What Do I Have? And What Should I Do With It?

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dpic151

·Mar 10, 2018

Hi all--I found this watch at a thrift shop, and I don't know much about it other than that it's a Universal Geneve, and it's old. The case back says nothing on it. The front of the dial says "Universal Geneve" on top and "Swiss" in small letters on the bottom.

The bad: As the pictures show, it's missing lugs. All of them.

The good: I wound it up and it started running and emitting a healthy "tick tick tick" sound.

So my questions are: First, can anyone tell me anything about it? And second, what should I do with it? Replacing lugs would involve either a very expensive repair or a donor case, right? I'm not sure I want to do that--is it worth it? And if I don't, do you think others might want to? Or use it for a parts watch or something?

Thanks, all! I don't live in an area with a watchmaker or watch repair expert, so I really appreciate the help!

 

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bgrisso

·Mar 10, 2018

what is the case size? is this a pocket watch or a wrist watch? if it's a wrist watch you should have very obvious places where the lugs are damaged/missing, etc. It's hard to tell from your pics, but yours looks smooth all around the exterior rim, is that right?

 

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bgrisso

·Mar 10, 2018

measure the case diameter in MM without the crown

 

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dpic151

·Mar 10, 2018

It looks to be about 32mm, give or take. I’ve tried to take some photos that capture where the lugs should be—I think there’s enough residue to think that there were once lugs there, no?

Thank you for the help!

 

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10H10

·Mar 10, 2018

I honestly think that you can't do anithing with this, doesn't worth the costs...🙁

 

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Foo2rama

·Mar 10, 2018·Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...

Caseback looks wrong for the dial period. I may be wrong.

Curious as to the movement.

 

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dpic151

·Mar 11, 2018

If anyone can give me a sense of how to get the back off, I can try and get a photo of the movement and any markings.
Thanks!

 

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77deluxe

·Mar 11, 2018

A case back tool is best but in a pinch maybe applying resistance with a rubber ball could work.

 

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Syrte

·Mar 11, 2018

I hate to dampen your enthusiasm @dpic151, but if you have no watchmaker nearby who can help you open up stuff and identify it you should not get into the business of buying broken watches that you can’t use and don’t know what they are. You’ll probably end up spending needlessly on irretrievable wrecks.
Better start asking yourself what it is you want or you’re trying to achieve, and learn to avoid making expensive mistakes.

 

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dpic151

·Mar 11, 2018

Thanks, Syrte, for the advice--it is well-taken!
I actually didn't mean to end up with this watch. I was messing around in a local thrift shop and found the watch bin, and when the clerk saw me poking through it he said I could take as much as I wanted for $10. So I ended up with two old Timex watches (one manual wind and one automatic, both in great shape and working fine, 1960s-70s according to the internet), a Zodiac "Spacetronic" (in good shape but seems to need a battery), a Hamilton Nautilus quartz watch (also needs a battery), a beat-up "Helbros" watch (never heard of it), and this Universal Geneve. I brought it home and did some google and eBay searching, and found this forum. So safe to say I will not be investing in other broken watches, unless they cost $2.00 or less.
It's pretty cool and it's running, so I may hold on to it as a desk piece--or might sell it, if it's worth anything. I haven't decided yet. I'll try to get my hands on a case back tool and get it open, and if I do I'll upload some pictures of the movement. Is this the kind of case where the back screws on and off?
Thanks again for the info and advice! Any further information would be most appreciated!

 

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Syrte

·Mar 11, 2018

This now makes much more sense. From the styling of it, it's clearly a 1940s watch, perhaps early 50s at most. This is most definitely a screw back case. The lugs would be much too expensive to repair relative to the value of the watch.
So indeed your best options are either to keep it as a desk piece -- or to sell it for parts.
For an idea of the value, just do a search on Ebay for "Universal Geneve movement parts".

 

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redpcar

·Mar 11, 2018

ummmmmmmmmmmmm............. Let's see the Spacetronic. ☕

 

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Carlton-Browne

·Mar 12, 2018

Should it transpire that the case holds a calibre 262 movement please drop me a note; I have an art-deco-dialled beauty in need of a donor.

 

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dpic151

·Mar 12, 2018

Thanks, Syrte, for the information! And Carlton-Browne, if/when I'm able to get it open and take some pictures, I'll let you know.

Redpcar: Here's the Spacetronic next to the Hamilton. Know anything about either of these?

 

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10H10

·Mar 12, 2018

Honestly, don't loose time on this project, the only valuable spares are the movement (if in good condition) and the hands, maximum value: 60 €... 🤔

 

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redpcar

·Mar 12, 2018

Let me get this straight. You found all these watches for $10?

 

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Reddy_Kilowatt

·Mar 12, 2018

D dpic151

Thanks, Syrte, for the information! And Carlton-Browne, if/when I'm able to get it open and take some pictures, I'll let you know.

Redpcar: Here's the Spacetronic next to the Hamilton. Know anything about either of these?

That Hamilton is kind of cool looking.

P.S. What about those stretch bracelets? What a crap idea those were.

 

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dpic151

·Mar 12, 2018

Thanks, 10H10! I won't put too much time into it!

Yep, all of them for $10. The two Timex watches are (according to the internet) "Marlin" models. One (manual wind) is from the early 1960s (and also on a stretch bracelet, which, I've learned, is not kind to arm hair). The other (automatic) is from 1978, and came without a band. Both work great.

The Helbros watch looks old and doesn't run. There's also something called a Tutonia (not sure if that's the right spelling; I'll check later), which, oddly, says "Hong Kong" on the dial, which does not seem especially Teutonic. And a couple of ladies' watches--a Seiko quartz and a no-name--that work perfectly and now belong to my wife.

Not bad for $10, right?

 

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redpcar

·Mar 12, 2018

ummmm. duh.
Screaming deal.
Your Hamilton looks to be the best of the bunch......so far