Gruen Verithin Madretsch V3
Tue, 18 November 2014 00:12
One for the pocket watch specialists! I believe this is actually a 17 jewel Precision V3 Madretsch movement circa 1910 if i'm reading Thojil's post over on the NAWCC site correctly. Vendor indicates that it runs well but he had a problem getting the stem to set in correctly. Jack has pointed out that this being a positive set stem & needs to be in a case to work properly. And there was a suggestion that the wheels, the setting for the center wheel jewel and possibly the dial are all solid gold but i cant confirm that until i actually receive the movement from the vendor.
Next step will be to find a nice case for this movement...
The caliber database |
7 comments
ID'd my grandmother's watch - Venus
Fri, 24 October 2014 23:40
Model name : Venus
Type : Bagette
Period/date : 1930's
Gender : Woman's watch
Case Maker : Hallmarked Gruen
Case Material : 14k WGF
Case Serial :2193985
Case Style no :155/130
Caliber : case marked 155 movement present is cal 685 (7 jewels)
Movement Maker : Gruen but noted as Venus 55 in the Green Gruen Guide
Movement Serial: na
Bracelet : Appears to be stainless; might be original.
References: found in Barnett's Gruen The 1930's - A Decade of Watches, page 44
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Recently visited with my parents and my mom brought out a small box of old watches. One of which is a watch that belong to my grandmother.
Golly! There's a Gruen in the family.
Here is the front of the case...
Sorry about the reflection on the crystal.
Here's the inside...
As you can see there is a mismatch between the movement and the stampings in the case. And the shape of the movement.
So, Mike B was at my house this past weekend* and I brought this one out. He'd brought his copy of the master book and we looked it up. It should have a cal 155 inside not the 7 jewel cal 685. Unfortunately I forgot to write down the ID from the book. It is a model 8xx or something. Any want to help out with that?
According to my mom, her mother bought this watch just before meeting my grandfather; she needed a watch for her new job at the time and that is where they met. That dates this to 1932, which jives pretty well with the known data on the caliber. She wore it well into the 1960s when my Grandfather bought her a new watch. This time a Hamilton. My mom has that too; that thing is freakin' tiny.
I hope to get this back to my mom so she can wear it too. Hence I'm on the hunt for a 155.
*no this was not some dream, he was in Colorado visiting family and stopped in. Great visit!
edited to remove big fat mistake.
edit #2 - Added ID info at front of OP
1930's |
12 comments
Strap 675
Veri-Thin; Mon, 08 September 2014 01:10
Model name :Strap 675
Type :Veri-Thin
Period/date :1952
Gender :Gents
Case Maker :Wadsworth
Case Material :10K GF with guildite back
Case Serial :L252366
Case Style no :711
Caliber :435
Movement Maker :Gruen
Movement Serial:
Bracelet :
Hi - I'm new to the forum. I purchased this as part of a lot on eBay, and I was wondering if someone could help me identify it or point me to where I could look.
Thanks!
1950's and Up |
5 comments
Diamond Julia
Sat, 09 August 2014 21:51
Model name :Diamond Julia
Type :
Period/date :1960's
Gender :Ladies
Case Maker :Gruen
Case Material :14K SG
Case Serial :
Case Style no :
Caliber :225R
Movement Maker :Gruen
Movement Serial:
Bracelet :
Hi, my Dad gave this watch to my Mom many years ago, and she has passed it on to one of my daughters. It doesn't work, but appears intact, so I think it may only need cleaning. However, I want to be sure it is done properly, so am seeking advice on the model and on the best way to approach getting it in working order.
Inside the case, it reads:
Cased and timed in USA by Gruen watch co.
14K gold
188
118880
On the movement, it reads:
225R
17 seventeen jewels swiss
(on an angle there is a word) unadjusted
Gruen watch co.
thanks for any help,
Ramzy
1950's and Up |
3 comments
Import 274
Men's Rectangular Waterproof ; Tue, 15 July 2014 15:33
Model Name: Import 274
Type: Rectangular Waterproof
Period/date: Early 1950s, Possibly Late 1940s
Gender: Men's
Case Maker: Unknown, Possibly Gabus Freres
Case Material: Guildite (Stainless Steel)
Case Serial: 17934 B
Case Style no: N/A
Caliber: 430
Movement Maker: Gruen - Precision Factory
Movement Serial:
Bracelet: Aftermarket Leather Strap
Other Info: One of Gruen's few waterproof rectangular watches. Since a round screwback isn't an option, Gruen employed a system whereby brackets between the lugs push the caseback into the bezel and a rubber gastket under the crystal seals to the caseback, rendering the case (at least in theory) fairly waterproof. And there's also a split stem with a rubber gasket. I won't wear it diving, but I might wear it in the rain. Other brands, such as Wyler and Croton, had nearly identical models. In fact, the aftermarket crystal fitted to this watch, and the last one I owned, is the one sold for the Croton Aquatime. My speculation is that the case may have been made by Gabus Freres because I've seen one positive ID of a Gabus Freres case that had the same script for Guildite, but that's not enough to say for certain. I placed it in the early 1950s because I once had an example with a 1950 or 1951 dedication. But it certainly might have been around in the late 1940s.
1950's and Up |
9 comments
1937 Gruen Box
Fri, 27 June 2014 17:06
This popped up on eBay and I thought I'd post a picture for posterity. I've not seen a lot of Gruen boxes with original paperwork, so I'm never too sure what era a given box is appropriate for. Evidently, this version was in use in 1937. That is all.
1930s |
2 comments
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