Vintage Gruen: The caliber database

Home » The Gruen Model Database » The caliber database » The caliber 179

Show: Today's Messages :: Polls :: Message Navigator
E-mail to friend

The caliber 179 [message #426]

Fri, 31 May 2013 13:53

JackW
Messages: 1931
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin

This is the caliber 179, a 15 jewel movement and is 9-3/4 ligne or 22mm in diameter. Although these are commonly marked on the pillar plate with the caliber number, usually in the space between the escape wheel finger and the train bridge, occasionally they are unmarked. The key-less works (aka the setting bits) are diagnostic for this movement. It also appears in Alpina marked watches (the cal 575), and Marc Favre marked watches. The setting works on these are very similar to the cal 157 which is patented by M. Favre in 1925.
index.php?t=getfile&id=222&private=0

Attachment: cal_179_ds.jpg
(Size: 85.39KB, Downloaded 943 times)
Attachment: cal_179_trn.jpg
(Size: 84.66KB, Downloaded 932 times)

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

[Updated on: Tue, 25 June 2013 14:33]

Report message to a moderator

Re: The caliber 179 [message #659 is a reply to message #426]

Fri, 14 June 2013 21:37

JackW
Messages: 1931
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin

Alternate views of the 179 by MikeyT...
index.php?t=getfile&id=333&private=0

Attachment: Gruen+179+top+plate.JPG
(Size: 50.35KB, Downloaded 800 times)
Attachment: Gruen+179+movement+1.JPG
(Size: 50.30KB, Downloaded 800 times)

Report message to a moderator

Re: The caliber 179 [message #6924 is a reply to message #659]

Wed, 25 May 2016 09:34

Barney Green
Messages: 1747
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany

Gruen Authority

Caliber 179 and Alpina 762 are definitely 100% identical movements. I purchased a nice Alpina watch from the second half of the 20s in 900 silver. The movement does have both markings, the 179 Gruen marking at the plate and the Alpina 762 at the train bridge. I guess that this watch was produced slightly before the Alpina Gruen Guild marketing contract but shows the collaboration that existed before very well.

index.php?t=getfile&id=2879&private=0