| Gruen Mystery Dial [message #15231] |
Thu, 22 July 2021 00:38  |
lovinwatches
Messages: 7
Registered: July 2021
Location: United States
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Gruen Apprentice |
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Model name: Unsure
Type: Mystery Dial
Period/date: Unsure// maybe 50's?
Gender: Male
Case Maker:
Case Material:
Case Serial: J63809
Case Style no: 068
Caliber:215R
Movement Maker: Unsure
Movement Serial: Unsure
Bracelet:Unoriginal Spiedel expansion
Other info: Dial is almost like a "pan". Ball hour marker and spoon shaped hand that curves over the ball. The gold plate on top has posts drilled into the crystal. I wasn't expecting such a small movement is a rather big case. Please let me know if any other information is needed. Thank you.
[Updated on: Mon, 19 September 2022 17:51] by Moderator Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Gruen Mystery Dial [message #15246 is a reply to message #15242] |
Fri, 23 July 2021 06:21  |
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Barney Green
Messages: 1747
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
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Gruen Authority |
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It is a genuine Gruen, no doubt. It is pictured in the so called "Masterbook" or "Catalog" as one of the last strap watches, it carries the number 036 for 1036. So it has been the 1036th model between late 1922 and 1957 which Gruen released. The last in this book is number 058 and it is believed that the photo collection in this book lasted until the sale of the original Gruen company. This is also a proof that the model existed already in 1957.
Beside the two versions of the books, which are copyrighted, so I could not post photos from there, I found this watch only pictured once in an advertisement in a local newspaper, "The News-Palladium" from Benton Harbor, Michigan. It is a jewelers ad from "Fox's" advertised in a clearance sale in the July 29, 1958 issue. Again this fact shows that it is an "older" watch, first issued before 1958.
The other mystery dial from the full page ad is Strap 996, so indeed 40 models earlier and should have occurred late 1956. There is also a third mystery or floating dial Gruen model pictured in "the catalog", it strangely does not have a number (appears between 011 and 012), this one should have a caliber 220. Caliber 220 was not introduced before 1959, so this watch does not really belong there and must be seen as a successor to yours.
And you are perfectly right, at this time Gruen named their models. But the Masterbook/Catalog did not have the names and the only advertisement I own does not name the watch either. So at this moment I do not have one for this particular model.
This is what I like most about Gruen: thousands of mysteries to be solved...
Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)
[Updated on: Fri, 23 July 2021 06:23] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Gruen Mystery Dial [message #15262 is a reply to message #15261] |
Sat, 24 July 2021 12:47 |
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Barney Green
Messages: 1747
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
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Gruen Authority |
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It appears that both versions are out of print meanwhile. Look out for
Mike Barnett: "The Gruen Watch Catalog" (remastered)
Roy Ehrhardt: Gruen Guild Master Book (worse quality pictures)
Both are showing the same base material, but be aware prices will be very high, if you can get hold of a copy.
Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)
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. There are a lot of mysteries around Gruen for sure and they have a lot of really neat models. I think I got too used to Hamilton's and how much information can be found on them lol. Is the book you have still available or is it out of production? Thank you!
