Vintage Gruen: 1920's » Wristlet 75

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Wristlet 75 [message #4830]

Sun, 28 December 2014 00:27

nepcom
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2014

Gruen Apprentice

Model name :Wristlet 75
Type :Wristlet
Period/date :1925
Gender :Ladies

Case Maker :
Case Material :
Case Serial :
Case Style no :

Caliber :115
Movement Maker :
Movement Serial:

Bracelet :

Hello! The image below is of a Gruen that belonged to my wife's grandmother. It was given to my wife over Christmas. I'd love to get some info on what it is. I am on vacation and don't have my tools with me so I can't open it to take pics of movement and case back. Any help is appreciated!
index.php?t=getfile&id=2014&private=0

Attachment: image.jpg
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[Updated on: Sun, 04 February 2018 21:00] by Moderator

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Re: Help identifying family heirloom Gruen [message #4832 is a reply to message #4830]

Sun, 28 December 2014 02:08

notwillie
Messages: 44
Registered: June 2014

Gruen Apprentice

I am new to collecting watches. It looks mid 1920s to me. The flat crown on a ladies Gruen is a little unusual for this time period. There are many on this board that know much more then I. Does it set and run?

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Re: Help identifying family heirloom Gruen [message #4834 is a reply to message #4830]

Sun, 28 December 2014 10:03

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

Gruen Authority

Hi and welcome!

This is a very nice watch and I would call this a unisex modell and as such there were flat crowns with those originally. There are a number of very similar models from the 20s which are strap 81, 82, 105, 110 or probably 218 in the master book. The case material, movement type would help with the ID. But anyway I would agree with notwillie dating it into the twenties.

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

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Re: Help identifying family heirloom Gruen [message #4838 is a reply to message #4834]

Sun, 28 December 2014 18:08

nepcom
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2014

Gruen Apprentice

Thank you guys for your responses. Great news - the watch runs. Also, I was able to open it - the caseback popped off pretty easily. The movement is beautiful. Attached are images of the movement and caseback. There are all sorts of markings and numbers - I assume the experts here can use this info to identify the watch. The markings lead to some questions: The watch appears to be white gold plated? And what is "Wadsworth"?

Thanks so much for your help in advance. This is a lot of fun.

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Re: Help identifying family heirloom Gruen [message #4839 is a reply to message #4838]

Sun, 28 December 2014 19:47

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

Gruen Authority

The movement is a caliber 115 which was introduced in 1925. I would date the watch to around this time. I am not quite sure with the lugs looking to be solid on one side but like a wire lug in the other. Probably an old repair? Or I simply don't see it correctly.
"Wadsworth" is the company which made the case for this Gruen. Gruen used different case makers as they were not able to produce enough cases for their watches. There were specialised companies like Wadsworth producing cased for the watch companies.
The number 99 in the case is indicating the style of the crystal.
There are some experts here in the forum who can most likely tell you much nmore about the watch than I can.

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

[Updated on: Sun, 28 December 2014 19:48]

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Re: Help identifying family heirloom Gruen [message #4840 is a reply to message #4839]

Sun, 28 December 2014 20:02

nepcom
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2014

Gruen Apprentice

The lugs are the same on both sides - wire. I think the photo came out weird. Thanks for the info!

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Re: Help identifying family heirloom Gruen [message #4847 is a reply to message #4840]

Wed, 31 December 2014 00:20

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

Gruen Master

Hi nepcom! Welcome to the forum.

I believe the "99" stamp on the inner case back is a reference to the movement caliber. This is an early style cartouche model. Although you have a 115 caliber movement fitted to the case, I think it could be correct/original for the watch. The crystal is listed for both a 99/2 & a 115/2. The "2" indicating the crystal style.

The case model appears to be a 'Wristlet 75".

Beautiful watch!

Liz

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

[Updated on: Wed, 31 December 2014 00:36]

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Re: Help identifying family heirloom Gruen [message #4850 is a reply to message #4847]

Wed, 31 December 2014 17:31

afire
Messages: 1331
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin

Gruen Authority

The caliber 99 had case screws in different locations and there are no scuffs where other case screws would have been. I wouldn't call it proof positive, but that suggests to me that this case never housed a 99.

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Re: Help identifying family heirloom Gruen [message #4852 is a reply to message #4850]

Fri, 02 January 2015 04:26

nepcom
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2014

Gruen Apprentice

Thank you for the info. Has anyone seen one of these before? Are there any old catalogs that could show what it cost?

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Re: Help identifying family heirloom Gruen [message #4853 is a reply to message #4852]

Fri, 02 January 2015 06:39

afire
Messages: 1331
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin

Gruen Authority

It (or something very close) is in the 1929 catalog, top right. Different dial and movement, but seemingly same or similar case and still "Precision" grade, priced at $35. Though not a perfect match, it certainly gives you a ballpark idea what this type of "Semi-Cartouche" in a reinforced gold case would sell for. Not as expensive as some of Gruen's offerings, but still a lot of money at the time.

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Other/Gruen-Guild-Book-7-1929/i-KVf5BFv/0/D/page151-D.jpg

[Updated on: Fri, 02 January 2015 06:41]

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Re: Help identifying family heirloom Gruen [message #4854 is a reply to message #4853]

Fri, 02 January 2015 13:11

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

Gruen Authority

First of all, my apologies. Since I have "seen" built in lugs I went the Strap way, which was wrong. After the clarification of wire lugs it must be a wristlet and Timeliz was perfectly right with her ID of Wristlet 75. According to the Master Book it should have had a 99 movement, but I assume the 115 being original for this watch. Most likely this is one of the later models and Gruen exchanged the 99 with the 115 in the later production runs.
Answering questions regarding the pricing is always difficult. I assume that it can be sold for anything between $10 and $100 if you sell it via ebay.

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

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Re: Help identifying family heirloom Gruen [message #4867 is a reply to message #4854]

Tue, 06 January 2015 06:53

nepcom
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2014

Gruen Apprentice

Thank you all!

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