Gruen Baron Pictures and Questions
New Member Gruen Baron; Thu, 18 January 2024 14:38
New member here. I inherited my grandfather's Gruen, which I think is a Baron; don't know the year; any help with that would be appreciated. My grandfather died in 1969, so the watch has been sitting in a drawer since then. I would like to get it running with a new crystal and cleaned a little. Is there a service that you folks recommend? I would appreciate any comments that you may have. Thanks, and I am looking forward to spending some time with the community.
1940's |
4 comments
1941-45 Plaskon box in black and gold
Sat, 09 September 2023 15:52
Black and Gold presentation case for woman's watch.
Period: 1941-45 (-ish)
Watch type: Verithin
Size: women’s wristwatch
Inventor: ??
Patents: ??
Box maker: likely Rathbun
This thread started by Case, is the prime source of information for this one:
Black and Gold woman's presentation case from 1945, per the papers that came with it. The papers, shown here, are copyrighted 1941.
Of note, and I owe the credit to Cary for these observations: The cream and red are far more common. He suggested that the black boxes, which are not as commonly seen were for solid gold models.
Lastly... I don't collect boxes or generally go out of my way to pick them up. I specifically got this one for the papers.
1940s |
0 comments
14k White Gold Alpina-Gruen Techni-Quadron
Fri, 23 June 2023 16:29
Model name: Techni-Quadron
Type: Duo-Dial Wristwatch
Period/date: Circa 1930-1932
Gender: Men's
Case Maker: Weber & Cie
Case Material: 14k White Gold
Case Serial: 1788846
Case Style no: N/A
Caliber: 877
Movement Maker: Aegler, aka Gruen Guild Factory A
Movement Serial: 1734593
Bracelet: Leather Strap
I was excited to pick this one up to make a pair of solid gold Techni-Quadrons in both white and green gold. Unlike my green gold example with lots of interesting markings, there's not a whole lot to explain with this one. Condition is very nice. Edges are sharp and engravings are crisp. There is minimal service marking, so it appears to be a low mileage example.
As usual, it's a Weber case. I'm starting to believe that Weber may have been the sole source of cases for Alpina-Gruen branded watches aside from the occasional gold filled case imported from the US. And once again, the serial number on this one is odd. Weber serial numbers have a very consistent format, six digits, X0XXXX, stamped on the inside of the case. For Gruen watches, it seems to have been 10XXXX early on and then rolled over 20XXXX, possibly at the start of the 1930s. For Alpina-Gruen watch, the first digit is usually (although not always) a 4, for a 40XXXX format. My other one has a 5-digit serial number engraved on the outside of the case back, which I've never seen before. The serial number on this one is stamped on the inside as usual, but is a seven-digit number that bears no resemblance to any other Weber serial number I've ever seen. I have no idea what to make of these two outliers. Anyway, it's a handsome watch.
Watches from the Guild |
7 comments
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