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Really Interested in Buying a Green Gold Gruen Pocketwatch [message #12996] Thu, 30 July 2020 20:20 Go to next message
dpn is currently offline  dpn
Messages: 102
Registered: July 2020
Location: Sacramento, CA
Gruen Guildsman

Hello everyone,

I've been absolutely enchanted by the few photos I've seen of Gruen's green gold pentagon pocketwatch cases.

I've set up some eBay alerts that will, I hope, alert me to new auctions of Gruen green gold stuff.

In the meantime, I'm potentially quite interested in buying a green gold Gruen pocketwatch. I think that I'd prefer 14k over 18k, both for price and aesthetics. I'm significantly more interested in buying a green gold Pentagon case, but might be interested in other pocketwatch shapes. I would also like to buy a matching green gold pocketwatch chain. For now, I'm significantly less interested in buying a green gold Gruen wristwatch.

I have *zero* idea how much green gold cased Gruen pocket watches sell for, and so I might be very interested in buying (but completely priced out of) any specimens forum members have for sale. So, rather than a concrete "I want and am ready to buy this" post, please consider this post an expression of interest, question about market value and availability, and potential offer to buy extended to this forum.

(I know that finding a green gold Pentagon pocket watch might be both expensive and take a long time, and so I'm also really interested in purchasing a green gold watch chain now. The readily-available examples I've found on the Internet seem *really* expensive for what they are -- ~$1,000 to $1,400 in 14k or gold filled -- and a heck of a lot more expensive than the nice $6.99 white gold filled art deco chain I currently use.)

Cheers,

Dan


Custom ETA 6498-1 Marine Watch
Rolex Ref. 1002 Oyster Perpetual (1963)
Rolex Ref. 126610LN Submariner Date (2021)
Seiko SKX779 (Black Monster)
Gruen 14k Green VeriThin Pentagon (~1925)

[Updated on: Thu, 30 July 2020 20:21]

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Re: Really Interested in Buying a Green Gold Gruen Pocketwatch [message #12997 is a reply to message #12996] Thu, 30 July 2020 21:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
afire is currently offline  afire
Messages: 1311
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Authority
That's weird about the chains. I would say avoid the high priced BIN listings and wait for one to show up as a true auction. And a lot of sellers don't know that green gold even exists and list it as yellow. So, keep an eye out for one that looks green to you. If the style says 1920s to you, then it's as likely to be green as yellow.
Re: Really Interested in Buying a Green Gold Gruen Pocketwatch [message #13000 is a reply to message #12997] Thu, 30 July 2020 22:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dpn is currently offline  dpn
Messages: 102
Registered: July 2020
Location: Sacramento, CA
Gruen Guildsman

Great tip @afire.

I'll keep an eye out for something period-correct. $1100 for a 14k watch chain seems like lunacy.

Also, in looking at auctions online, it's really hard to judge between yellow and green gold in photos. Rose and white gold are easy to differentiate, but I'm seeing greens on yellow gold auctions and yellows in green gold auction. I'm browsing on a color-corrected monitor, but there is a ton of variability in lighting between eBay sellers. Fun stuff.

I think that you're right about seller knowledge, too. I was barely aware that something called green gold existed, but didn't realize that it had been used in watch cases until a week or so ago. It's probably fair to expect that sellers are going to lump it in with yellow gold or, if they know what it is, charge a premium for green gold.

Thanks!


Custom ETA 6498-1 Marine Watch
Rolex Ref. 1002 Oyster Perpetual (1963)
Rolex Ref. 126610LN Submariner Date (2021)
Seiko SKX779 (Black Monster)
Gruen 14k Green VeriThin Pentagon (~1925)
Re: Really Interested in Buying a Green Gold Gruen Pocketwatch [message #13002 is a reply to message #13000] Thu, 30 July 2020 23:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dpn is currently offline  dpn
Messages: 102
Registered: July 2020
Location: Sacramento, CA
Gruen Guildsman

@afire: Thanks for the hint on a good approach (use my eyes, not a description).

For $6.08, I've taken a risk on this chain. It does seem to be "green," rather than just "my lighting sucks". Fingers crossed, and lord knows what its made of. It might be worth investing in a gold purity test kit.

https://i.imgur.com/3lGzPYq.jpg

In contrast, this example sure looks like bad lighting & worn base metal to me.

This one looks like it might have at least some green components, but it's a little too expensive and possibly too feminine to take a $45 risk.


Custom ETA 6498-1 Marine Watch
Rolex Ref. 1002 Oyster Perpetual (1963)
Rolex Ref. 126610LN Submariner Date (2021)
Seiko SKX779 (Black Monster)
Gruen 14k Green VeriThin Pentagon (~1925)
Re: Really Interested in Buying a Green Gold Gruen Pocketwatch [message #13007 is a reply to message #13002] Fri, 31 July 2020 15:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
afire is currently offline  afire
Messages: 1311
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Authority
I would say $6.08 for maybe green is a smarter purchase than $1300 on definitely green. You can take a lot of shots and misses and still come out way ahead.
Re: Really Interested in Buying a Green Gold Gruen Pocketwatch [message #13009 is a reply to message #13007] Fri, 31 July 2020 15:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dpn is currently offline  dpn
Messages: 102
Registered: July 2020
Location: Sacramento, CA
Gruen Guildsman

I agree 100% @Afire, even factoring in the additional cost of a gold testing kit. I can't wait for the COVID-19 situation to stabilize so that I can hit antique stores again. Is it wrong if I'm looking forward to testing watch chains as part of the fun?

Custom ETA 6498-1 Marine Watch
Rolex Ref. 1002 Oyster Perpetual (1963)
Rolex Ref. 126610LN Submariner Date (2021)
Seiko SKX779 (Black Monster)
Gruen 14k Green VeriThin Pentagon (~1925)
Re: Really Interested in Buying a Green Gold Gruen Pocketwatch [message #13018 is a reply to message #13009] Sat, 01 August 2020 17:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
afire is currently offline  afire
Messages: 1311
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Authority
It is not.
Re: Really Interested in Buying a Green Gold Gruen Pocketwatch [message #13216 is a reply to message #13018] Mon, 10 August 2020 01:03 Go to previous message
thesnark17 is currently offline  thesnark17
Messages: 648
Registered: January 2017
Gruen Master
Best of luck! I have found that white gold Pentagons are the most common color out there. I'm colorblind though, so telling the difference between green and yellow gold is pretty much impossible. I'm glad you appreciate the difference.
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