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Home » Gruen Box Database » 1950s » Curvex Box “Gray Egg” 1950 and later
Curvex Box “Gray Egg” 1950 and later [message #12170] Thu, 13 February 2020 17:25 Go to next message
DRGM is currently offline  DRGM
Messages: 18
Registered: January 2020
Gruen Apprentice
Period : 1950 and later

Watch type : Gruen Curvex

Size : Height 11 cm (4 5/16”), Depth 7 cm (2 ¾”), width 5.4 cm (2 1/8”)

Inventor : Francis E. Blod and Alfred M. Blumenfeld

Patents : US Patent 2,667,967 and US Design Patent 161,898 (both applied on Sep. 21, 1950)

Box maker : Braun-Crystal Manufacturing Co. and BCN Design Products Inc., respectively


Shortly after application of the patents the box was already advertised. Shown here is an ad issued in “The Ohio Daily Express” of October 13, 1950.

The box was sold together with an outer box - it looked like this:

https://jewelry.ha.com/itm/estate-jewelry/watches/gruen-curv ex-precision-gold-filled-watch/a/171820-73052.s


For more photos and for images of the patents see here:

http://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.php?t=msg&th=1288& amp;goto=12119&#msg_12119


/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=6131&private=0

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=6132&private=0

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=6133&private=0

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=6134&private=0

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=6135&private=0






Re: Curvex Box “Gray Egg” 1950 and later [message #13352 is a reply to message #12170] Wed, 19 August 2020 23:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ephemerald
Messages: 1039
Registered: October 2018
Location: City of Lake Salt
Gruen Authority
Somewhere in some thread, one of us was wondering, what in the world is the freaking point of this box, well this is the best explanation I've found for the egg, it's all about retail with the boxes...

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=6846&private=0


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Matthias

[Updated on: Wed, 19 August 2020 23:16]

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Re: Curvex Box “Gray Egg” 1950 and later [message #13353 is a reply to message #13352] Thu, 20 August 2020 09:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Matthias,

this is interesting new info, thanks for püosting!

So it has been ten Curvex models, priced from $49.75 to $100 with specially designed crystals and unusual case.
I have never seen the series advertised as such, so which ones formed the Masterpiece series?

Looking into the 1950/51 ads I have identified:
(!) for sure
(?) may be likely
(??) may be unlikely

Gents:
Prelude !
Portrait !
Cadet ?
Carlton ?
Virtuoso ?
Lodge ?
Lowell ?
Lord ?
Major ?
Marshall ?
Ristside Fraternity ?
Commander ??
Baron ??
Ladies:
Serenade !
Symphony !
Wand ?
Ballerina ?
Clarion ?
Corinth ?
Grandview ?
Prestige ?
Cadence ??
Camden ??
Peeress ?


Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)
Re: Curvex Box “Gray Egg” 1950 and later [message #13354 is a reply to message #13353] Thu, 20 August 2020 17:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jenneke is currently offline  Jenneke
Messages: 1848
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands
Gruen Authority
“Proof?” Virtuoso: https://www.kupferjewelry.com/products/vintage-curvex-solid- gold-masterpiece-virtuoso-extremely-rare


You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje
Re: Curvex Box “Gray Egg” 1950 and later [message #13357 is a reply to message #13354] Thu, 20 August 2020 18:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Probably not a proof, but I also found the Virtuoso being the best match for the top end $100 spot. In June 1951 it has been the only available mens Curvex being available for $100. Before there was the "Curvex 100".
If there had been a matching ladies model for §100 accompanying it, it must have been the Curvex Figurine.
$49.75: Curvex Portrait and Curvex Symphony
$59.50: Cuvex Prelude and Curvex Serenade
?$65?: Curvex Allegro, Lieutnant, Baron or Lord and Curvex Splendor or Patroness
?$71.50?: Curvex Lincoln, Artist, Belmont, Casino or Lowell and Curvex Corinth, Sublime, Phyllis, Prestige, Wand or Christine
$100: Cuvex Virtuoso amd Curvex Figurine
The for me most likely ones are underlined.


Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)
Re: Curvex Box “Gray Egg” 1950 and later [message #13358 is a reply to message #13357] Thu, 20 August 2020 22:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ephemerald
Messages: 1039
Registered: October 2018
Location: City of Lake Salt
Gruen Authority
That's cool Bernd, you're welcome!
There are full page ads for this series in Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, and Look magazines. I do not have any. But that's where they are. I did quite a bit of digging on my Virtuoso.

Have you heard of the "Personality" series?


Matthias

[Updated on: Thu, 20 August 2020 23:22]

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Re: Curvex Box “Gray Egg” 1950 and later [message #13363 is a reply to message #13358] Fri, 21 August 2020 13:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Hi Matt,

no, I did not hear about that series yet. When has it been promoted?

I checked the "Saturday Evening Post" but have not been able to locate an ad showing the Masterpiece series. Collier's and Look are not available online as far as I know. But you seem to have a good source?

Barney


Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)
Re: Curvex Box “Gray Egg” 1950 and later [message #13365 is a reply to message #13363] Fri, 21 August 2020 18:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ephemerald
Messages: 1039
Registered: October 2018
Location: City of Lake Salt
Gruen Authority
This is in direct reference to the "Masterpiece" series:.

"Full page advertisements in Colliers, Look, and the Saturday Evening Post plus television spots will give extra sales support to this new series" Jeweler's Circular P.322 V120 Jul-Sep 1950.

The "Personality" series ran during the same time as "Masterpiece" series in December 1950 throughout 1951.
"Masterpiece" series continued to at least 1953.
I don't know how long "Personality" went on for.

Same volume as above:

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=6850&private=0


Matthias

[Updated on: Fri, 21 August 2020 18:19]

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Re: Curvex Box “Gray Egg” 1950 and later [message #13372 is a reply to message #13363] Fri, 21 August 2020 22:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ephemerald
Messages: 1039
Registered: October 2018
Location: City of Lake Salt
Gruen Authority
Hi Bernd, I was able to find source references for both Masterpiece and Personality Series.

You can find a Masterpiece ad: Colliers, P. 11. Volume 126. 1950.(virtuoso)

You can find a Personality ad: Sat Evening Post, P.97 Volume 223, Part 2 Sept 1950.
(Personality series based on famous....personalities)

I did find this in the locals: Dec 11 1950.

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=6868&private=0

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Matthias

[Updated on: Fri, 21 August 2020 22:42]

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Re: Curvex Box “Gray Egg” 1950 and later [message #13382 is a reply to message #13372] Sat, 22 August 2020 10:52 Go to previous message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Yes this Collier's issue was suspected, but I could not locate it.
And the Personality series: must have overlooked this ad. Yes, I have it...


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