Home » The Gruen Model Database » 1930's » Alpina - Gruen Tecno
| Alpina - Gruen Tecno [message #20685] |
Sat, 24 October 2026 17:11  |
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Passion
Messages: 149
Registered: July 2025
Location: France
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Gruen Guildsman |
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Model name: Alpina-Gruen Tecno
Type: Wristwatch
Period/date: 1929-1935
Gender: Male, mais pourquoi pas également pour les femmes ! (but why not also for women!) ;-)
Case Maker: I’ll let the professionals tell me...
Case Material: That I know --> 0.900 silver
Case Serial: 406483
Case Style no: Alpina Gruen
Caliber: 877S
Movement Maker: It’s not shown on it, the A for Aegler ?
Movement Serial: 1867406
Bracelet: Without a bracelet, I plan to have (when I don’t know) a bracelet made just like back then.
Other info:
- Of my Gruen, she’s the one who makes the most noise: tick tock, tick tock.
- The gold-colored crown is not particularly attractive.
- The dial has developed significant yellowing beneath the crystal.
- In photograph number 4, the small "bear" standing on the side of the case is the official Swiss hallmark for silver watch cases of 0.875 fineness or higher, used from 1882 to 1934.
- I'm sure you'll be able to tell me many more details. ;-)
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A ship in a harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for...
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| Re: Alpina - Gruen Tecno [message #20686 is a reply to message #20685] |
Sun, 25 October 2026 07:29  |
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Thojil
Messages: 652
Registered: May 2013
Location: Concorès, France
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Gruen Master |
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Congratulations, very nice find!
The “A” stands indeed for Aegler, who were at the time part of a joint venture with Gruen, Alpine and Rolex. Rolex fitted a 17 jewels version of that very same movement into their Prince model. Unfortunately as a result, many Gruen 877 movements have been sacrificed to “restore” Rolex Prince models which are far more valuable.
Your crown, although worn, could be original or at least period correct. Unfortunately the advertisement doesn’t show your exact model, so you cannot be sure. The other crowns will be a challenge to find if you want to change.
The model name that Gruen used was TECHNI QUADRON instead of TECNO which was the Alpine model designation. Rolex also had a unique case design however not sure if Alpina had one as well? I have the impression that Gruen and Alpina shared case designs and the Alpina was just a “rebadging job”, a practice we also know from the car industrie. As a Frenchman you will know the Renault Kangoo - Mercedes Benz Cito example, a none premium brand produced car sold by a premium brand 
Enjoy the watch, it is still missing in my collection. One day maybe …
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| Re: Alpina - Gruen Tecno [message #20705 is a reply to message #20699] |
Mon, 26 October 2026 18:11 |
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Passion
Messages: 149
Registered: July 2025
Location: France
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Gruen Guildsman |
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Jack,
You thought 1500 USD and it went for 3000 USD! I'm not surprised (even though I have a great deal to learn about watch prices).
"Major league" is too big a word for me. All of you are in the "Major League" thanks to your knowledge. Indeed, I start from the principle that "knowing" is more important than "owning". But personally, I take more pleasure in searching, taking risks and owning than in knowing...
Jenneky,
"Weird no switzerland on the dial", could be an (old) redial." :
Yes, I think so too. I won't hide from you, Jenneky, that this "switzerland" text had become an obsession for me whenever I found a Gruen. Now, much less so. I'm 56 years old, and I no longer have the abs I had at 25, but I'm still in great shape! This Gruen is running well too...
"Silver verchromt" :
0.900 = 90% silver.
84 = Russian "zolotnik" fineness mark, equal to 84/96 = 0.875 (for export to Russia).
The large bear (on the left) = Official Swiss hallmark, used from 1882 to 1934, certifying silver of 0.875 fineness or higher.
The small bear (on the right) = Smaller version of the same Swiss hallmark. A tiny letter next to the bear identifies the Swiss assay office where the case was tested.
The crescent and the crown (at the top) = German national silver mark (Halbmond und Reichskrone, silver 0.800 or higher). On a Swiss case, it was stamped in Switzerland by the case maker for cases that could be exported to Germany; it does not prove the watch was actually sold there.
I deduce that the case back and the front bezel are made of silver ! It’s true that on the outside of the case back, there is something like a very thin layer of chrome that is peeling off. Well, I’m not really sure. I would need to ask my watchmaker.
Afire,
"The case maker is absolutely Weber et. Cie." Thank you very much for this clarification.
While everyone is in the mood, what do you all think I should put as a strap on this watch? I’m not asking for your personal preferences, like “I like lizard” or “I like shark skin”. I’m just asking for your opinions on this : back when this watch came out, what kind of strap do you think it would have had ?
Because I’ve heard that in 1915 and even in the 1920s, expanding metal bracelets were starting to appear in the United States.
And I think I saw, in an advertisement or on the forum, that Techni-Quadrons were sold in the United States with expanding metal bracelets.
15 mm lug width.
A ship in a harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for...
[Updated on: Mon, 26 October 2026 18:23] Report message to a moderator |
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