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Home » The Gruen Model Database » 1920's » Quadron 63 (Beautiful model with 'crown guard" case!)
Quadron 63 [message #755] Mon, 24 June 2013 23:36 Go to next message
brtime is currently offline  brtime
Messages: 21
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Apprentice
Here's one that's going into the vault, as many of you know the Quadrons are one of my favorites! I acquired it in 2010, and am just know getting around to cataloging it. It's nice to get a Gruen once in a while that you can "positively ID" from the factory's 1929-'31 Guild Book! Love the "W" after the "8." First time I've seen a number/letter combination for the case style!

Model name : Quadron 63
Type : Quadron, 15J Guild movement
Period/date : late 1920s
Gender : Men

Case Maker : Wadsworth
Case Material : 14kt gold filled
Case Serial : 5,419,980
Case Style no : 157/8W

Caliber : 157
Movement Maker : Marc Favre
Movement Serial: 1,166,816

Bracelet : Leather band

Other info (my opinion only): Positively ID'd on Page 16 (top center) of my Gruen Book, and also page 79 of the Gruen Guild book (picture included below). Nice case design on this, gravitating more toward the "streamlned" designs of the later Quadrons versus the "Art Deco" designs of the earlier ones. The slits carved into the tops of the lugs are a nice touch, as is the "crown guard" design of the case. The domed crystal is no doubt a replacement, and not correct for this model. If anyone can help me obtain the correct glass crystal for this, I'd be much obliged!

Enjoy!

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Sincerely,

Bruce Shawkey
brtime

[Updated on: Tue, 25 June 2013 12:46]

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Re: Quadron 63 [message #759 is a reply to message #755] Tue, 25 June 2013 02:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
afire is currently offline  afire
Messages: 1312
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Authority
brtime wrote on Mon, 24 June 2013 23:36
Love the "W" after the "8." First time I've seen a number/letter combination for the case style!..The domed crystal is no doubt a replacement, and not correct for this model. If anyone can help me obtain the correct glass crystal for this, I'd be much obliged!

I have one. I think the W means wide. There is a 157/8 and 117/8 that's a bit narrower. I had two and the other one popped into a 117/8W case perfectly. PM me if you'd like it.
Re: Quadron 63 [message #762 is a reply to message #759] Tue, 25 June 2013 09:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Thojil is currently offline  Thojil
Messages: 650
Registered: May 2013
Location: Concorès, France
Gruen Master
Nice! But why condemning it to eternal darkness in a vault....

Movement maker of the 157 is not Alpina, but Marc Favre Co. who also supplied to Alpina. Like Alpina and Gruen, Marc Favre Co. was part of the Union Horlogère SA. Confirmed is that they also produced the Cartouche cal. 153 & 163/165/167.
Re: Quadron 63 [message #767 is a reply to message #762] Tue, 25 June 2013 12:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
brtime is currently offline  brtime
Messages: 21
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Apprentice
Thojil wrote on Tue, 25 June 2013 04:05
Nice! But why condemning it to eternal darkness in a vault....

Movement maker of the 157 is not Alpina, but Marc Favre Co. who also supplied to Alpina. Like Alpina and Gruen, Marc Favre Co. was part of the Union Horlogère SA. Confirmed is that they also produced the Cartouche cal. 153 & 163/165/167.


"... for the vault ..." is just my catch phrase meaning it's going into my own collection, rather than being put up for sale Smile I do keep my personal watch collection in a safe deposit box. 160-plus watches are just too many to keep in the house. But I visit my "babies" regularly and rotate through the collection and bring them out into the light and wear them on my wrist. At the moment, I'm wearing a '50s vintage Omega Seamaster automatic with date at 6:00.

I made the correction on the movement manufacturer. I got the information off the Ranft site (pink pages). There, it stated that the 157 was an Alpina movement.

Thanks for your comments!


Sincerely,

Bruce Shawkey
brtime
Re: Quadron 63 [message #768 is a reply to message #767] Tue, 25 June 2013 13:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JackW is currently offline  JackW
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Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver
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I had some discussion with Dr. Ranfft on the 157 and his basis for the Alpina link is the occurrence of Alpina marked movements. In doing searches for patents I found the Favre patent online last year and I think there is no mistaking what the movement is: LINK

All I know is based on hard work & writing by others. I can only aspire to augment this body of knowledge. If I am wrong it is because of my own failings. -me

"If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton

[Updated on: Tue, 25 June 2013 13:37]

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Re: Quadron 63 [message #778 is a reply to message #768] Tue, 25 June 2013 22:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1853
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
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Quote:
Love the "W" after the "8." First time I've seen a number/letter combination for the case style!


Good news. There are more! Rolling Eyes
-pocket watch 750 W, 14k gold filled, wadsworth (1x)
-wristlet 127 W, ultra quality gold filled, wadsworth (1x)
-wristlet 819 1/2 W, ultra quality gold filled, wadsworth (1x)
-wristlet 819 1/2 G, ultra quality gold filled, wadsworth (2x)
-wristlet 825 G, ultra quality gold filled, wadsworth (1x)
-wristlet 24 Y, 0.935, ? (1x)[/list]
-wristlet 8 3/4 ligne W , ultra quality gold filled, wadsworth (1x)
-wristlet 10 1/2 ligne W , ultra quality gold filled, wadsworth (1x)
-wristlet 10 1/2 ligne G, ultra quality gold filled, wadsworth (1x)
-convertible 10 1/2 ligne G, ultra quality gold filled, wadsworth (2x)
-quadron 157 8w, 14k gold filled reinforced with extra gold, wadsworth (10x) -> for example Quadron 15

And diamond wrist watches in the guild book have some special lettering. These "Design numbers" are also inside the case:
Cartouche 105 1w, iridium platinum (1x) -> Design 1W105 (page 109, 1929 Guild book)
Cartouche D107, iridium platinum (1x) -> Design D1077


Quote:
I think the W means wide.

In the 1929 Guild book Crystal chart you see style 1: 157/8w 117/8w and style 6: 157/8 117/8. If these crystals are the original size, you can see that the 8W crystal is bigger overall. So yes, it could mean "wide". But I have some doubts seeing those "G"s and other letter markings.


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

[Updated on: Tue, 25 June 2013 22:16]

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Re: Quadron 63 [message #781 is a reply to message #778] Wed, 26 June 2013 01:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JackW is currently offline  JackW
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Jenneke wrote on Tue, 25 June 2013 22:13
-wristlet 24 Y, 0.935,

I want to see this one. You holding out?

Also, I was under the mild impression that the 'w' designator was for three-part cases. These are the ones with the internal crystal ring. What are the numbers associated with these watches?


All I know is based on hard work & writing by others. I can only aspire to augment this body of knowledge. If I am wrong it is because of my own failings. -me

"If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton
Re: Quadron 63 [message #783 is a reply to message #781] Wed, 26 June 2013 06:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1853
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
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Quote:
I want to see this one.

Sadly, don't have it. Sad It was on ebay last week. In fact it was Plate 24B, the paris square in silver (Guild book 1918, page 40)


Quote:
What are the numbers associated with these watches?

What numbers do you mean? The names of the watches?


You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje
Re: Quadron 63 [message #786 is a reply to message #783] Wed, 26 June 2013 12:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JackW is currently offline  JackW
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Some of the older style wristwatches had a three-part case with an inner retainer ring that held the crystal in place. What are the style numbers associated with these watches? What is the question I'm asking. I know B has at-least one of these style watches.

All I know is based on hard work & writing by others. I can only aspire to augment this body of knowledge. If I am wrong it is because of my own failings. -me

"If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton
Re: Quadron 63 [message #790 is a reply to message #786] Wed, 26 June 2013 16:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
afire is currently offline  afire
Messages: 1312
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Authority
The 8W's are actually the two piece types (at least the ones I've had). It's the 117/8 and 157/8 that have the bezel insert. Look, here comes one now...
http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Music/Hotlinking/i-5mSrkVM/0/XL/CIMG0912-XL.jpg
Re: Quadron 63 [message #792 is a reply to message #786] Wed, 26 June 2013 17:12 Go to previous message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1853
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
Quote:
What are the style numbers associated with these watches?

Ahh, well, depending on what you call a style "number". I shared all the info on these watches, including what might be the style number OR could be the movement caliber number.

I think that not all the Gruen watch cases show the caliber number (for example my baguette only has a style number inside the case back).

So style numbers could be: W, G, 1W, 1/2 W (don't know movement 819 1/2), D, 24Y, etc...



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