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ID'd my grandmother's watch - Venus [message #4415]

Fri, 24 October 2014 23:40

JackW
Messages: 1938
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

Gruen Authority
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Model name : Venus
Type : Bagette
Period/date : 1930's
Gender : Woman's watch

Case Maker : Hallmarked Gruen
Case Material : 14k WGF
Case Serial :2193985
Case Style no :155/130

Caliber : case marked 155 movement present is cal 685 (7 jewels)
Movement Maker : Gruen but noted as Venus 55 in the Green Gruen Guide
Movement Serial: na

Bracelet : Appears to be stainless; might be original.
References: found in Barnett's Gruen The 1930's - A Decade of Watches, page 44

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Recently visited with my parents and my mom brought out a small box of old watches. One of which is a watch that belong to my grandmother.

Golly! There's a Gruen in the family.
Here is the front of the case...
index.php?t=getfile&id=1801&private=0

Sorry about the reflection on the crystal.
Here's the inside...
index.php?t=getfile&id=1800&private=0

As you can see there is a mismatch between the movement and the stampings in the case. And the shape of the movement.

So, Mike B was at my house this past weekend* and I brought this one out. He'd brought his copy of the master book and we looked it up. It should have a cal 155 inside not the 7 jewel cal 685. Unfortunately I forgot to write down the ID from the book. It is a model 8xx or something. Any want to help out with that?

According to my mom, her mother bought this watch just before meeting my grandfather; she needed a watch for her new job at the time and that is where they met. That dates this to 1932, which jives pretty well with the known data on the caliber. She wore it well into the 1960s when my Grandfather bought her a new watch. This time a Hamilton. My mom has that too; that thing is freakin' tiny.

I hope to get this back to my mom so she can wear it too. Hence I'm on the hunt for a 155.

*no this was not some dream, he was in Colorado visiting family and stopped in. Great visit!

edited to remove big fat mistake.
edit #2 - Added ID info at front of OP

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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: Sat, 01 November 2014 22:50]

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Re: ID my grandmother's watch [message #4417 is a reply to message #4415]

Sat, 25 October 2014 00:08

timeliz
Messages: 602
Registered: May 2013
Location: Northern California

Gruen Master

Jack,

Looks like a "Baguette S20" for a cal 155. Came in wgf & ygf according to the MB.

"Some days are diamonds, some days are stones..." -John Denver

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Re: ID my grandmother's watch [message #4418 is a reply to message #4417]

Sat, 25 October 2014 00:14

JackW
Messages: 1938
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

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Thanks Liz!

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Re: ID my grandmother's watch [message #4421 is a reply to message #4418]

Sat, 25 October 2014 03:10

Gary
Messages: 2119
Registered: May 2013
Location: Left Coast

Gruen Authority
Cheerleader

Why change it? Life of a watch and adds character plus has a story of sorts.

I dunno, the universe in play. I tend to go with the flow and would leave it as is. Just me saying.

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Re: ID my grandmother's watch [message #4422 is a reply to message #4421]

Sat, 25 October 2014 03:16

JackW
Messages: 1938
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

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Yeah, Gary I would normally think the same. This case, it is both that the movement is surely not the one that came with the watch and two the 685 needs major work. The pivots are all elongated on the bridge; likely also on the pillar plate too. It'll be easier to over haul a replacement 155 then to re-pivot and properly broach the current movement. I see it as restoring the watch to original condition.

I also need to acquire or fabricate new links for the bracelet.

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Re: ID my grandmother's watch [message #4423 is a reply to message #4422]

Sat, 25 October 2014 07:45

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

Gruen Authority

Very nice watch!
According Mike Bs 30s book at page 44 I would ID this watch as the "Venus". This would match the 1932 date as well and sounds much nicer than Baguette S20 to me. It was advertised for $42.50.
And if it is certain that the watch did not come with that movement and there is no story around the swap I would also go for a change to the original...

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

[Updated on: Sat, 25 October 2014 10:07]

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Re: ID my grandmother's watch [message #4424 is a reply to message #4423]

Sat, 25 October 2014 14:03

JackW
Messages: 1938
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

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Hey Barney!

That looks to be a spot-on match. Good catch. Getting the info on the cost is pretty cool to. According to my mom, her mother was quite proud of this watch as an early purchase from her own money. She didn't come from a poor family but in 1932 employment was a big issue and a good paying job was an even bigger achievement.

I'd suspect that she was not fully aware that the movement was such a stark difference from a 155. I be willing to bet that the jeweler that handled the repair is the same jewelry store I remember visiting when I was a kid. Likely did the repair with what he could get his hands on.

Thank you.

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Re: ID my grandmother's watch [message #4426 is a reply to message #4424]

Mon, 27 October 2014 00:28

timeliz
Messages: 602
Registered: May 2013
Location: Northern California

Gruen Master

Jack,

Can you post a clearer photo of the bracelet with link dims, also the metal content?

I may have some replacement parts/links.

"Some days are diamonds, some days are stones..." -John Denver

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Re: ID my grandmother's watch [message #4433 is a reply to message #4426]

Tue, 28 October 2014 04:22

JackW
Messages: 1938
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

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Head Janitor
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I'll get on the pictures...
links are OD 4.5 mm by 6.5 mm
band is marked "STURDY" and "Allegheny".
it has the look and feel of stainless steel.
If you got something close, that would be awesome.

Thanks.

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Re: ID my grandmother's watch [message #4434 is a reply to message #4433]

Thu, 30 October 2014 03:05

JackW
Messages: 1938
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin

Here's an imagining the links...
index.php?t=getfile&id=1810&private=0

Attachment: image.jpg
(Size: 351.08KB, Downloaded 706 times)

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Re: ID my grandmother's watch [message #4435 is a reply to message #4434]

Thu, 30 October 2014 17:34

timeliz
Messages: 602
Registered: May 2013
Location: Northern California

Gruen Master

Jack,

I'll go through my stuff and see what I can find.

"Some days are diamonds, some days are stones..." -John Denver

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Re: ID my grandmother's watch [message #4436 is a reply to message #4435]

Thu, 30 October 2014 20:29

timeliz
Messages: 602
Registered: May 2013
Location: Northern California

Gruen Master

Jack,

I did find this one...

It's a Hadley stainless. Link dims are close: ~4.5mm x6.7mm but they are tonneau shaped.

Could be used to add length at the clasp end, or alternating with both link types.

Anyway, its in great condition & it is yours if you think it would work.

index.php?t=getfile&id=1812&private=0