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14 Karat White Gold Quadron

A story we wll never know; Wed, 05 February 2014 14:38

This watch should have a story with it! This is one story that will never be told! The watch has historical significance. Why? the watch was give to someone's son December 25th 1929 as per the personal engraving inside the case back, History tells us that this watch was purchased 2 months after the great depression started. Think about that for a minute. A person still could afford to buy a solid 14 karat white gold Quadron two months after the largest financial collapse in US history! Who had the means to do that? Who had the financial confidence to buy this watch not knowing what was ahead financially. Wow?

Model name : Gruen
Type : Quadron
Period/date : 1929
Gender :Male

Case Maker : Gruen
Case Material :Solid 14 karat white gold
Case Serial : 1228163
Case Style no : ?

Caliber :117
Movement Maker :Gruen
Movement Serial: 638287

Bracelet : Lizard with 14 karat white gold buckle

Other info : Inscription From Mother and Father December 25 29


http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/Mobile%20Uploads/0C5C146F-8DB1-4247-8177-555B9C735996_zpshju8f7ow.jpg


http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/Mobile%20Uploads/2A6E439C-74F8-470E-9E57-74F3595FE4AB_zpspnuxs0bd.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/Mobile%20Uploads/567B9472-9147-4D14-9BEF-3F572F5BDACA_zpsmjyyep4h.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/Mobile%20Uploads/AA771687-730D-4F50-A54B-4CFED986BE45_zpsuxpf8smm.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/Mobile%20Uploads/52E8D81D-5649-46D6-8691-F24D51711E96_zpsnpyasapx.jpg

The caliber 117 was sent to Tomas Garcia. It did not need a full O/H, but Tomas worked his magic and was able to clean and adjust what he thought was needed and it now purrs. I have sent several Quadrons to Tomas and he has managed to breath new life into 80 to 90 year old timepieces with great results. If the watch is stubborn, he is more stubborn. A rare trait in the repair trade, I should know as a run a multi million dollar jewelry store and have been in the watch and jewelry industry for 28 years.


1920's | 3 comments

Strap 610, annapolis

Wed, 29 January 2014 20:37

Model name : annapolis, strap 610
Type : wrist watch
Period/date : 1949
Gender : mens

Case Maker : star watch case co
Case Material :
Case Serial : 0388385
Case Style no : 632

Caliber : 420ss
Movement Maker :
Movement Serial:

Bracelet :

Other info :

I finished one more of my projects, which started life as a NOS dial and 420SS movement that I bought of eBay two years ago. At that time the dial was id'ed by a fellow Gruenite on the old forum and he posted a picture (I forgot who, but if it is one of you guys apologies for using your picture Embarrassed ). This picture is what drove my 2 year quest for the right case...

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...and this is the final result. A perfect match with the watch above, but next to "Strap 610" in Shawkey's identification book there is one little difference, the 610 doesn't have Italic digits. So were there two different dial versions of the Strap 610?

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The only model I found with the same dial is this one, which I have not been able to identify. I may have gone for the wrong case at the end Confused

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edit - removed image because of present copyright.

1940's | 3 comments

Ladies Wrist Watch - Cartouche 213

Identify & Discuss; Sun, 26 January 2014 07:15

Model name : Cartouche 213
Type : Wrist Watch
Period/date : 1920's
Gender : Ladies

Case Maker : Wadsworth
Case Material : 14K gold filled reinforced with extra gold
Case Serial : 5285665
Case Style no :

Caliber : 835
Movement Maker : Gruen Guild
Movement Serial: 1668143

Bracelet : Hadley

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1920's | 6 comments

Ladies Wrist Watch -Cartouche 377

Gruen Guild 313; Wed, 22 January 2014 23:20

Model name : Cartouche 377
Type : Wrist Watch
Period/date : 1920's
Gender : Ladies

Case Maker : Gruen Cincinnati
Case Material : 14K Solid Gold
Case Serial : 1254052
Case Style no : ?

Caliber : 313
Movement Maker : Gruen Guild
Movement Serial: 676808

Bracelet : 10k Gold Filled

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edit - JackW: picture alignment

1920's | 19 comments

Gruen "Strap 130"

Mon, 06 January 2014 10:25

Model name : "Strap 130"
Type : Barrel case
Period/date : approx. 1931
Gender : Male

Case Maker : Wadsworth
Case Material : Nickel "Tarnish Proof" (rhodium plated)
Case Serial : 8540089
Case Style no : 315-80

Caliber : 315
Movement Maker : Gruen?
Movement Serial : 192252

Bracelet : Original nickel band "Flex No. 25" marked "Sturdy".

Other info : Shown in the Guild Book Supplement 9-31 Page 12A as part of the "Sturdy Gruen Wrist Watches for Young Men" range.

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Edit: data updated following new information below

1930's | 14 comments

Gruen SemiThin

Pocket Watch; Sun, 29 December 2013 22:21

Model name :SemiThin
Type :
Period/date :1920
Gender :Gents

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

Caliber :740
Movement Maker :Lavina
Movement Serial:

Bracelet :

Other info :

index.php?t=getfile&id=977&private=0index.php?t=getfile&id=976&private=0

I am trying to figure out some information on this pockset watch. It was my dads and I thought it was unique with the Masonic Symbol. I know that it is a DG&S Pocket Watch but I cannot find any with the symbol on it. If anyone has any information please let me know.

1920's | 6 comments

Unknown Gruen-Weber Import Men's 14k Tank Style

Mon, 16 December 2013 21:47

Model name : Unknown
Type : Tank
Period/date : Late 1920s or early 1930s
Gender : Men's

Case Maker : Weber et Cie
Case Material : 14k White Gold
Case Serial : 200366
Case Style no : N/A

Caliber : 885
Movement Maker : Font (cal. 324)
Movement Serial: 187813

Bracelet : Leather (Non-original)

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Other/Gruen-Weber-885/i-LqCZQQp/1/L/CIMG3527-L.jpg
http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Other/Gruen-Weber-885/i-xRFJPgk/1/L/CIMG3518-L.jpg
http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Other/Gruen-Weber-885/i-2dcxj9h/1/L/CIMG3522-L.jpg



Other info : I don't believe this model is in the Master Book, or at least I haven't spotted a match. I've had this model before, but in 14k green gold with an enamel (non-luminous) dial (see below). The hinged case is fairly large at 39x25mm with a 19mm strap. For "wrist presence," it's roughly comparable to an Imperial Tank.

http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Music/Hotlinking/i-3qmVJJS/0/O/GWY1.jpg

1920's | 3 comments

Gruen Veri-Thin 335 - 703 "Elector"

Fri, 13 December 2013 03:07

Model name : Veri-Thin Elector
Period/date : circa 1949
Gender : mens

Case Maker : DiVincenzo & Arieti
Case Material : 10k GF
Case Serial : C40477
Case Style no : 703

Caliber : 335
Movement Maker : Gruen - Norwood, Ohio
Movement Serial: 63729

Bracelet : 16mm Black Ostrich leather

Other info : Pg 73 of MB's Gruen ID Guide.

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1940's | 2 comments

Curvex Sentry

Sun, 17 November 2013 22:07

Model name : Sentry
Type : Curvex
Period/date : 1942-1943
Gender : Male

Case Maker : Wadsworth
Case Material : 10K Gold Filled
Case Serial : G379368
Case Style no : 440-448

Caliber : 440
Movement Maker : Gruen
Movement Serial: 8551

Bracelet : After market leather

Other info : The Sentry is the gold filled version of the Crown and was available in yellow and pink gold filled. It was available with a number of dial color variations. Re-dial done by Int. Dial.

index.php?t=getfile&id=891&private=0
Life Magazine 1944
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Gruen sales brochure 1942
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1940's | 5 comments

Quadron 139 with Caliber 355 movement

Sat, 16 November 2013 12:15

Model name : Quadron 139
Type : Quadron
Period/date : 1930s
Gender : Male

Case Maker : Cannot identify
Case Material : 10kt yellow gold filled
Case Serial : 2305466
Case Style no : 197

Caliber : 355
Movement Maker : unknown
Movement Serial: 309392

Bracelet : Leather band (aftermarket)

Other info : I have come across a Gruen that, as best as I can tell, is ID'd in the factory records at "Quadron 139." The case is marked with the style number 197, and the watch contains the Precision (17J) Caliber 355 movement. According to factory records, Gruen only made 25 models with this caliber (possibly more, but 25 is the number pictured). The case style number of 197 would seem to indicate manufacture circa 1935 according to the Barnett/Cooper dating chart. I don't believe I've ever had a Gruen with a 355 movement before, so I have to believe these are kind of rare, or at least unusual. I love the patina on this older refinished dial ... a rich caramel color. I did a search of "355" on this forum, and came up empty, even on the Caliber database. I would enjoy hearing comments from Forum members, and of course will update the template with more information if anyone knows who made the case, the movement, etc. I would be interested in knowing what anyone might know about the movement, especially why it seemed to have such a short production run. Maybe Gruen thought the movement was redundant with the introduction of the Curvex?

Sincerely,

Bruce Shawkey
brtime

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1930's | 4 comments

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