| Re: Octagon pocket watch [message #18639 is a reply to message #18638] |
Tue, 05 September 2023 21:23   |
thesnark17
Messages: 651
Registered: January 2017
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Gruen Master |
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Ok. I shall try to cover everything, but that's a lot!
The earlier typical production of V4 and V5 is American set. I am not surprised to see one with the American-set hole (B slot) and a Swiss stem, because it's easier to modify parts than create new ones. Very few of these were cased in Switzerland, so very few got Swiss stems (again, in the early going).
The "A slot" hole for the Swiss set is counter sunk and looks like factory work to me with a bunch of screwdriver slips added. Hard to tell for sure from pictures.
The second picture is the regular American set version, and the third is a very early Swiss set version. Movement 129913 will be pretty atypical of V4 movements overall, don't try a parts swap.
The V5 is not rare, but there are a lot less of them than the V4. Fortunately, all the parts interchange with V4s of a similar vintage and style. Some early V4s and V5s (before SN 456k) had atypical construction features, and probably don't interchange with anything. There were occasional updates to the V4 production that changed things like the diameter of the center wheel pinion, so be aware that you may need to find parts from within a 10k range around your serial number, and even then, it might be guess-and-check.
I thought that this was a Swiss made case; now I don't, but it's definitely made by Gruen. The markings are more typical of an American case, and no Swiss hallmarks appear. Sterling cases were available by special order only, and all of them are very uncommon. I've never seen a sterling octagon that wasn't Swiss before.
The dial is one of my favorites.
[Updated on: Tue, 05 September 2023 21:45] Report message to a moderator |
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