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Gruen Carmen

Tue, 06 October 2015 09:55

Model name :Carmen
Type :Precision
Period/date :1950's
Gender :Ladies

Case Maker :Gruen
Case Material :10K GF
Case Serial :
Case Style no :

Caliber :275
Movement Maker :
Movement Serial:

Bracelet :


My mom has passed away so I don't have any information other than this. She received the watch in her late teens/early 20's which would have put it around 1950. She won one of the diamonds and my father bought the other diamond and had them set in the watch. Hopefully the pictures will help with identification. I just had it overhauled but didn't ask the store for any information from the inside of the watch. Thanks for any help given. Ruth

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1950's and Up | 4 comments

Alpinas, but not Gruen

Is it OK to post non-Gruen watches here??; Sun, 04 October 2015 14:33

Ironic my first post in this particular section, Watch Tables, would be for non-Gruen watches.

In this case they are new Alpinas I just got! Quite literally new... New Old Stock.

At the moment I have two Alpinas and one Universal Geneve.

you can see them here
http://bit.do/MikesAlpinas
(dang I wish embedding was enabled). I'll put them into the message at a later date... for the moment they are in the form of a Gallery.

One thing I found interesting about these is that the movements fit into little "trays" that then go into the case. I'm sure it's a common thing for some manufacturers so I'm showing my ignorance and blind allegiance to Gruen. But these hit square into my checklist of desirable traits for a keeper watch so I went non-Gruen for a change. (White gold or Stainless, light colored dial, simple fonts, new old stock is a bonus)

Here are 3 individual images, the rest are in the gallery
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Watches from the Guild | 7 comments

Stainless Steel Quadron

Sun, 27 September 2015 19:45

Model name : Unknown
Type : Quadron
Period/date : ~1935-ish
Gender : man's

Case Maker : Gruen shops in Cinci.
Case Material : Guildite/Stainless
Case Serial : 6025839
Case Style no : possibly Quadron 118

Caliber : 157
Movement Maker : Gruen Guild (via Marc Fabre)
Movement Serial: 1114728

Bracelet : none

Other info : Case is plain without any engravings or decorations. There is a monogram on the back of the case.

Images...

cased...
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dial...
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Movement...
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Case parts...
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detail of inside case...
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Gruen markings on outside...
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Images are as it came to me. Won it last week on eBay.

Now that I have it and have looked through the information I have on Quadrons and Bruce's and Mike's books, I'm wondering if this is mash-up of two different watches. However, still factory original. Except the crown.

The case is surely the match to Quadron 118 in Bruce's book on page 22. The dial however isn't, but seems to match exactly the dial on the Quadron 57 which would presumably date to the 1920s. The book states that style is the 50th anniversary "157 with gold-plated movement". Say what???? The Quadron 157 didn't come out apparently until 1925; after the anniversary in 1924. Has anyone seen a cal 157 with gold-colored bridges? Seen the gold-bridges on the earlier 119 (or is it the 123?). A gold-bridge cal 157 is a new one to me. I digress... Now those with Bruce's book may say that the Quad 133 dial is similar, but look at the 12 and 6 indices and compare with the Quad 57. Hence, why I say the 57 dial is a better match.

The movement serial is similar to another Quadron (its only a few hundred difference) I have that came out of a trashed Quadron 70 which I'm pretty sure is from the early 1930s. I don't know the name but it appears in Vol. 1 (p.36) of Mike's ID Guide under 1930 and on page 37 of Mike's 1930 decade book under 1932. So I'm calling this date the lower date limit.

I have to admit that I look at pretty much every Quadron that runs through eBay. Many are in the spreadsheet. I've not seen this case before. I've no doubts that it is legit as being originally made by Gruen. It however looks more like the solid gold cases in its construction than any of the cases that were non-precious metal. Its case construction and marking are also similar to the watch I posted the other day... check out the serial numbers. Surely made by the same company and I would suspect that both were in-house by Gruen. If I had to guess on the date of this watch... I'd go with 1935. This late date may explain why the dial is from a different and earlier design and the shift into stainless seeming stamped out of the same molds for the solid gold cases is consistent with a struggling Gruen during the mid-1930s when they were trying to use up stock to to sell watches in a spend-thrift economy.

After I get the 705 finished, I'll get this one COA's. I love Quadrons, wish I had more of them but I am also trying to stick with the concept of buying only solid metal cases. No more goldfill with eliminates a lot of the Quadrons I could afford. I'm quite pleased to have a solid metal Quad for the cost of one of the goldfilled ones.

Peace!

Post script... Maybe I should repost the other Quadron I have, looks similar to this one in a white GF case (but with an engraved side)

edit - wrong link to online database. sorry.
edit 2 - now I have the link fixed. gack!

1930's | 12 comments

Quadron 61

mart find; Sat, 19 September 2015 21:48

I made my way to the local watchmakers meeting this morning. I was lollygagging around with a five o'clock shadow, maybe twelve o'clock. I grabbed a cup of tea and made it in time for the mart. At the mart a fellow student and well known pocket watch guru hobbyist brought in some watches. Behold was this odd looking Gruen in the mix. The white/yellow gold mixed case looked odd, didn't look like the typical Gruen case. The price seemed good so needless to say I bought it.

Got it home and poped the back, whoa! Anyone know the model and a good band one would go with?

Model name : Gruen
Type : Quadron 61
Period/date : 1930
Gender :Male

Case Maker : Gruen-Weber
Case Material :18K karat white gold (bezel mixed white/yellow gold)
Case Serial : 102279
Case Style no : ?

Caliber :119
Movement Maker :Gruen
Movement Serial: 647119

Bracelet : Generic 12K gold plate band

Other info : Inscription E.P. Dubois Detriot

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1930's | 17 comments

Veri-Thin Broadway

Tue, 08 September 2015 03:27

Model name : Veri-Thin Broadway
Type : pocket watch
Period/date : 1939-1942
Gender :

Case Maker : Wadsworth
Case Material : 10k gold
Case Serial : G255564
Case Style no :

Caliber :
Movement Maker : Gruen
Movement Serial: 4-110757

Bracelet : N/A

Other info : I received this as a gift today from my Aunt, it was my late Grandfather's. My aunt didn't know a lot about it. I have tried to do some research and that's where I came up with the 1939-1942 time frame.

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Any new or further info would be great!

Thank you

1940's | 8 comments

Gruen Dartmouth

Fri, 31 July 2015 16:15

Model name :Dartmouth
Type :Autowind
Period/date :1952-1954
Gender :Gents

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

Caliber :
Movement Maker :
Movement Serial:

Bracelet :

index.php?t=getfile&id=2389&private=0Hi. I was wondering if you can help identify this watch. (Gruen Automatic)
L378477 480 729 SS is on the case.

I was trying to look it up and found that 729 is the Style and 480 is the caliber.
Year 1950
BUT, I can't find any pictures of this exact watch with these lugs! I found the dial, but not this EXACT watch.
Help! Very Happy

1950's and Up | 1 comment

Gruen V1 Precision

Pocket Watch Movement; Thu, 23 July 2015 22:31

We have been working on identifying this one for a while - Gruen verithin pentagonal pocketwatch - for another watchmaker. It needs a staff (both pivots are broken) that I am trying to find a staff for, specs for a staff, or someone to repivot it for me. Attaching pictures to show watch, any help would be appreciated.

We have managed to track down that it is a Swiss chronometer extra precision and know that none of the book info for a V1 is correct for this watch. The balance has the roller jewel mounted in the arm of the balance itself. The guard for the roller is a separate unit at the very base of the staff. Would like to know more about the watch, it's specs, and origin. The watch identifies as a V1 via labeling and fingerprinting but is a 21 jewel chronometer version instead of a 17 or 19 jewel.

We have tried both staffs that are for a V1 and they do not fit
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The caliber database | 7 comments

Veri-Thin Time Hill

Gruen 335; Thu, 09 July 2015 17:20

Model name : Time Hill
Type : Veri-Thin
Period/date : 1949
Gender : male

Case Maker : Gruen
Case Material : 10K gold fill
Case Serial :
Case Style no : 651

Caliber : 335
Movement Maker : Gruen Norwood, OH
Movement Serial:

Bracelet : Metal

Other info : Identified by Mike and his Gruen Identification Guide. Thanks Mike!

This one was brought in last night to look at and the dial was quite interesting. I've seen only one other example here or on ebay. Under the loupe the lettering is enamel not print, I'm almost certain the dial is original.

This also got me thinking that this was leftover inventory from the demise of the company?

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1940's | 2 comments

The Caliber 181/183

Mon, 06 July 2015 17:22

The 181 and 183 are practically identical in size and interchangeability at 4 3/4'''. The 181 is a 15 jewel and the 183 is a 7 jewel movement.

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181 (left) 183 (right)

The caliber database | 3 comments

Moisture Proof Military Model

Thu, 02 July 2015 21:51

Model name :
Type : Military
Period/date :1918
Gender :Gents

Case Maker :Gruen
Case Material:Sterling
Case Serial :568590
Case Style no :

Caliber :807
Movement Maker :Gruen Watch Specialties
Movement Serial:

Bracelet :

After many years I finally was able to add the 1918 Moisture Proof Military Model to my collection. It is in the mail, but from the pictures it looks to be in pretty good condition.

The only thing that is broken is the connecting link between the inner watch case and outer protection case. I will have a look at that when it arrives. It is fitted with a caliber 807 and the most incredible thing is that the original printed piece of protective cloth is still there.

The watch makers that worked on it have taken the warning seriously Laughing

Pictures are taken from the seller. I due time I will post better ones.

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1910's and prior | 5 comments

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