UNIVERSAL GENÈVE TRI-COMPAX ref. 881101/01 ERIC CLAPTON 'MINT' features unique patinated dial and traditional ghosting effect on bezel. | Horological Meandering

Old watch takes an interesting twist

UNIVERSAL GENÈVE TRI-COMPAX ref. 881101/01 ERIC CLAPTON "MINT"

Some of us may know that the Tri-Compax Clapton ref. 881101 was delivered in either a white dial or black dial (aka Evil Clapton). Today, I am sharing one that seems to have taken a modern 'twist' by turning into a light shade of mint. Or would you call it pistachio?

While I cannot quite say what has happened, it seems as though the luminous material has patinated into the white dial, developing into an incredible pale mint/pistachio shade. I believe there are around 150 examples of ref. 881101/01 which have been documented so far, and this is the only watch that I have ever seen developing this colour on the dial. The bezel has taken a more traditional route, developing a light "ghosting" effect -- slightly faded with a soft tinge of blue, visible only under particular lighting.