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1927 Tank 13

18K WG, Engraved and Enameled.; Fri, 25 August 2017 19:50

Model name : Tank 13
Type : Wristwatch
Period/date : Circa 1925
Gender : Men's

Case Maker : Gruen Cincinnati
Case Material : 18k White Gold, Black Vitreous Enamel
Case Serial : 1127104
Case Style no : N/A

Caliber : 115
Movement Maker : In-house
Movement Serial: 623407

Hand engraved case "rails" sides and back, hard-fired enamel inlay between the lugs, similar to a couple of Cincinnati-cased Quadron models with the same case details. The listing for Tank 13 in the Master Book shows a different case, also 18k engraved, but a different pattern with no enamel, and this case doesn't show up at all, which initially had me thinking it might be uncatalogued. But then I looked in the 1927 Stock Record Book, and sure enough, there it is listed as Tank 13. I've noticed this with a few models.

1920's | 9 comments

1st Generation Verithin

AKA LV1, LV2 and LDG(2); Tue, 15 August 2017 17:49

I am hoping that someone can help me verify this watch! I appreciate any and all help!

Model name : Verithin
Type : Pocket Watch (AKA LV1, LV2 and LDG(2))
Period/date :1902
Gender :Gents

Case Maker : Nat'l Wac Co
Case Material : 14k Yellow Gold
Case Serial : 160213
Case Style no : Open face

Caliber :
Movement Maker : Verithin
Movement Serial: 340644

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mod edit (JW) - added images to body of message

1910's and prior | 5 comments

Curvex Box

Thu, 27 July 2017 13:41

Hey guys,

Does anyone know from what era is the box from? It's seems like it's made out of cardboard with leather or fake leather finish. The silver trim is a metal rod wrapped around the edge of the box. I'm hoping it's from the 30's but think it might be 40's/50's. Thanks guys!

1930s | 35 comments

Autowind Import 272

Mon, 24 July 2017 19:35

Model name : Autowind Import 272
Type : Bumper automatic
Period/date : 1950
Gender : Male

Case Maker : na Swiss made
Case Material : Stainless steel with gold bezel
Case Serial : 14901B
Case Style no : na

Caliber : 460SS
Movement Maker : Gruen
Movement Serial: IG24322

Bracelet : It will get a leather strap Laughing

Other info : One of the few Gruens featuring a dial with roman numbers. It has the same movement and dial as the Autowind Sportsman (Import 296) as well as a two tone case. The only difference between the two cases as far as I can judge is that the Sportsman has a gold "cable" bezel instead of the plain one on the Import 272.
I have not been able to find a name for the Import 272, so any info is welcome.

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1950's and Up | 3 comments

Autowind Farragut

Mon, 03 July 2017 18:43

Model name :Farragut
Type :Autowind
Period/date :1950"s
Gender :Gents

Case Maker :Gruen
Case Material :
Case Serial :
Case Style no :

Caliber :480
Movement Maker :
Movement Serial:

Bracelet :

Other info :

I finally finished a project that took me more than 2 years to complete. There were many parts missing and somehow it seemed too much work to get motivated. It ended up at the bottom of the list. Laughing

The Autowind FARRAGUT aka "Strap 854", featuring cal. 480, was one of Gruen's few true water resistant rectangular watch cases and was introduced in 1955. (Mike Barnett-Gruen Watch Model Identification Guide Vol.2). The only other water resistant case that I'm aware of is the Veri-Thin "Import 274" (cal. 430). I recall that both watches are shown in an older post discussing the special crystals that both of these watches require.

The dial was done by International Dial. When I have time I will make some more pictures of the inside.

Before
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This afternoon
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1950's and Up | 4 comments

Strap 96

A uniquely styled case and dial! Needs dating! ; Mon, 26 June 2017 16:33

Model name :Strap 96
Type :Strap
Period/date :1927
Gender :

Case Maker :Wadsworth
Case Material :14K GF
Case Serial :5290246
Case Style no :

Caliber :885
Movement Maker :Jean Aegler
Movement Serial:165639

Bracelet :

Other info :

index.php?t=getfile&id=3376&private=0 index.php?t=getfile&id=3377&private=0 index.php?t=getfile&id=3375&private=0 index.php?t=getfile&id=3374&private=0 index.php?t=getfile&id=3373&private=0 I recently added this watch to my collection! My research has come to a dead end, not only for the case style but for the dial itself! The unusual octagon shaped bezel with the beautiful engraving adds to the mystic of this Wadsworth case! The font on the dial is also unique, the numbers are positioned pointing towards the hand shaft, the European style 7 is found only on a very few Gruen dials, I believe it first appears in the early 1920's! This watch is running and it is in fantastic condition! It measures 32mm lug to lug x 25.5mm excluding the crown x 8mm thin! I know watches where small back then, but is this size still considered a mans watch? Any help with this model would be appreciated! Respectfully Michael!

1920's | 16 comments

Gruen Wales

1960's; Thu, 01 June 2017 15:40

Model name :Whales
Type :Gruen
Period/date :1965
Gender :Gents

Case Maker :
Case Material :
Case Serial :
Case Style no :

Caliber :
Movement Maker :
Movement Serial:

Bracelet :

Other info :

index.php?t=getfile&id=3343&private=0 Hello all. My name is Eli. I'm new to this forum, and to the watch hobby. I'm wondering if this Gruen has a name, and year it was made? It's a wonderful watch that runs great. Thanks I appreciate it.

1950's and Up | 3 comments

Alpina in stainless case marked Alpina-Gruen-Gilde

Quadron cal 157/765; Tue, 09 May 2017 03:04

I picked this one up...
Seller's image first. It was on eBay.
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That blob on the dial is I think shellac... There was some on the case too which I could see in the sellers image. Hence I thought it was worth a shot for the case alone. I've other Alpina dials for the cal 157/765.
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warm bath in soapy water and then a swirl in the Goddard's silver cleaner.
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It altered the color of the silver some, but looks worlds better than a black blob at 4 & 5 o'clock. I lost just a small amount on the 4 o'clock index. I might be able to touch that up with enamel modeling paint.

Unfortunately, the seller stated that the watch was working but it isn't; at least Google translate interpretation of the Italian says "functioning". It was one of the worst packing jobs I've ever seen for a watch. Staff is toast.

Will update more later.

BTW, the case serial is 50126. It is marked "Alpina Gruen Gilde" and "Staybrite". How's this tie into this discussion... here?

Watches from the Guild | 22 comments

Curvex Marshall

Thu, 20 April 2017 12:05

Model name :Marshall
Type :Curvex
Period/date :1945
Gender :Gents

Case Maker :Wadsworth
Case Material :10K GF over Sterling
Case Serial :G525443
Case Style no :449

Caliber :440
Movement Maker :Gruen
Movement Serial:

Bracelet :

Other info :

Need help IDing this model. Thank you!

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1940's | 8 comments

Dietrich Gruen (Up/Down)

Pocket Watch; Wed, 19 April 2017 19:03

Model name :Dietrich Gruen
Type :Pocket Watch
Period/date :
Gender :Gents

Case Maker :
Case Material :18K SG
Case Serial :1010979
Case Style no :

Caliber :
Movement Maker :not known but Meylan or Aggasiz are possibilities
Movement Serial:

Bracelet :

Other info :

Hello,
Earlier I was unable to post pics of my watch so thanks to info I gleaned from other members postings, I emailed them to myself which allowed me to change the file size (I think) Confused .

YIPEE!! The pics uploaded with no problems. For all you collectors and watch admirers, please enjoy. As I stated in an earlier post, I am hoping someone can narrow down an insurance value for me. I think it's value is somewhere between $9000.00 and $19,500.00, depending on several variables I don't know the answers to; current gold prices, how many were manufactured, how many are in circulation, etc. It is my understanding from a collector in a different forum that most or all the production records were lost when the Norwood facility closed, so there may be no way to get the answer I am looking for, but any info is definitely appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob L.

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