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| Re: Gruen "Chrono-Timer" [message #20637 is a reply to message #20635] |
Tue, 29 September 2026 05:44   |
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Passion
Messages: 134
Registered: July 2025
Location: France
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Gruen Guildsman |
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Hello Jack,
Thank you for reassuring me about the authenticity of this beautiful Gruen.
As for the movement, I won't open it until this winter. I don't have any tools yet, but that will come this winter: I've booked a short 5-hour introductory course with my watchmaker, so he can show me the "very broad basics" of watchmaking, as well as the list of tools I'll need to start opening and servicing my Gruens ;-)
Yes, you're seeing correctly: the case back simply reads "Gruen", with no serial number. There are no scratch marks suggesting the number was erased. Over the past 6 months, I've examined a lot of Chrono-Timers online, and they all have the serial number on the case back, except this one!
Jack, $1,000 for your two Chrono-Timers is a very good price, even though they were assembled from loose parts.
In Europe, I've been scrutinizing the market for a year (I built myself an automated search tool): Chrono-Timers are very, very rare, and you won't find a single one, not one, for less than €2,500 ($2,800).
In France, we really don't like talking about price, it's in our genes. It's not like where you are in the United States, where price isn't a taboo, quite the opposite I think. Since I'm starting to get to know you all a bit better (except the anonymous members), and as my partner tells me, "you never do things like everyone else", I'll confess the price: all in (VAT, taxes and shipping from Paris), I paid €2,304 ($2,617).
Looking back now, given how rare they are in Europe and the condition of this Chrono-Timer, I can reassure myself that I got a fair deal.
I can't even imagine what Thomas's gold Chrono-Timer would fetch if he ever decided to sell it in Europe...
Laurent.
A ship in a harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for...
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| Re: Gruen "Chrono-Timer" [message #20648 is a reply to message #20646] |
Wed, 30 September 2026 17:37 |
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JackW
Messages: 2236
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver
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Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin |
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Congrats again on such a fine acquisition. You are right, price is somewhat taboo. You should rest assured that you are getting a fine watch. I hope you will share more of it. The lack of the case serial number is rather unusual. Although it isn't unheard of. Enjoy the heck out of the watch. My Chrono-Timers (and my Curvex Royal) are the only watches that seem to garner compliments on a regular basis from random people.
Working on watches is a much deeper rabbit hole then it seems at first. I think I can say with confidence that I have spent far more on tooling and parts then I have on watches. Beware!
Also, welcome to the club.
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
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