, but no service marks are evident inside the case.
A tiny bit of chrono-creep on the minute counter, but every thing else is working fine. Now time to clean it up and fit some female spring bars and a black lizard strap.
Thanks for sticking it out with me.
gatorcpa
It's the smaller 35mm Ref. 12445, but this one has an original dial and was advertised as fully functional. To my surprise, the winning bid was about the same as the broken example. Better yet, that bid was mine!
Normally, I don't like to post a new acquisition until it actually arrives. Don't want to anger the watch gods. Unfortunately, our friend the squirrel tried to out me here:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/post-your-universal-geneves.40710/page-44
Of course, there were complications with the delivery. Seller was a bit slow to ship (he had to ship 500 watches!). Then it got stuck in Customs for a few days. For some reason, I can get purchases from Germany and Australia cleared in 24 hours, but why does stuff from Canada always get held up? Then today, I received the email that the package was picked up by our office mail room manager, but when she returned...no watch. Tried to call the local PO, but that was an exercise in futility. Finally had to drive over and sure enough, the package was still there.
Here's the official unveiling picture:
A bit of a surprise is that it is rose, not yellow gold. Dial is not perfect, but seems to be a good honest watch. Movement is very clean, but no service marks are evident inside the case.
A tiny bit of chrono-creep on the minute counter, but every thing else is working fine. Now time to clean it up and fit some female spring bars and a black lizard strap.
Thanks for sticking it out with me.
gatorcpa
