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Curvex Chandler [message #1923]

Wed, 16 October 2013 21:40

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

Gruen Master

Model name : Chandler
Type : Curvex
Period/date : 1950-1953
Gender : Male

Case Maker : Wadsworth
Case Material : 10k Gold Filled
Case Serial : G964408
Case Style no : 370-601

Caliber : 370 Curvametric
Movement Maker : Gruen
Movement Serial: B815682

Bracelet : Original Gruen signed pigskin with Gruen signed buckle

Other info : New old stock Curvex with original labels and warranty booklet. Case number starting with 'G9' puts the watch production date in 1949-1950. However assuming the warranty booklet came originally with the watch, the sales date was likely 1953 or later. Warranty booklet is dated 1953.

index.php?t=getfile&id=791&private=0

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Re: Curvex Chandler [message #1925 is a reply to message #1923]

Wed, 16 October 2013 21:50

mikey
Messages: 709
Registered: May 2013
Location: Paris, Ontario

Gruen Master

hmmmm damm that's nice! Smile

Still here....

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Re: Curvex Chandler [message #1926 is a reply to message #1925]

Wed, 16 October 2013 22:08

Gary
Messages: 2114
Registered: May 2013
Location: Left Coast

Gruen Authority
Cheerleader

Yes stunning! Nothing better than New Old Stock. ;-)

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Re: Curvex Chandler [message #1928 is a reply to message #1926]

Wed, 16 October 2013 22:51

JackW
Messages: 1931
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin

Holy cats! That is museum piece nice and the fact that you have the price tag with name adds a great level of provenance to it. I often worry if one were to buy one of these NOS watches with tags, that until recently there was no good way to easily corroborate the name and the watch. I'm hoping that I won't steal Mike B's thunder here... But the 1950s book has no listing for this model Curvex. However, there is a match to the Curvex Chandler from 1949. Same price too as shown in Mike's image in his book: Page 247 of the 1940's book. Fits with the G9 Wadsworth serial number. Nice little validation, if I say so myself.

That is so cool!

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: Wed, 16 October 2013 22:55]

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Re: Curvex Chandler [message #1929 is a reply to message #1928]

Thu, 17 October 2013 01:19

MikeTheWatchGuy
Messages: 319
Registered: May 2013
Location: North Carolina

Gruen Guildsman

Let it rain Jack let it rain! No desire by me to create thunder, I've got plenty of storms. I suppose I could add a little color.... it's on page 72 in Vol 1. Same pic in B&W in Collector's Guide. I'm a tad surprised it isn't in The 1950's, not named perhaps, but an image. Not that it's under identified Smile

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Re: Curvex Chandler [message #1931 is a reply to message #1929]

Fri, 18 October 2013 04:53

MikeTheWatchGuy
Messages: 319
Registered: May 2013
Location: North Carolina

Gruen Guildsman

Thunder thunder thunder! Thunder-cats! oh, sorry, too many Robot-Chicken Marathons

No thunder, just ponder, after a 1 AM post. I'm stupid at 1 AM... uhm, it's 1 AM now. I take that back.

It makes sense that the Chandler wouldn't be in The 1950's. We've got multiple IDs and dating methods putting the Curvex Chandler in 1948 and 1949 for rollout purposes. This is when you would expect to see the majority of the advertising.

Style number of 601 indicates 1948 early to mid, the Gruen run ad I have is for April 1949 and The 1940's shows it in 1949. I dunno if I would have looked in The 1950's.

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Re: Curvex Chandler [message #8426 is a reply to message #1931]

Fri, 27 October 2017 01:44

Gary
Messages: 2114
Registered: May 2013
Location: Left Coast

Gruen Authority
Cheerleader

Here is 1951 version that goes along with the 50's discussion of the model. This has a L1 serial though I should of got a shot of the inside back. Has an aftermarket mod but another nice example.

My clock-maker friend picked it up last week.

index.php?t=getfile&id=3499&private=0

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Re: Curvex Chandler [message #8427 is a reply to message #8426]

Fri, 27 October 2017 01:50

JackW
Messages: 1931
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin

Gary,

Is your's solid gold or is that gold fill? Curious about the embellishments with the diamond and filigree work. Its nice!

Also, just noticed the tag in the OP's pictures that is of the Wadsworth Case serial number. Likely ammunition for the argument that Gruen viewed the case serial as important for stock records.

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Re: Curvex Chandler [message #8428 is a reply to message #8427]

Fri, 27 October 2017 02:10

Gary
Messages: 2114
Registered: May 2013
Location: Left Coast

Gruen Authority
Cheerleader

This one is GF also. The diamonds are laid out on a thin strip of ??? and adhered to the case.

Yes I'll have to get a pic of the back if I can for that serial.

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Re: Curvex Chandler [message #8429 is a reply to message #8428]

Fri, 27 October 2017 17:01

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

Gruen Authority

Hey guys,
I like these watches! In fact this seems to be a family of four watches which were introduced for Christmas sales 1948 and have partly been advertised until late 1951.
#1) Curvex Chandler as initially shown here.
#2) Same case with expandable metal band, named Curvex Carlton.
#3) the 14k solid gold version: Curvex Majesty
#4) a Curvex Curtis which seems to not have been advertised, at least I never have seen an ad. After having seen Gary's watch now I'd say this could be it!

Barney

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

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Re: Curvex Chandler [message #8430 is a reply to message #8429]

Fri, 27 October 2017 21:57

Gary
Messages: 2114
Registered: May 2013
Location: Left Coast

Gruen Authority
Cheerleader

Barney Green wrote on Fri, 27 October 2017 17:01

#4) a Curvex Curtis which seems to not have been advertised, at least I never have seen an ad. After having seen Gary's watch now I'd say this could be it!

Would that mean the diamond/filigree work is original to the case?

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Re: Curvex Chandler [message #8431 is a reply to message #8430]

Fri, 27 October 2017 22:19

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

Gruen Authority

It just could be! Unless someone digs out another watch with this caliber / style number combination which then could as well be the Curtis. For now this is the only other watch known to me, so I tend to call it that name.
The names are from the SUC-RMS232-20B crystal which is intended for these four watches. So I believe they all had the same style number and the first three of my list all look alike with the differences mentioned.

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

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