Vintage Gruen: 1930's

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Import 103 [message #313]

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:42

afire
Messages: 1345
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin

Gruen Authority

Model Name: Import 103
Type: Quadron
Period/Date: Circa 1929
Gender: Gents

Case Maker: Gruen-Weber Case Co.
Case Material: 14k Green and White Gold
Case Serial: 200332
Case Style no: N/A

Caliber: 119
Movement Maker: Gruen (Precision Workshop, Biel)
Movement Serial: 659382

Bracelet : Leather Strap

Other Info: Anybody who has a version of the Master Book has seen the utterly psychotic assortment of late 1920's and early 1930's import models. Over the years I've been lucky enough to snag quit a few of them. I've had several tanks, including hinged lugs, tri-tone hooded lugs, and several two-tone models, most of them a variation of the same crown guard style. But until recently I has never seen any of the barrel shaped imports. A couple of years ago I finally snagged one. It's the Import 103 with a Gruen-Weber case. Pictures don't really do it justice. As with many of these import models, the movement is "engraved in the old guild manner" which is commonly misidentified as an Anniversary movement. And the case is two tone, mainly green gold with alternating white steps on the lugs. Very subtle and very attractive. So without further ado, here it is.

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Import-103/i-HJw97b6/1/XL/CIMG3761-XL.jpg

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Import-103/i-L74kS3k/1/XL/CIMG3775-XL.jpg

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Import-103/i-fKzkxSM/1/XL/CIMG3764-XL.jpg

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Import-103/i-792cRQV/1/XL/CIMG3771-XL.jpg

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Import-103/i-83rVzkW/1/XL/CIMG3789-XL.jpg

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Import-103/i-Pwv3GKk/1/XL/CIMG3761-XL.jpg

[Updated on: Tue, 21 May 2013 20:15]

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Re: Gruen Import 103 [message #315 is a reply to message #313]

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:50

JackW
Messages: 1981
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin

I think owning one of these would be the pinnacle of collecting. WOW! I'm hard pressed to think of something better.

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: Import 103 [message #316 is a reply to message #313]

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:55

Thojil
Messages: 650
Registered: May 2013
Location: Concorès, France

Gruen Master

afire wrote on Tue, 21 May 2013 17:42

Caliber: 117
Movement Maker: Gruen (Precision Workshop, Biel)
Movement Serial: 659382

Extremely nice. I discoved Gruen too late to find one of these at an affordable price. Hard to "snag" one these days.

By the way the image shows a cal. 119 and not 117.....

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Re: Import 103 [message #317 is a reply to message #316]

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:43

afire
Messages: 1345
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin

Gruen Authority

Right you are! I'll have to edit my post. I was going from memory on the caliber.
"Snag" was probably a poor choice of words on my part. I didn't get this one for a song. When I discovered the import Gruens about 10 years ago, they were already expensive. Another 10 years before that, I bet they could be had relatively cheaply, but not since I've been into them.

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Re: Gruen Import 103 [message #318 is a reply to message #315]

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:47

afire
Messages: 1345
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin

Gruen Authority

Jack - an Autowind Leader might be another pinnacle. There's one on its way to you as of this afternoon. Incidentally, I realized that this is in the wrong forum and reposted in the ID forum. Can you just delete this one? And thanks to Thojil, I also realized that I misremembered the caliber. But I can't edit my other post to correct my errors.

[Updated on: Tue, 21 May 2013 19:47]

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