Vintage Gruen: 1930's » Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty?

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Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11486]

Tue, 22 October 2019 11:45

dr.raul
Messages: 20
Registered: October 2019

Gruen Apprentice

Good morning to all, I am new here and in the Gruen world. A friend watchmaker has this Gruen Curvex, case 52mm x 22, a very damaged dial, and I was wondering if it is a Majesty or not.
Majesty or not, I would like to hear your thoughts about it
here is a few pic.

https://i.imgur.com/zZrNIRI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vY52915.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/S2T3C7I.jpg

[Updated on: Tue, 22 October 2019 11:46]

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11487 is a reply to message #11486]

Tue, 22 October 2019 12:52

Gary
Messages: 2164
Registered: May 2013
Location: Seattle

Gruen Authority
Cheerleader

Yes a style# 292 indicates a Majesty. The dial looks to be original and whoever had it kept it that way for collectors sake in my opinion. The case looks to be in good shape too.

Gary

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11488 is a reply to message #11486]

Tue, 22 October 2019 12:52

Case
Messages: 1178
Registered: May 2019
Location: Cincinnati

Gruen Authority

Hello, Raul, and welcome! You've come to the right place for Gruen, to be sure! Looking forward to getting to know you.

This Curvex was cased in early 1938. Others are better able to ID your exact model, but I do believe style # 292 would fit with the Majesty. Do you also have a pic of the movement? I'm assuming it would have a sn close to 460300.

My two caveats:
1) I'm wrong many times a day --just ask my wife!
2) Always seeking to learn more

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11489 is a reply to message #11488]

Tue, 22 October 2019 13:40

dr.raul
Messages: 20
Registered: October 2019

Gruen Apprentice

Thank you, no I haven't a pic of the movement.
I am looking for a nice Majesty but frankly this dial doesn't inspire me much, I know many were restored and for collector's sake it's better an original dial than a restored one, but this is beyond some age pitting that can be also pleasant.
I know it is very difficult to find a clean dial after 80 years in watches that surely weren't well sealed.
Anyway, how much do you think could be a fair price for a watch in this condition?
He asks about $2700 for it and it seems way too much to me

[Updated on: Tue, 22 October 2019 14:30]

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11490 is a reply to message #11489]

Tue, 22 October 2019 14:34

Gary
Messages: 2164
Registered: May 2013
Location: Seattle

Gruen Authority
Cheerleader

$1300 at best. For $2700 I would expect a near original, serviced watch including dial. I'd also expect a box with papers. A good example.

Shop around, take your time, do some research before you invest that much money. Don't get caught in the adrenalin rush, been there and done that. Rolling Eyes

Rolling Eyes

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=5399&private=0

Attachment: M-case.jpg
(Size: 433.15KB, Downloaded 1102 times)

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11491 is a reply to message #11490]

Tue, 22 October 2019 14:58

dr.raul
Messages: 20
Registered: October 2019

Gruen Apprentice

Hi Gary, I suppose by "near original" you meant "near mint", however I have no intention to buy this one, you can be sure, I just wanted the opinion of you experts about it and to have an idea about the real value of these watches. By the way I would surely buy the one in your pic even for $3,000 😁

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11492 is a reply to message #11491]

Tue, 22 October 2019 15:16

dr.raul
Messages: 20
Registered: October 2019

Gruen Apprentice

So was this a Majesty too? Much better shape and price...
https:// www.ebay.com/itm/Gruen-Curvex-330-52mm-Case-Gold-Filled-17j- Manual-Wind-Wristwatch-c-1938-RARE-/202775297353?hash=item2f 36597d49%3Ag%3Ap-MAAOSw-zVddrwA&nma=true&si=5I8br%25 2BcPzkcvwpSU2y2Cu7%252Bqsp8%253D&orig_cvip=true&nord t=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11493 is a reply to message #11492]

Tue, 22 October 2019 15:40

Gary
Messages: 2164
Registered: May 2013
Location: Seattle

Gruen Authority
Cheerleader

dr.raul wrote on Tue, 22 October 2019 15:16

So was this a Majesty too? Much better shape and price...

Yes a style 292 and serviced, great price too! Can't say for sure if the dial is original or refinished but looks nice.

We are no experts here but we've sure seen some cross our path in the last 5 years or so.

Ebay will have them show up every now an then, price is like a roller coaster. The best venue to find one in my opinion is the NAWCC Regional/Conventions. The next one of interest is in June, Dayton OH. This is Gruen country and with this many tables, there is good certainty that someone will know of someone or have one to sell. I'll be there and sure others will be there too for their Gruen searches.

Gary

Attachment: Dayton Tables.pdf
(Size: 464.76KB, Downloaded 181 times)

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11495 is a reply to message #11493]

Tue, 22 October 2019 15:57

afire
Messages: 1344
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin

Gruen Authority

Nice price on that eBay one.

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11496 is a reply to message #11493]

Tue, 22 October 2019 16:30

dr.raul
Messages: 20
Registered: October 2019

Gruen Apprentice

Thank you Gary, the problem with the convention is that I am in Italy not in USA...

GaryM wrote on Tue, 22 October 2019 15:40

dr.raul wrote on Tue, 22 October 2019 15:16
So was this a Majesty too? Much better shape and price...

Yes a style 292 and serviced, great price too! Can't say for sure if the dial is original or refinished but looks nice.

We are no experts here but we've sure seen some cross our path in the last 5 years or so.

Ebay will have them show up every now an then, price is like a roller coaster. The best venue to find one in my opinion is the NAWCC Regional/Conventions. The next one of interest is in June, Dayton OH. This is Gruen country and with this many tables, there is good certainty that someone will know of someone or have one to sell. I'll be there and sure others will be there too for their Gruen searches.

Gary

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11604 is a reply to message #11496]

Sat, 02 November 2019 10:06

dr.raul
Messages: 20
Registered: October 2019

Gruen Apprentice

An update: for some kind of impulse I decided to write to the seller of the closed ebay auction that I posted above if he could ask on my behalf to the buyer if he was willing to sell the watch for a bigger sum.
After a few day I got a message from the seller saying that he got the watch back because the buyer wanted it for a gift that didn't end well and that if I wanted it I could make him my offer. I was very puzzled and doubtful that this watch was in his possession again just when I asked about it, so I wrote him back saying that I needed some proof that he actually had the watch. So I asked to send me two pics, one with the hands pointing at 7:25 and one of the internal of caseback, and if everything was right I could offer $1,000 for it. In a few minutes he sent the two pics requested and accepted the offer, so we closed the deal with a buy-it-now auction and yesterday the watch arrived, it is still not in my hands because I had it shipped to a friend in USA that will bring it to me when will come back to Italy in about a month but the point is that I got it, and I think also for a good price all things considered.
Just thinking it was a nice story to share, strange coincidences can happen

https://i.imgur.com/5gKQUUs.jpg

[Updated on: Sat, 02 November 2019 10:12]

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11605 is a reply to message #11604]

Sat, 02 November 2019 16:17

Case
Messages: 1178
Registered: May 2019
Location: Cincinnati

Gruen Authority

Congrats!!

My two caveats:
1) I'm wrong many times a day --just ask my wife!
2) Always seeking to learn more

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11794 is a reply to message #11605]

Wed, 04 December 2019 15:57

dr.raul
Messages: 20
Registered: October 2019

Gruen Apprentice

Finally arrived! Here is some pics, to me it seems in very good conditions for a watch over 80 years old and the dial looks original too, on the back it has a nice inscription june 1938:

https://i.imgur.com/ROH7mLe.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/axaAjJe.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/NSLDFVs.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VRY34QF.jpg

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11795 is a reply to message #11794]

Wed, 04 December 2019 16:10

JackW
Messages: 1976
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin

Beautiful!

Can you include a movement photo and one on the case back inside?

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

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11796 is a reply to message #11795]

Wed, 04 December 2019 16:20

dr.raul
Messages: 20
Registered: October 2019

Gruen Apprentice

unfortunately I haven't the tool to open the back so I cannot take a picture of the movement, but on next days I will have it reviewed by my friend watchmaker and I can take a pic of the movement, here is a pic of the case back inside that was sent to me by the seller:

https://i.imgur.com/zeoZqMS.jpg

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11797 is a reply to message #11796]

Wed, 04 December 2019 16:28

JackW
Messages: 1976
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin

Thanks!

The G0 case serial number and the 1938 date on the back are what interests me.

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

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11798 is a reply to message #11797]

Wed, 04 December 2019 16:30

dr.raul
Messages: 20
Registered: October 2019

Gruen Apprentice

I suppose these are consistent with an authentic 1938 majesty, correct?

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Re: Is this a 1938 Curvex Majesty? [message #11799 is a reply to message #11798]

Wed, 04 December 2019 16:55

JackW
Messages: 1976
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin

dr.raul wrote on Wed, 04 December 2019 16:30

I suppose these are consistent with an authentic 1938 majesty, correct?

to me, yes.

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

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