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Curvex Chandler

Wed, 16 October 2013 21:40

Model name : Chandler
Type : Curvex
Period/date : 1950-1953
Gender : Male

Case Maker : Wadsworth
Case Material : 10k Gold Filled
Case Serial : G964408
Case Style no : 370-601

Caliber : 370 Curvametric
Movement Maker : Gruen
Movement Serial: B815682

Bracelet : Original Gruen signed pigskin with Gruen signed buckle

Other info : New old stock Curvex with original labels and warranty booklet. Case number starting with 'G9' puts the watch production date in 1949-1950. However assuming the warranty booklet came originally with the watch, the sales date was likely 1953 or later. Warranty booklet is dated 1953.

index.php?t=getfile&id=791&private=0
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1950's and Up | 11 comments

Veri-Thin Submarine

Tue, 15 October 2013 21:18

Please copy the fields below and paste into your post. Attach your pictures and fill out as many fields as you can. Look at other member posts for examples.

Model name : Veri-Thin Submarine
Type :
Period/date : 1951
Gender : Male

Case Maker : Star
Case Material : Guildite
Case Serial : 0504299
Case Style no : 725

Caliber : 421 in this example
Movement Maker : Gruen
Movement Serial: need to dig up from original photos

Bracelet : All ads I have show leather bracelet

Other info :

The submarine is one of the few Gruen's I've seen that the model name and look stay 100% the same, as does the Style Number, but the movement switches. It not only switches, but it goes from a round to a rectangular model.

Interesting that the 'migration' as coined in the Style Number dating article, was done in a purposeful way as can be seen using the casebacks. In the photo, one indicates a caliber 421 movement is in the watch, the other a 426.


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[Picture Front]
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[Picture Side]

[Picture caseback inside]
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[Picture movement]
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[Picture ad]
(post by MB - From the book - Gruen Watch Model Identification Guide Vol 2, page number TBD
Illustration used with permission
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1950's and Up | 7 comments

The Caliber 94

Mon, 07 October 2013 18:36

Thanks to Thojil for the extra information: 11 lignes, 15 jewels, United Watch Co (not quite sure how they fit into the Gruen picture yet) and a "Guarantee" movement which i'm guessing is from the early 1920's?:
index.php?t=getfile&id=745&private=0
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The caliber database | 0 comments

The caliber 266

Fontainemelon (FHF) movement w/51482 winding patent (Factory "T"); Sat, 05 October 2013 00:15

This unknown caliber is a 15 jewel, 10.5 ligne movement. Not a lot is known about these movements and even more of a mystery is the factory "T" marking.

Bazzab started an identification thread on the vintage forums awhile back. A Gruen dissecting team was formed, Bazzab and I dissected both of our movements.

http://vintagewatchforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2658

The only conclusion is the movement is a Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon make.

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The caliber database | 3 comments

Gruen Veri-Thin Elector

Wed, 25 September 2013 23:51

Model name : Veri-Thin Elector
Period/date : Early 1950's
Case Maker : D&A (DiVincenzo & Arienti, Brooklyn)
Case Material : 10K Gold Filled
Caliber : 335
Movement Maker : Gruen
Movement Serial:
Bracelet : 16mm Strap

Other info : This watch is part of the Gruen 21 Series, The first to have an American-made movement. A good site describing the Gruen 21 Series is here: http://www.pixelp.com/gruen/1945.html

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1950's and Up | 7 comments

Caliber 157 Engraved Bezel

Amazing Condition ; Mon, 02 September 2013 20:45

I am afraid I do not know much about this watch. I have done a dial refinish and that is of the extent of the restoration. I would love to know more. This model does have the "crystal frame insert" that helps hold the crystal in. It is a daily wearer for me as I wear my Quadrons!

Model name : Unknown
Type : Tank 15 Jewel
Period/date : 1920's
Gender : Mens

Case Maker : Wadsworth
Case Material :14k White Gold Filled...no wear through
Case Serial : 5032646
Case Style no : 157 8

Caliber : 157
Movement Maker : Gruen
Movement Serial:123261

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/CB28233E-AAEF-4B14-A52F-141A6ABF06D2-1047-00000062CB88AD69_zps0a8c53bb.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/7B1E6577-9AD4-437F-8945-D63CCDEA2ED8-1047-00000062C5ED7403_zps82eba8d4.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/5AA1F075-8B2A-4D68-97C1-A091CE2D4675-1047-00000062BF0622DE_zpsf1f4f4e0.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/F3BE1BDA-6CD7-4E32-8F22-8D5D4425A417-1047-00000063C026FEA1_zps34511c7d.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/E6C9D27B-F462-4F28-9108-4F4427D702D0-1047-00000062B566D194_zpsf10fee8d.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/EA1C7502-7EC0-4DD0-AE61-9239BFBF9C40-1047-00000062A9F33232_zps11649da7.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/21060C0F-8818-4766-ABFE-AC576F3EB509-1047-00000062AFF08CD4_zps67a1cc64.jpg

1920's | 1 comment

21 Jewel 14 Karat Quadron

14 Karat Yellow Gold Tank; Mon, 02 September 2013 20:21

I am not sure if the name, but this is one of my crown jewels of my growing Quadron Collection. I would appreciate any help in filling in any of the blanks about this watch

Model name : Unknown
Type : Quadron 21
Period/date :1930's
Gender : Mens

Case Maker : Katz & Ogush
Case Material : Solid 14 Karat Yellow Gold
Case Serial : 70210
Case Style no :325 241

Caliber :325 / Adjust 5 Positions
Movement Maker :Gruen Switzerland
Movement Serial: 243166

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/CFE53B18-A682-44E6-BAFC-9ECF422E3A5C-949-0000005BFCA8B3EB_zps69323bcb.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/66BEFF9A-E03A-4833-B3CA-8BD52E92020F-949-0000005BF735D1F1_zpsfab7fa34.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/7CB72BE6-EDA9-49CE-BE16-D20F2B02F96D-949-0000005BEFA9AA60_zps4c635e49.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/6D53C050-3D3B-4ED3-B142-9706E16CCC62-949-0000005BE4E89177_zps562f2cca.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/6C94FFB5-51E6-46D7-99A1-8DCB1920100B-949-0000005BDDB64A75_zps539f4afd.jpg

1930's | 6 comments

Quadron Tank 63?

Orginal Condition; Mon, 02 September 2013 19:54

I wear this weekly, it keeps amazing time for an oldie. It has no wear through anywhere on the watch. This simple in form, yet is elegant and understated.

Model name :
Type : Model 63
Period/date :1920's
Gender : Mens

Case Maker :-Wadsworth
Case Material : 14k Yellow Gold Filled
Case Serial : 5462632
Case Style no :157-8W

Caliber : 157
Movement Maker :Gruen
Movement Serial: 1110394

Bracelet :Leather

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/183D6E9A-A620-46D3-838E-F99B693EB375-898-0000004FDC7738BF_zps8df7ea97.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/D67869D9-72DA-4500-BA36-A2B81F043177-898-0000004FD4E770AA_zps8bf69619.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/RALEIGHPC/IMG_1774_zps1ae76579.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/599B53E1-B15E-452F-8DA9-F645D680286B-898-0000004FCD6FB3B8_zpsea1780d0.jpg

http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g444/slinfiniti/254EE171-9840-4F84-9AFC-E388EFAC6BE3-898-0000004FE845FD6A_zps1512563b.jpg

1920's | 1 comment

Import 220

Fri, 02 August 2013 17:57

Model name : Import 220
Type : Tank/Rectangular
Period/date : Circa 1934
Gender : Mens

Case Maker : Weber
Case Material : Guildite (Stainless Steel)
Case Serial : 204138
Case Style no : N/A

Caliber : FEF 130, Gruen caliber name unknown, possibly 690 or 691
Movement Maker : Fabrique d'Ebauche de Fleurier
Movement Serial: Unknown

Bracelet : Leather, non-original

Other info : While presumably a low production model (I've only ever spotted two of them in the wild), there are at least three dial variations. The example in the Master Book shows what appears to be a two-tone silver dial. The two I've owned had this black dial, and yet another black dial with a small round hour/minute chapter and a large seconds display.
http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Import-220-1/i-HcLSwgF/1/M/CIMG0955-M.jpg
http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Import-220-1/i-C23tSDb/1/M/CIMG0958-M.jpg
http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Import-220-1/i-BPrfwkh/1/M/CIMG0962-M.jpg
http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Import-220-1/i-HGV6bkL/1/M/CIMG0960-M.jpg

1930's | 1 comment

Quadron 39

Fri, 02 August 2013 17:46


Model name : Quadron 39
Type : Tonneau
Period/date : Mid to Late 1920's
Gender : Mens

Case Maker : Gruen Cincinnati
Case Material : 14k Green Gold
Case Serial : 1105727
Case Style no : 117/64

Caliber : 119 (Both 117's and 119's were used, later cases would be marked 119/64)
Movement Maker : Gruen Precision Workshop
Movement Serial: 658422

Bracelet : Leather, non-original

Other info : This case style was used for many different models, this being the basic version. Others had various carved, enameled or applied decorations. This style also utilized many different dial variations.
http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Quadron-39/i-J3DKnt8/2/M/CIMG3644-M.jpg
http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Quadron-39/i-TL2PDBr/1/M/CIMG3647-M.jpg
http://mccarthyorth.smugmug.com/Watches/Gruen-Quadron-39/i-RQJXGpJ/1/M/CIMG3653-M.jpg

1920's | 0 comments

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