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Gruen 21 Veri-Thin 435/901 Black Dial 'Cortez' [message #16832] Fri, 01 July 2022 05:57 Go to next message
sleepyastronaut is currently offline  sleepyastronaut
Messages: 60
Registered: June 2022
Location: Washington, DC
Gruen Apprentice
Model name: Cortez (per G-S)
Type: 21 Precision (Veri-Thin)
Period/date: c. 1955
Gender: M

Case Maker: Star
Case Material: 10K GFD BEZEL - GUILDITE BACK
Case Serial: o804167
Case Style no: 901

Caliber: 435
Movement Maker: Gruen Switzerland
Movement Serial: 2A 262145

Bracelet: Rios Ostrich Quill

Other Info: 3-6-12 dial with raised 21 shield.
Dauphine hands, small seconds possibly incorrect. Crystal G-S CMX 330-6, W-C P14MA219(184). Bezel 26.8 x 23.4 x 7.7 mm. Lug-to-lug 36.9 mm. Lug Width 19 mm.

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9501&private=0
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9506&private=0
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9502&private=0
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9503&private=0
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9504&private=0
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9505&private=0

As found:
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9510&private=0
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9508&private=0
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9509&private=0
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=9507&private=0

[Updated on: Fri, 01 July 2022 06:52]

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Re: Gruen 21 Veri-Thin 435/901 Black Dial 'Cortez' [message #16836 is a reply to message #16832] Fri, 01 July 2022 12:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1505
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
Does look great the black shiny dial. Hands did clean up nice!

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

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Re: Gruen 21 Veri-Thin 435/901 Black Dial 'Cortez' [message #16838 is a reply to message #16836] Fri, 01 July 2022 13:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1706
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
To me it looks like the dial does not belong to this watch. Caliber 435 is a 17 jewel movement and the "21" on the dial marks 21 jeweled watches which almost all were equipped with the cal 3351 movement.

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

[Updated on: Fri, 01 July 2022 13:20]

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Re: Gruen 21 Veri-Thin 435/901 Black Dial 'Cortez' [message #16839 is a reply to message #16838] Fri, 01 July 2022 15:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
sleepyastronaut is currently offline  sleepyastronaut
Messages: 60
Registered: June 2022
Location: Washington, DC
Gruen Apprentice
Barney Green wrote on Fri, 01 July 2022 09:19
To me it looks like the dial does not belong to this watch. Caliber 435 is a 17 jewel movement and the "21" on the dial marks 21 jeweled watches which almost all were equipped with the cal 3351 movement.
Well spotted, this does appear to be incongruous. Additionally, this dial belongs with a USA-made movement, but this movement is Swiss-made.

Are any other Cortez models known to exist, for reference?

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Re: Gruen 21 Veri-Thin 435/901 Black Dial 'Cortez' [message #16840 is a reply to message #16839] Fri, 01 July 2022 15:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1706
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
I have never heard of a Gruen model called "Cortez" before, the only mentioning I have ever seen is the Crystal CMX330-6 package by GS. But they will be correct. They show the crystal for the caliber / style combinations 335 / 901 and 3351 / 901 which let me think that there were at least two different watches taking this crystal. If your 435/901 would be the Cortez is therewith not proven, most likely the name belongs to a 3351 based model.
Finding out correct names for Gruen models really is a science and unfortunately too often accompanied by mismatches.

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

[Updated on: Fri, 01 July 2022 15:59]

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Re: Gruen 21 Veri-Thin 435/901 Black Dial 'Cortez' [message #16846 is a reply to message #16840] Fri, 01 July 2022 17:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
sleepyastronaut is currently offline  sleepyastronaut
Messages: 60
Registered: June 2022
Location: Washington, DC
Gruen Apprentice
Barney Green wrote on Fri, 01 July 2022 11:58
I have never heard of a Gruen model called "Cortez" before, the only mentioning I have ever seen is the Crystal CMX330-6 package by GS. But they will be correct. They show the crystal for the caliber / style combinations 335 / 901 and 3351 / 901 which let me think that there were at least two different watches taking this crystal.
A sweep second "21" with this style bezel, model 335SS-901, movement stamped Cincinnati USA and without serial number on the barrel bridge, Star case serial o788185:

itm/304545216922

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Re: Gruen 21 Veri-Thin 435/901 Black Dial 'Cortez' [message #16850 is a reply to message #16846] Fri, 01 July 2022 20:41 Go to previous message
Barney Green
Messages: 1706
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
This is a legit Strap 875 while yours appears to have been a Strap 960 before the dial was exchanged.

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

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