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Watch Dial and Hands [message #2876]

Wed, 05 February 2014 16:30

slinfiniti
Messages: 27
Registered: May 2013
Location: Raleigh NC

Gruen Apprentice

So I know this is a long shot. But, the Super Bowl was not suppose to be what it turned out too, a rout! So here is my request. The watch pictured below was a watch that sold many months ago. The dial pictured is exactly what I need. The dial is attached to a caliber 157 movement. I need a caliber 157 and the dial and hands.

I have several 117, 123 movements that I would happy to trade one for one, or I will buy it outright. I have contacted ID to see if they could print one for me, I have several dials that came from 157's that I could use if I have too. I would appreciate any and all help you could give me.

index.php?t=getfile&id=1125&private=0

Pictured below is a solid 14 karat white gold case waiting for a caliber 157 to move in. This case has three service marks. It is almost NOS.

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/Closeup_zps60973aba.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/Mobile%20Uploads/SidebySide_zpsd90ebe07.jpeg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps38d684c4.jpeg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/Mobile%20Uploads/SideView_zps16ad8f5a.jpeg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/Mobile%20Uploads/SideViewCrown_zps7ab8b134.jpeg

Attachment: Dial Needed.jpg
(Size: 134.57KB, Downloaded 1354 times)

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Re: Watch Dial and Hands [message #2877 is a reply to message #2876]

Wed, 05 February 2014 17:01

Timeticker
Messages: 568
Registered: June 2013
Location: Somewhere in the world

Gruen Master

You are hopeless! Lol! Somebody please help him out!!! Ya see, he has this addiction, and Watchaholics could not help him out! Love ya brother! Ha ha ha!

Timeticker

People you thought were your best friends will stab you in the back to your face!

Love them anyway.
A "Paradoxical Commandment"

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Re: Watch Dial and Hands [message #2879 is a reply to message #2877]

Wed, 05 February 2014 17:55

afire
Messages: 1331
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin

Gruen Authority

Brian, I can tell you that the odds of finding that exact dial are extremely slim. I used to have that exact same watch, 14k engraved cal. 157. Not only are these fairly uncommon watches, for some unknown reason a lot of them were originally equipped with the "wrong" dial. My only guess would be some sort of supply problem that caused them to be short on cut-corner cal. 157 dials led to Gruen shipping many of these out with a rectangular dial. Here's a different version with the same issue:

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Music/Hotlinking/i-B9Q6Bbr/0/O/14k%20Quadron%20157.jpg

What I ended up doing is as you suggest, take a different 157 dial and have it stripped and reprinted in this style. If possible, hunt down one of the other 157 cut-corner dials like Quad. 68-69 shown at the bottom of this catalog page:

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Other/Gruen-Guild-Book-7-1929/i-JzhtMXh/0/O/page079.jpg

You'll still have to get it stripped and reprinted (and possible sand it down a little to fit the case, but I don't recall for certain), but the bonus of starting with this dial is that the indentation under the sub-seconds will have a cut-corner shape. Of course, that's not really necessary and if I couldn't turn one up fairly quickly, I'd just go with any rectangular dial.
I had mine done by Kirk Rich and they did a perfect job with it.
I was eying that case up myself, but having just done the exact same project a few years ago, I couldn't quite bring myself to jump in a second time.

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Re: Watch Dial and Hands [message #2994 is a reply to message #2879]

Sun, 16 February 2014 03:47

C. Hurt
Messages: 243
Registered: May 2013

Gruen Guildsman

Brian,

John is right about these dials. I have one of these as well, with a slightly different engraving pattern, and it too came from the factory with the rectangular track on the dial. I was eventually able to locate the proper dial, probably the only good by-product of the recent "gold rush" of movements being orphaned by those who sold cases for scrap.

The angle of the corners on the 68/69 dial is too sharp as is to match the corners of your case, although it does look better than the rectangle in my opinion.

With that said, I actually have the dial you are looking for in luminous (though I don't think I have luminous hands), as well as the 68/69 dial in raised gold numerals. I also have movements. If you are interested, let me know via PM.

Cary

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Re: Watch Dial and Hands [message #3152 is a reply to message #2994]

Wed, 26 February 2014 16:49

afire
Messages: 1331
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin

Gruen Authority

And yet another OS67 with the "wrong" dial. As disconcerting as I find the appearance, at some point I may have to start considering this the right dial.
item #271411952974

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Music/Hotlinking/i-J9pVBhN/0/L/%24_57-L.jpg

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Music/Hotlinking/i-7x6zKkN/0/L/%24_58-L.jpg

edited - JW: no links to live auctions on eBay.

[Updated on: Thu, 27 February 2014 01:05] by Moderator

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