Show: Today's Messages :: Unanswered Messages :: Polls :: Message Navigator

Gruen 21 Veri-Thin 435/901 Black Dial 'Cortez'

polished crystal! fresh strap! family picture!; Fri, 01 July 2022 05:57

Model name: Cortez (per G-S)
Type: 21 Precision (Veri-Thin)
Period/date: c. 1955
Gender: M

Case Maker: Star
Case Material: 10K GFD BEZEL - GUILDITE BACK
Case Serial: o804167
Case Style no: 901

Caliber: 435
Movement Maker: Gruen Switzerland
Movement Serial: 2A 262145

Bracelet: Rios Ostrich Quill

Other Info: 3-6-12 dial with raised 21 shield.
Dauphine hands, small seconds possibly incorrect. Crystal G-S CMX 330-6, W-C P14MA219(184). Bezel 26.8 x 23.4 x 7.7 mm. Lug-to-lug 36.9 mm. Lug Width 19 mm.

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9501&private=0

As found:

Model Identification and discussion | 6 comments

Gruen Strap 475 400C/526 Marcus

Thu, 30 June 2022 18:37

Model name: Marcus
Type: Strap 475
Period/date: c.1944
Gender: M

Case Maker: Wadsworth
Case Material: Sterling Rose/Coral 10K.GOLD FILLED
Case Serial: G475716
Case Style no: 526

Caliber: 400C
Movement Maker: Gruen
Movement Serial: 2-593143

Bracelet: Kreisler Sterling Rose/Coral 10K GF "Basketweave"

Other info: Crystal W-C 4MA247[175], Bezel 27.6 x 20.7 x 5.1mm, Lug-to-lug 39mm, Lug Width 14mm.

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9487&private=0

1940's | 1 comment

Gruen 21 Precision 335/791 Black Dial

new crystal installed!; Wed, 29 June 2022 20:15

Model name: 335/791
Type: "21"
Period/date: 1953
Gender: M

Case Maker: Gruen
Case Material: 10K GFD BEZEL - GUILDITE BACK
Case Serial: C825404
Case Style no: 791

Caliber: 3351
Movement Maker: Gruen
Movement Serial: Not on watchmaker side / bridges

Bracelet: JB Champion flex with split edge motif matching bezel, believed original to the watch.

Other info: Painted "21" logo at 12. Bezel 24.8 x 23.3 x 5.0mm. Lug-to-lug 34.6mm. Lug width 18mm. Crystal SUC RMS 116-12T / W-C 12MA 204 / W-C P11MA 204.

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9463&private=0

As found:

Model Identification and discussion | 4 comments

Strap 110 - 705 2

Wed, 29 June 2022 18:20

Model name: strap 110
Type: strap
Period/date: 1928-1930?
Gender: male

Case Maker: wadsworth
Case Material: nickel
Case Serial: 8281395
Case Style no: 2

Caliber: 885
Movement Maker: fhf
Movement Serial: 181586

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9451&private=0

Model Identification and discussion | 8 comments

High oblique service box 2

Wed, 29 June 2022 17:55

Description
Fake leather paper and wood box. discoloured double golden rim. loose insert watch holder. Gruen service crest inside.

Period : 1925-1930
Watch type : unknown (cartouche or baguette with ribbon or bracelet?)
Size : 11.1cm wide, 4 cm high, 6.3 cm deep. Insert 7.5x2.1
Inventor : unknown
Patents : No date or patent mentioned on the box.

Box maker : unknown

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9445&private=0

1920s | 2 comments

Show us your Gruen clocks

Tue, 28 June 2022 18:57

Here are some of the Gruen clocks I saw while browsing the vintage shop in the Cincinnati area. Love that Norwood clock!

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9430&private=0

Watch Tables | 5 comments

Glass jewels or rubies?

Fri, 17 June 2022 21:38

I have heard that it was common to use glass jewels for watches before 1935. But I would expect higher end watches like Gruen to use genuine or synthetic rubies.

What was used for Gruen movements?

If you look in the 1917 blue book they are showing jewels and rubies…
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9418&private=0
About the rubies they say finest or fine quality. The “jewels” material is not specified. Could be the difference between genuine and synthetic rubies.

From the 1929 guild book I would comclude all jewels were at that time rubies or diamonds.
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9419&private=0

What do you think?

Research | 20 comments

Wooden crystal cabinet

Tue, 07 June 2022 20:47

Description: Brown wooden cabinet with two drawers with gold coloured knobs. Black/gold metal label with red/gold gruen service crest and text: “Standard forme shape crystals for gruen watches”. Brownred metal dividers.

Period: 1933 (highest style number is 139)
Content: odd shaped red label gruen crystals
Watch type: for pocket and wrist watches. Parts numbers 1 to 52 (first drawer) and 53 to 100 (second drawer).
Size: width=31.3 cm, depth=18.2cm, height= 8.5cm
Patents: unknown
Box maker: unknown

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9400&private=0

1930s | 7 comments

The Veri-Thin 'Adams'

Tue, 31 May 2022 22:52

Model name: 'Adams' with expansion band -or- Nimrod with leather strap
Type: Wristwatch Veri-Thin
Period/date: 1940-1944; the movement serial number is date estimated to early 1944.
Gender: mens'

Case Maker: Star Watch Case Company
Case Material: goldfill on silver and rhodum plated sterling case back*
Case Serial: 090790
Case Style no: 406-459

Caliber: 406
Movement Maker: Gruen
Movement Serial: A328801

Bracelet: In both ads it is shown with an expansion type band for the VT Adams. The leather band on the watch as purchased, is 1940s era but is marked 'Waltham'. An obvious replacement. The ads for the VT Nimrod show a leather strap.

Other info: Identified in Shawkey's book as strap 418. page 131. Strap 418 is shown with a presumably an expansion band.

I found this in a pawn shop in Chicago this past weekend (May 29, 2022). Was an inexpensive buy. The tarnish to the case made me suspect that it was a war era watch with the silver alloy basemetal for the goldfill. Otherwise it is not the typical type or style that I collect.

[Picture Front]
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9382&private=0

[Picture caseback inside]

[Picture movement]

[Picture ad]
Advertisment from December 1942 clipped from the Chicago Tribune

Although not named, it is the same model shown in this May 1944 advert from the LA Times.

Barnett's 1940s Decade book shows a very different 'Adams' in 1948. Could also be confused with the contemporaneous 'Stuart' but that has ridges that run onto the case sides.

*some debate below on my metal assessment of the back. There are certainly examples of this watch where the case back is marked as sterling. Other examples that are clearly stainless steel Guildite.

also... edits to reflect Barney's below addition of the VT Nimrod ID.

1940's | 18 comments

Gruen WWII Advertisements

Mon, 30 May 2022 19:24

It being Memorial Day here in USA, I have decided to start something I have long wanted, a thread that has all of my Gruen WW2 ads in one location, seperate from the other Gruen 40's ads. Note, not chronologically. You may question the point of consolidating what is readily available scattered online. Like I said while this trips for me, you're all welcome to come along. Smile Many of these ads you will be familiar with, some not at all. Shocked
Please, keep in mind the timeframe, circumstances, and context of these ads. Wartime propaganda can be brutal, dark, possibly ugly, and very unPC.
Others are quite uplifting...... Some of these ads show watches, many do not. All have historic importance.

Time 1/44

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9373&private=0

Time 10/44

Time 11/44