For many collectors and serious watch connoisseurs, the incredible wristwatch showcased as today's Watch of the Week needs no introduction... Nicknamed "The Glorious" by the watch industry after its release, the Tri-Compax's innovation and design have landed it among the iconic vintage chronographs ever made.

Serving as the pinnacle of Universal Geneve's offerings, a company that propelled the chronograph to popularity, the Tri-Compax offered nearly all of the technical features available at the time, neatly packaged into one extremely fine and complicated wristwatch.

We're pleased to offer this original one. And this one won't quite break the bank like other Tri-Compax's will, like the more expensive ones made in 14K or 18K or even the ones in steel whose prices on very fine examples have climbed into five figures...

Universal Geneve offered Tri-Compax's in various sizes - this one is full size, measuring 36mm in diameter without the crown, the same size as a men's Rolex Datejust.

The centerpiece of this watch is its beautiful complicated dial that's original and untouched in excellent condition. Its subdials are in English. Its warmed to a cream tone that looks great with the case and distressed strap and gives it a true vintage style while showing only light aging.

Its case has a so-called "tropical" or "hypoallergenic" construction with gold plated top and stainless steel back. The only vintage replacement parts the crown - all other parts are original.

Its high-grade Universal Geneve caliber 287 movement is quite clean. Photos of the inside are available upon request. The Tri-Compax movements were the most complex mechanism ever offered by the company.

One of our Master Watchmakers has fully serviced the watch which consists of fully disassembling the movement, carefully inspecting each part, replacing any overly worn components, reassembling and lubricating the movement, and extensive timing testing and regulation (a $995 value).

It's running very strong and true. Of course all functions are working well. Because of their complexity you don't want to purchase one of these that hasn't been very competently gone through or you can have a real headache on your hands.

For the finishing touch we've equipped it with one of our brand new vintage style distressed leather straps that we're now offering making it ready for immediate enjoyment.

Like always, included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. warranty on the movement and its function, a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate.

• Manufacturer: Universal Geneve
• Country of origin: Switzerland
• Serial no.: 1,118,813
• Year built: 1945
• Functions: Hours, Minutes, 12-Hour Chronograph, Day, Date, Month, Moonphase, Subsidiary Seconds
• Model: Tri-Compax, Ref. 42406
• Designed for: Men
• Case material: Gold plated and stainless steel
• Case markings (outside): 1,118,813, 42406
• Case markings (inside): Universal Geneve logo, Swiss, Fond Acier Inoxydable
• Case condition: Honest original condition. Slivers of gold wear through on a few high points of the sides of the lugs. It does not appear to have ever been polished.
• Dimensions: 36mm wide (excluding crown), 43mm long lug tip-to-tip
• Dial: Matte silver warmed to a cream or light sepia, luminous Arabic and dot indexes, outer tachometer graduation for measuring speeds without calculations, guilloche auxiliary dials for the seconds, the 12 hours and 30 minutes registers, graduation for the days of the month, apertures for the days of the week, the months and the moon phases, sub dials in English, original and untouched in near mint plus condition with only light aging
• Hands: Original, luminous blue steel "diamonds"
• Movement markings: Universal Geneve, Swiss, 287, 246472
• Jewels: 17 rubies
• Band: Leather, distressed vintage style, brand new and unworn
• Width between lugs: 18mm
• Crystal: Acrylic, domed, excellent condition
• Serviced: One of our Master Watchmakers has fully serviced the watch which consists of fully disassembling the movement, carefully inspecting each part, replacing any overly worn components, reassembling and lubricating the movement, and extensive timing testing and regulation (a $995 value).
• Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. It is running very strong and true. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center and also has done authorized work for the Richemont brands including Cartier, Vacheron & Constantin, IWC, JLC and others.
• Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
• Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of our watches. If you are in any way unsatisfied with the watch we will fully refund the purchase price anytime within 7 days after the watch has been received. Our goal is to exceed our client's expectations throughout the buying experience.

All watches are packaged carefully and mailed double boxed in specially constructed, reinforced shipping boxes designed for high value items. All watches are sent fully insured with signature required. Most of our domestic shipping is done through FedEx. At times we will also use USPS Express Mail, and we can accommodate most requests for your preferred carrier. International shipments are sent USPS International Express Mail or FedEx.

The purchase price will be the declared value of the merchandise on any required customs forms. The payment of all customs duties, tariffs, and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.

Also note that water resistance of vintage watches can no longer be guaranteed and is not covered under the watch's warranty. We do not recommend getting a vintage watch wet, even one that was originally designed to be waterproof.

To get an idea of how this watch will look on the wrist, please use the Watch Sizing Guide