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Home » The Gruen Model Database » The caliber database » Calibers 881 (7J) & 8357B (17J) - Guild 6.75L Rounded Cartouche (sisters to 15J 835B) (Aegler - Factory A)
Calibers 881 (7J) & 8357B (17J) - Guild 6.75L Rounded Cartouche (sisters to 15J 835B) [message #12739] Wed, 01 July 2020 21:15 Go to next message
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Here’s a caliber that came and went in a hurry: seemingly added & also discontinued in early to mid-30s.

This one bears only Gruen Guild marks (no A) and no full Aegler sn on bridges. Conoruma stamps. Presuming it is transitional, ca1933-35.

It is the 7J sister to the 835B (15J) and 8357B (17J) with same footprint. Compatible in size/shape to the 165, as well as its 163 & 153 round-edge variant predecessors. The 881SS was a sweep second variant.

Hope to add in other variants below.

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=6467&private=0/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=6466&private=0


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[Updated on: Sun, 22 November 2020 04:28]

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Re: Calibers 881 (7J) & 8357B (17J) - Guild 6.75L Rounded Cartouche (sisters to 15J 835B) [message #13955 is a reply to message #12739] Sun, 22 November 2020 04:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Adding the 8357B here, from Adrian’s post. Note “835 B” stamped below balance & the capped jewel unique to the 17J variant.

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[Updated on: Sun, 22 November 2020 04:36]

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Re: Calibers 881 (7J) & 8357B (17J) - Guild 6.75L Rounded Cartouche (sisters to 15J 835B) [message #13956 is a reply to message #13955] Sun, 22 November 2020 22:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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The thing that's always intrigued me about these calibers is how specific could the casing needs have been to make it worth shaving off those miniscule sharp edges worthwhile.
Re: Calibers 881 (7J) & 8357B (17J) - Guild 6.75L Rounded Cartouche (sisters to 15J 835B) [message #13959 is a reply to message #13956] Mon, 23 November 2020 02:21 Go to previous message
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Agreed! It seems to be a modularity move. Could this also have been a way to have a bespoke Gruen-only Aegler design? I don’t know enough about Rolex, but I wonder if they adopted the ovals or stayed with original 835 design.

Chicken or egg on who went rounded first? I think the first move was the 153: first some 153s came rounded (ca1928), then the rounded ones were rebranded 163, then shortly after rebranded again to 165. All while angular 153s were still in play. The 835B shows up somewhere in that time. But to your point—why change at all?


My two caveats:
1) I'm wrong many times a day --just ask my wife!
2) Always seeking to learn more
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