| Re: Pocket Watch [message #2479 is a reply to message #2473] |
Wed, 01 January 2014 19:41   |
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Thojil
Messages: 650
Registered: May 2013
Location: Concorès, France
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Gruen Master |
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What you have is a pocket watch from Gruen's "SemiThin" range, which was a thicker alternative to their "VeriThin" range. The earlier examples have sometimes dials signed like yours with DG&S (D. Gruen & Sons). Later ones will be signed Gruen only or with the addition of SemiThin.
The SemiThin range was positioned below the VeriThin PW's, but still featured high quality movements with 15, 17, 19 and even 21 jewels. Your movement is as far as I can see a 17 jewel Cal.740, 17 Ligne, which you should be able to confirm as this number is normaly stamped in the pillar plate just below the crown wheel. Recent research information has confirmed that these movements were produced by "Lavina - Manufacture d'Horlogerie DUBOIS-PESEUX & Cie" in Villeret. Other similar calibers were the 756 (15j), 758 (17j) and the 16 size 720 available in 7, 15, 17 & 21 jewel grades.
I have once read that the SemiThin range was sold by Gruen to people that didn't like the very thin VeriThin watches and were looking for something chunkier in their pocket. However I have never seen any proof of this. Information I do have is that in the "1916 Blue Book" Gruen was advertising this range as "Made under D.G.S. guarantee mark, a good watch at a low price"
A production date is difficult to give as there are no records, but if I would have to make a guess I would say it is from around 1920. You can find another example of your watch in this post link.
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