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Home » The Gruen Model Database » 1920's » Strap 96 (A uniquely styled case and dial! Needs dating! )
Strap 96 [message #8183] Mon, 26 June 2017 16:33 Go to next message
MikeL is currently offline  MikeL
Messages: 10
Registered: January 2016
Location: Ma
Gruen Apprentice
Model name :Strap 96
Type :Strap
Period/date :1927
Gender :

Case Maker :Wadsworth
Case Material :14K GF
Case Serial :5290246
Case Style no :

Caliber :885
Movement Maker :Jean Aegler
Movement Serial:165639

Bracelet :

Other info :

index.php?t=getfile&id=3376&private=0index.php?t=getfile&id=3377&private=0index.php?t=getfile&id=3376&private=0index.php?t=getfile&id=3375&private=0index.php?t=getfile&id=3374&private=0index.php?t=getfile&id=3373&private=0I recently added this watch to my collection! My research has come to a dead end, not only for the case style but for the dial itself! The unusual octagon shaped bezel with the beautiful engraving adds to the mystic of this Wadsworth case! The font on the dial is also unique, the numbers are positioned pointing towards the hand shaft, the European style 7 is found only on a very few Gruen dials, I believe it first appears in the early 1920's! This watch is running and it is in fantastic condition! It measures 32mm lug to lug x 25.5mm excluding the crown x 8mm thin! I know watches where small back then, but is this size still considered a mans watch? Any help with this model would be appreciated! Respectfully Michael!
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[Updated on: Sun, 04 February 2018 17:15] by Moderator

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Re: Gruen 885 [message #8184 is a reply to message #8183] Mon, 26 June 2017 18:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JackW is currently offline  JackW
Messages: 1869
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver
Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin
Hi Mike!

Welcome to the Vintage Gruen forums. Check your message as the images are not showing; just lines of code. PM me if you need help getting them online.

Cheers!


All I know is based on hard work & writing by others. I can only aspire to augment this body of knowledge. If I am wrong it is because of my own failings. -me

"If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8185 is a reply to message #8184] Mon, 26 June 2017 19:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MikeL is currently offline  MikeL
Messages: 10
Registered: January 2016
Location: Ma
Gruen Apprentice
Oh... my first post with pictures... How about now!
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8186 is a reply to message #8185] Mon, 26 June 2017 19:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Cool!
A Strap 96 from about 1928. Nice piece, have not seen one yet. What do you want to know about it?
Ah, and of cause, welcome to the world of Gruen!


Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8187 is a reply to message #8186] Mon, 26 June 2017 19:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MikeL is currently offline  MikeL
Messages: 10
Registered: January 2016
Location: Ma
Gruen Apprentice
Well you answered one question "strap 96'', when you say ''strap'' is that the same as style?
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8188 is a reply to message #8187] Mon, 26 June 2017 19:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MikeL is currently offline  MikeL
Messages: 10
Registered: January 2016
Location: Ma
Gruen Apprentice
Thanks for the welcome Barney! Man's or ladies watch!
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8189 is a reply to message #8188] Mon, 26 June 2017 20:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Gents watch. All Strap classified watches are considered to be mans models. Yes, until the 50s average mens watches were considerably smaller than nowadays.

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8190 is a reply to message #8189] Mon, 26 June 2017 21:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JackW is currently offline  JackW
Messages: 1869
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver
Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin
Hello again!

That is a nice watch. Especially so in that there is no discernible wear to the gold fill in the high spots; lugs, case corners, etc. I'd suggest ditching the metal expansion bracelet/strap and go for a leather one. The metal on metal leads to premature wear.

Your case serial number, per the work of Cooper (2015) indicates a 1927 date of manufacture. Agrees well with Barney's suggestion of a 1928 date; having worked on case serials for Wadsworth Cases, I'd caveat any date with a +/- 1 year.

Very nice addition to the collection. Got any other Gruen's to share?


All I know is based on hard work & writing by others. I can only aspire to augment this body of knowledge. If I am wrong it is because of my own failings. -me

"If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8191 is a reply to message #8187] Mon, 26 June 2017 21:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
afire is currently offline  afire
Messages: 1312
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Authority
MikeL wrote on Mon, 26 June 2017 14:51
Well you answered one question "strap 96'', when you say ''strap'' is that the same as style?
To clarify a little farther, most Gruen models early on had no names. Just a number and classification - Strap (mostly men's watches with round movements, or occasionally smaller/narrower men's watches with rectangular movements usually used in women's watches), Quadron (men's watches with larger rectangular movements), Tank (rectangular watches with round movements using a particular patented contruction), Import (watches with Swiss cases), and then several other categories for women's watches and pocket watches.

So "strap" is the classification, "96" is the number.

Great bold deco styling and rarely seen. Definitely a men's watch, and not all that small by the standards of those times. I wear smaller Gruens and I'm not all that small by the stardards of these times. Laughing
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8192 is a reply to message #8190] Mon, 26 June 2017 22:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MikeL is currently offline  MikeL
Messages: 10
Registered: January 2016
Location: Ma
Gruen Apprentice
Thanks for the information... I do have more to share! I will post when time allows!
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8193 is a reply to message #8190] Mon, 26 June 2017 22:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MikeL is currently offline  MikeL
Messages: 10
Registered: January 2016
Location: Ma
Gruen Apprentice
Yes it is in great condition, I was fortunate to come across it when I did! The band will be going ASAP, It is way to small for me, that's what had me scratching my head concerning what gender it was specific too! Great info on the Wadsworth case serial number, I never heard about the prefix code! I searched my Gruen books and the internet looking for this same design, but I came up empty handed, hence the reason I reached out to this great site!

Mike
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8194 is a reply to message #8193] Tue, 27 June 2017 21:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bazzab is currently offline  Bazzab
Messages: 181
Registered: May 2013
Location: Tampa Bay Fl
Gruen Guildsman
Great watch!
Question on the dial, can the word Swizerland be seen under where the 6 should be?
Thanks B


Re: Gruen 885 [message #8195 is a reply to message #8194] Wed, 28 June 2017 15:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MikeL is currently offline  MikeL
Messages: 10
Registered: January 2016
Location: Ma
Gruen Apprentice
Nothing is written under the 6:00 position!
Michael
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8196 is a reply to message #8195] Thu, 29 June 2017 15:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
afire is currently offline  afire
Messages: 1312
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Authority
"Switzerland" is likely engraved in the dial hidden under the bezel.
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8199 is a reply to message #8196] Fri, 30 June 2017 15:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bazzab is currently offline  Bazzab
Messages: 181
Registered: May 2013
Location: Tampa Bay Fl
Gruen Guildsman
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Re: Gruen 885 [message #8200 is a reply to message #8199] Fri, 30 June 2017 16:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Timeticker is currently offline  Timeticker
Messages: 568
Registered: June 2013
Location: Somewhere in the world
Gruen Master
Hey!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome back Bazzab!

People you thought were your best friends will stab you in the back to your face!

Love them anyway.
A "Paradoxical Commandment"
Re: Gruen 885 [message #8201 is a reply to message #8196] Fri, 30 June 2017 17:48 Go to previous message
MikeL is currently offline  MikeL
Messages: 10
Registered: January 2016
Location: Ma
Gruen Apprentice
index.php?t=getfile&id=3379&private=0afire, you sir are correct!
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