| Circa 1925 14k Green Gold Gruen Cushion with Sweep Seconds - SOLD [message #3494] |
Fri, 04 April 2014 22:02  |
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afire
Messages: 1331
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
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Gruen Authority |
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I don't know the exact date or production numbers, but it probably dates to somewhere around 1925. The case is marked 827, but the movement is an 826. This seems pretty typical for Gruen to have a case marked for the successor movement but still contain the predecessor movement, so I would guess this watch dates to around the time that the 827 replaced the 826, which seems to be about 1925 or 1926. These are fairly rare watches. One of them shows up on eBay about once every couple of years, from what I've seen over the years.
The watch is in excellent condition. There are a few light dings on the back (that didn't photograph well). The dial was recently restored (original hard enamel print, new clear lacquer coat and lume). The crystal is new glass. The crown is correct. It was fully serviced a few months ago (by the remarkably persistent Timeticker), and keeps good time. For size, it's almost exactly the same dimensions as a Hamilton 6/0 cushion, 28mm wide without crown by 35mm lug-to-lug. It comes in a correct box, though not original to this watch.
$425 with the box, $400 without.
[Updated on: Tue, 24 June 2014 14:34] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Circa 1925 14k Green Gold Gruen Cushion with Sweep Seconds [message #3514 is a reply to message #3499] |
Mon, 07 April 2014 05:28  |
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MikeTheWatchGuy
Messages: 319
Registered: May 2013
Location: North Carolina
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Gruen Guildsman |
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I've uploaded pictures of my matching Green Gold Nurses Watch to a gallery here:
http://imgur.com/a/1FaGd#0
I don't want to upload a photo to neither distract buyers with a lesser watch nor confuse them.
I've never seen another one of either of these two watches. I bought this one some time back because I had never seen one.
I have the mini-version. My case measures 31 mm lug to lug by 25 mm across
It too has a mismatch of the back to the movement. The caseback has 827 stamped in it while the movement in the watch is an 826. It seems like this pairing was used for some period of time, a week, month, year....
You've got the KILLER watch to be sure!! Solid Green Gold, it runs, nicer dial, hands, a men's watch. Gorgeous overall.
My watch needs work. Looks pretty good but you can see a couple of things about the movement.... the upper 3rd wheel is missing.
Our movements' bridges are marked differently. I found it interesting that the movement was not in the "Discontinued" section of the 1948 catalog. I'm thinking that the watches that used it warranted keeping spare parts for these movements around for some time.
The 825, 926, 827 movements are all 15 jewels and grouped as the same family. They're unusual and have this additional information with the description:
Quote:All have two different balance staffs
There's a lot of info contained in the * is pretty squirrely in terms of parts. All are 15 jewel movements. Here's the info for the 1948 material catalog:
No. 825* -- 15 Jewels
No. 826 -- 15 Jewels Straight escape wheel pivots.
No. 827 -- 15 Jewels
All have two different balance staffs with 0.40 and 0.55 hairspring shoulders.
• No. 825 has long and short fourth wheel pivots. All have 2 identically
shaped intermediate bridges and detects, only one is left and the other is
right of stem, also different center wheel, cannon pinion, hour wheel, third
wheel, sweep-second post, sweep-second wheel, tension spring and screw for
sweep-second mechanism
If I may comment on the sale.... it's a darned good price considering solid 14K gold, the condition, how it really shines, and the rarity. What a combination!
Wish I could afford it!
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| Re: Circa 1925 14k Green Gold Gruen Cushion with Sweep Seconds [message #3518 is a reply to message #3514] |
Mon, 07 April 2014 13:03 |
Timeticker
Messages: 568
Registered: June 2013
Location: Somewhere in the world
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Gruen Master |
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I thoroughly enjoyed working on that watch. I wish I had the clams to shell out for this one! Anyone who doesn't jump on this at this price is a little light headed. The watch is exactly as Afire has described, and lovely wrapped in gold. I believe that to be a great gold content of 10K gold, not fillegre, but gold. This is an extremely comfortable watch to wear and shows just beautifully! Quite the rare piece.
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: Circa 1925 14k Green Gold Gruen Cushion with Sweep Seconds [message #3519 is a reply to message #3497] |
Mon, 07 April 2014 13:05 |
Timeticker
Messages: 568
Registered: June 2013
Location: Somewhere in the world
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Gruen Master |
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GaryM wrote on Sat, 05 April 2014 02:03I have to say that Timeticker is a staple if not a savour amongst us here.
Green...oh my desire! You really got me going on this one afire.
GLWTS...that is if doesn't show up in my box first.;-)
Hey Gary, go ahead and buy it! Then, you can send it to me to wear for a few years, and I'll forget to send it back, ok? Sounds good, right? Sheesh, I thought it was a good deal! Lol!
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: Circa 1925 14k Green Gold Gruen Cushion with Sweep Seconds [message #3530 is a reply to message #3529] |
Wed, 09 April 2014 00:59 |
mikey
Messages: 709
Registered: May 2013
Location: Paris, Ontario
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Gruen Master |
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My understanding of the differences or how to tell them apart: movements destined for Hunter cases usually have the winding stem at 3 while movements destined for open faced cases have the stem at 12. The exception was the 'sidewinders' where the movement was rotated. I believe i also read that if you look at the position of the winding stem and the fourth wheel (for the seconds hand) they are opposite in an open faced movement and at 90 degrees to each other in a hunter movement. I believe that hunter cases were more prevalent in the 1800's and early 1900's because the porcelain dials were so fragile.
Of course i could be completely wrong.... 
Still here....
[Updated on: Wed, 09 April 2014 01:47] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Circa 1925 14k Green Gold Gruen Cushion with Sweep Seconds [message #3532 is a reply to message #3530] |
Wed, 09 April 2014 02:23 |
C. Hurt
Messages: 243
Registered: May 2013
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Gruen Guildsman |
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Mikey is correct in his understanding. You can also see the difference from the train side. The different layouts also require a reversal of the position of the barrel and the fourth wheel. The ratchet wheel is at 3 in a hunter movement, 12 in a Lepine (open faced) movement. With a little practice you can recognize them from the back.
Not sure it has anything to do with the composition of the dial, I rather think it was the protection of the crystal that early watch designers were worried about.
Originally most watches were hunters. Jean Antoine Lepine pioneered the open faced configuration in order to achieve a thinner watch, both with the movement and the case. By the end of the 19th century, hunters were seen as old fashioned, and open face watches were in style. This lasted until the end of the pocketwatch period.
When ladies pendant watches were applied to wristwatches, the nomenclature came with them, so we still refer movements with the traditional wristwatch layout (seconds at 6) as hunters.
[Updated on: Wed, 09 April 2014 02:33] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Circa 1925 14k Green Gold Gruen Cushion with Sweep Seconds [message #3941 is a reply to message #3908] |
Sun, 06 July 2014 02:27 |
Timeticker
Messages: 568
Registered: June 2013
Location: Somewhere in the world
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Gruen Master |
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Hi John,
Sure wish I had the money on that one! Glad you got to wear it for at least a little while. I am now trying to get my own 157 up and running, and tis driving me bonkers!!!!! Ok, just wanted to drop in and say hi!
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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