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Home » The Gruen Model Database » 1930's » Two-Diamond Brookline - possible Baguette 519
Two-Diamond Brookline - possible Baguette 519 [message #15691] Sat, 30 October 2021 15:09 Go to next message
Case is currently offline  Case
Messages: 1178
Registered: May 2019
Location: Cincinnati
Gruen Authority
Thanks to Barney for help possibly ID'ing this one!

Model name: Unknown, a diamond variant of Baguette 75 (Brookline)
Type: Baguette
Period/date: circa 1933-1934
Gender: Ladies

Case Maker: Gruen
Case Material: --k Gold Filled (no numbers)
Case Serial: 2240302
Case Style no: 134

Caliber: 327
Movement Maker: ?
Movement Serial: 255895

Bracelet: Sturdy Allegheny, marked "patent pending" (possible reference to US2082621, filed 6/1933)

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Other info: Baguette 75 shows the same stair-step case decoration, caliber 327, "filled w-y" implying two-tone. Baguette 519 image is missing from book. Its description matches Bag 75, and the 500s models do appear to be slightly dressed-up diamond gold filled variants of others. It is possible this was a Bag 75 that was later "pimped out." IMO, the cleanness of the diamond mounts & borders mean this was made like this at the start. But the fact it isn't two-tone may negate that.

Dial is a match to Bag 72--also a 327 with same style #--so I think it is original/interchangeable.

[Updated on: Sat, 30 October 2021 21:49]

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Re: Two-Diamond Brookline - possible Baguette 519 [message #15696 is a reply to message #15691] Sat, 30 October 2021 21:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Case is currently offline  Case
Messages: 1178
Registered: May 2019
Location: Cincinnati
Gruen Authority
Sorry the pics aren’t displaying... not sure why.

Edit: Believe I’ve got it sorted now

[Updated on: Sat, 30 October 2021 21:48]

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Re: Two-Diamond Brookline - possible Baguette 519 [message #15700 is a reply to message #15696] Sun, 31 October 2021 00:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
thesnark17 is currently offline  thesnark17
Messages: 649
Registered: January 2017
Gruen Master
Quite interesting that the gold carat value is completely missing. I can see how that could have happened in manufacturing, but surely selling it that way was a violation of federal law? I find it hard to imagine that no one noticed before selling it.

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Re: Two-Diamond Brookline - possible Baguette 519 [message #15702 is a reply to message #15691] Sun, 31 October 2021 01:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ephemerald
Messages: 1039
Registered: October 2018
Location: City of Lake Salt
Gruen Authority
Really nice Dan. That looks really clean, square, precise on the diamond, looks genuine. For sure could be one of missing baguettes in catalog. The "w-y" suggesting two tone makes sense to me. Is that something you think they designated for just gold filled or full gold too? Asking bc I own a clear two tone 14k, that does not have a "w-y" designation in catalog at all.

Matthias

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Re: Two-Diamond Brookline - possible Baguette 519 [message #15703 is a reply to message #15702] Sun, 31 October 2021 02:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Case is currently offline  Case
Messages: 1178
Registered: May 2019
Location: Cincinnati
Gruen Authority
Thanks! The peculiar “w-y” notation was something I noticed just in the 30s filled baguettes, most of which you can see the two tone there. I’ve seen others where I think it means they were made in either color, but something struck me as different about the notation here. Other eyes appreciated!

thesnark17 wrote on Sat, 30 October 2021 20:17
Quite interesting that the gold carat value is completely missing. I can see how that could have happened in manufacturing, but surely selling it that way was a violation of federal law? I find it hard to imagine that no one noticed before selling it.
Yes, it’s strange, isn’t it? It had been an FTC requisite for many years. I’d think the stamps would be a single unit—the karat value never appears like it’s added separately to me. Perhaps transitional? 14k gf switching to 10k I mean. Or mixed metals (again, assuming two tone)? I don’t have any others to compare.

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Re: Two-Diamond Brookline - possible Baguette 519 [message #15704 is a reply to message #15703] Sun, 31 October 2021 03:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ephemerald
Messages: 1039
Registered: October 2018
Location: City of Lake Salt
Gruen Authority
Case wrote on Sat, 30 October 2021 20:52
Thanks! The peculiar “w-y” notation was something I noticed just in the 30s filled baguettes, most of which you can see the two tone there. I’ve seen others where I think it means they were made in either color, but something struck me as different about the notation here. Other eyes appreciated!
Ok, I notice the "w-y" on quite a few gold baguette models from 30's as well. Such as baguette 548. Yet my baguette 551 which is two tone, which you can see, does not have the designation "w-y" but only "14ky". Curious.

Matthias

[Updated on: Sun, 31 October 2021 07:21]

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Re: Two-Diamond Brookline - possible Baguette 519 [message #15705 is a reply to message #15704] Sun, 31 October 2021 09:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Re: Fld w-y
The Smithfield which is marked Fldw-y 181 in the Catalog had been advertised as "white or coin gold filled" in it's ads. It clearly says "OR", so not all wathes which were marked w-y had been two-tones. I found this being inconsistant in The Book.
BTW: even the band seems to be original if I compare your photos with the Brookline ads from 1933. And I just found one 1934 ad of the non diamond version with a different band where the watch was called "Wellesley" described being available in "Natural or white gold". The Wellesley should be different looking though (Bag 80), it at least does in other ads, so I believe the name and possibly description had been mixed up. But again also this one says "OR" and is marked Fldw-y in the Catalog.

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

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Re: Two-Diamond Brookline - possible Baguette 519 [message #15706 is a reply to message #15705] Sun, 31 October 2021 15:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1853
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
Nice one Dan! Curious the 14 is missing. Love those nice blue hands too.

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

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Re: Two-Diamond Brookline - possible Baguette 519 [message #15710 is a reply to message #15706] Mon, 01 November 2021 14:22 Go to previous message
Case is currently offline  Case
Messages: 1178
Registered: May 2019
Location: Cincinnati
Gruen Authority
Thanks again--even better, it runs! So it may indeed be original, just differing somewhat in execution from what's shown in the book. Sounds like others also see the apparent yellow vs. white on Bag 75 (and others in 50-99 range), but the w-y notation isn't a slam dunk. Perhaps multiple models/model names for various color formats. The 30's are still a wild west to me.

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